PhilHealth Pays Only ₱5,460 Out of ₱122K Hospital Bill
PHILHEALTH — A man received only ₱5,460 from the country’s health insurer out of a total hospital bill of ₱122,787, despite paying contributions for many years.
A viral post by Bataga Eric has sparked debate among Filipinos, questioning what they are really paying for in their monthly PhilHealth contributions. His story, which revealed his disappointment over how little PhilHealth covered during his hospital confinement, quickly gained attention online and drew mixed reactions — some netizens sympathized with his frustration, while others tried to defend the system.
Eric shared that he has been a PhilHealth member for as long as he can remember. Every month, a portion of his salary is automatically deducted for contributions. He never questioned it, believing that one day, if he got sick, the country’s health insurer would help him. That moment finally came when he was confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center due to a high fever that doctors initially suspected was dengue.
He spent five days in the hospital undergoing tests and treatments. Thankfully, his company’s HMO covered a large portion of his medical expenses. Still, he expected PhilHealth to shoulder a reasonable part of the bill. To his surprise, out of a total hospital bill of ₱122,787, PhilHealth only paid ₱5,460. He was shocked and disappointed to learn that this amount had already increased by 50%, according to the billing staff.
Eric said it was disheartening and frustrating to realize that after years of faithfully paying contributions, he received so little help when he finally needed it. He questioned where all the members’ payments really go and why ordinary contributors receive such minimal support during emergencies. He expressed that PhilHealth, which was meant to serve as a safety net for all Filipinos, now feels more like a collection agency than a genuine source of public assistance.
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