Marcos Doubles PhilHealth Benefits for Children with Developmental Disabilities

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday announced the doubling of PhilHealth benefit packages for children with developmental disabilities, a move aimed at expanding coverage for consultations and therapy sessions. In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos stated that the number of therapy sessions covered by PhilHealth would also increase from 90 to 150. "To further enhance our support for children with developmental disabilities, we will double the PhilHealth package for consultations and therapy," Marcos said. "We will also increase the number of PhilHealth-covered therapy sessions from 90 to 150," he added. Beyond the expanded PhilHealth benefits, Marcos mentioned that the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Project Aruga would provide additional financial assistance to beneficiaries. Marcos also reported that the number of families benefiting from PhilHealth programs has grown from over 5 million in 2022 to more than 7.5 million. He attributed this growth to active campaigns, streamlined registration, and faster payments to healthcare providers. Furthermore, the President reiterated the implementation of the Zero-Balance Billing program, which covers basic accommodation services at Department of Health (DOH) hospitals. He noted that nearly three million individuals have benefited from this program. The government's Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program has also assisted over 8 million patients. While MAIFIP faced criticism in the past for its reliance on guarantee letters (GLs) from politicians, Marcos announced that guarantee letters would no longer be required starting in 2026, as MAIFIP services are being digitalized into e-MAIFIP. "Now, e-MAIFIP is available in DOH hospitals—online and integrated into our eGovPH app. There are now only two requirements. Guarantee letters are no longer needed, so people no longer have to line up or plead with any politician," Marcos said. With e-MAIFIP accessible through the eGovPH app, the government aims to extend its medical assistance programs to over 56 million app users. Additionally, the administration plans to begin planning for the construction and establishment of a Virology and Vaccine Institute in the country. Information Source: GMA News Philippines