PhilHealth Assures Financial Stability Despite Subsidy Cut

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) remains financially stable and committed to delivering healthcare services to its 115 million members in 2025, even without the national government’s P74-billion subsidy in the recently approved P6.325-trillion budget.

PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma reassured lawmakers and the public that the organization is well-positioned to fulfill its obligations due to its substantial reserves and continued benefit expansions.

Financial Resilience

“As of October 2024, PhilHealth has a surplus of P150 billion and total reserves of P281 billion, complemented by an investment fund nearing P489 billion as of November 2024,” Ledesma reported.
“These figures demonstrate that PhilHealth is financially robust, well-positioned to sustain operations, and fully capable of addressing the healthcare needs of our 115 million members.”

Expanding Benefits

Despite the subsidy cut, PhilHealth plans to expand its benefits in 2025, including a 50% increase in coverage for most case rate packages. This follows an 80% increase in 2024, alongside enhancements in packages for top health conditions.

“These significant benefit expansions mark a substantial stride towards our commitment to providing affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare for all Filipinos,” Ledesma said, adding that 2024 has been a “banner year” for the corporation.

Prioritizing Vulnerable Members

PhilHealth emphasized its focus on vulnerable groups, including senior citizens, indigents, persons with disabilities, rebel returnees, and other marginalized sectors.

“Walang dapat ikabahala ang ating mga kababayan; sagot po kayo ng PhilHealth,” Ledesma assured. (Our countrymen should not be concerned. You can count on PhilHealth.)

Acknowledging Challenges

While highlighting PhilHealth’s achievements, Ledesma acknowledged that more work is needed, particularly in rebuilding trust and ensuring seamless benefit delivery.

“Rebuilding trust is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process. We continue to engage stakeholders—from healthcare providers to local government units—to ensure that the benefits we promise are the benefits we deliver,” he said.

With its financial stability and ongoing improvements, PhilHealth aims to ease the financial burden of healthcare, improve access to medical services, and elevate the quality of life for all Filipinos.