PhilHealth to expand maternity benefits starting April 30

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to broaden its maternity benefits starting Thursday, April 30, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday, April 29.

“Maraming ina ang nanganganak na walang doktor. Hindi dahil ayaw nila ng tamang pag-alaga, kung hindi dahil hindi nila kaya ang panggastos. Ito ang nais natin baguhin,” Marcos said in a video statement.

(Many mothers give birth without a doctor. Not because they don’t want the right care, but because they can’t afford it. This is what we want to change.)

PhilHealth will raise coverage for normal deliveries from P9,750 to P29,000, and for caesarean sections from P37,000 to a range of P58,000 to P62,000.

Aside from delivery benefits, the expansion also includes prenatal care such as checkups and laboratory tests.

Marcos said, “Pinalawak din ang prenatal care — mula apat na checkup, magiging walo na ang sasagutin ng PhilHealth, kasama na ang mga bakuna at saka laboratory tests.”

(Prenatal care has also been expanded — from four checkups, PhilHealth will now cover eight, including vaccines and laboratory tests.)

The package also includes three follow-up hospital visits after childbirth.

“Nais natin matiyak na ang bawat ina ay makakapagpanganak nang ligtas at hindi nag-aalala kung saan kukuha ng pambayad,” the President added.

(We want to ensure that every mother can safely give birth without needing to worry about where they can get the money for it.) – Rappler.com