PhilHealth sets new case rate benefits for COVID-19 patients starting April 15

PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales said on Tuesday that all corona virus (COVID-19) patients admitted April 15 onwards will be covered by a new case rate package of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, to be divided into four categories.

Mild pneumonia: P43,997 

Moderate pneumonia: P143,267 

Severe pneumonia: P333,519 

Critical pneumonia: P786,384

“Up to April 14, sasagutin ng PhilHealth. Walang dapat ibayad ang mga pasyente (Up to April 14, PhilHealth will shoulder everything. The patient should not pay for anything),” Morales said in the Laging Handa virtual briefing.

“Yung pneumonia kasi is the complication of COVID-19. Ang babasehan nito yung date of admission. If they are admitted after April 14 or April 15 onwards, ito ang gagamitin na rate sa kanila (Pneumonia is the complication of COVID-19. We will base it on the date of admission. If they are admitted after April 14 or April 15 onwards, these are the rates that will be used for them),” Morales explained.

While PhilHealth has “sufficient” funds, Morales noted it is not “unlimited” hence the new case rate for COVID-19 patients.

“Kaya nga tayo mag-e-enforce nitong case rate para meron tayong sustainability sa anti-COVID campaign. Although yung pondo ng PhilHealth is sufficient, hindi naman unlimited,” he said.

(This is why we are enforcing a case rate so that we have sustainability in our anti-COVID campaign. Although Philhealth’s fund is sufficient, it is not unlimited.)

PhilHealth earlier said it will shhe Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine was extended until April. It was originally expected to be lifted by midnight of April 13.

The government is also eyeing to start mass testing of persons suspected of being infected by COVID-19 on April 14.