Only 14 Hospitals Offer PhilHealth Coverage for Children with Disabilities

Access to state insurance coverage for Filipino children with disabilities remains severely limited, as data gathered by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reveal that only 14 hospitals nationwide offer the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Z Benefit package for these children. Seven regions in the country have no accredited facilities for such coverage. Of the 14 hospitals offering the Z Benefit package, 10 are located in Luzon, with half of them concentrated in the National Capital Region. The Visayas and Mindanao regions each have only two such facilities. Regions with no accredited facilities include Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga. The Z Benefit package is designed to provide financial coverage for individuals with "catastrophic illnesses" or medical conditions requiring costly, long-term treatments, such as cancer and kidney transplants. According to EDCOM 2 policy briefs, there are approximately 5.1 million children with disabilities in the Philippines. The package for them covers four types of disabilities: developmental disabilities (including autism, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy), hearing impairment, mobility disorders, and visual disabilities. As of June 2026, only the Philippine General Hospital in Manila offers coverage for all four types of disabilities. One facility in the Visayas and one in Mindanao cover three types, while the remaining facilities cover only one type. PhilHealth data from December 2025 shows only 841 Z Benefit paid claims nationwide, totaling P6.8 million. PhilHealth has a P128.7-billion budget for 2026, with an additional P60 billion from a Supreme Court decision, and P16.5 billion allocated to strengthen the Universal Health Care Act, including Z Benefit improvements. A 2022 UNICEF report highlighted that raising a child with a disability in the Philippines costs 40% to 80% more than raising a child without one, recommending PhilHealth increase its coverage as it only covers a fraction of actual expenses. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned expanding coverage for children with developmental disabilities in his State of the Nation Address, but PhilHealth is still reviewing how to enhance the package, aiming for specifics by the end of 2026. Adding to the challenges, the House education committee found a shortage of medical experts to diagnose children with disabilities. As of July 27, 2026, there are only 109 developmental pediatricians and 155 certified clinics nationwide serving the entire country.