THE benefit package for pneumonia, both for moderate and high risks, topped claims from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) last year.
Data provided by PhilHealth showed 648,355 pneumonia benefit claims from January 1 to December 31, 2024, for a total amount of P11,914,876,697.
Running second is dengue fever (mild and severe) for a total of 306,413 benefit claims pegged at P3,549,926,818 claims amount.
Completing the top five are acute gastroenteritis with 288,625 claims (P1,926,836,487); hypertensive emergency/urgency with 231,494 claims (P2,316,433,542); and urinary tract infection admissible with 205,727 claims (P1,673,868,298).
Placing sixth to eighth are peptic ulcer disease with/without hemorrhage with 195,126 claims (P1,483,746,484); upper respiratory tract infection with 122,397 claims (P545,329,466); and asthma in acute exacerbation with 100,160 claims (P1,178,397,353).
Occupying the final two spots are stroke infarction hemorrhagic/non hemorrhagic with 99,418 claims (P4,949,579,602); and anemia with 86,245 claims (P1,031,416,265).
Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that PhilHealth has the financial capacity to pay for the health benefits of all its members.
The DOH also guaranteed that PhilHealth is capable of increasing the case rates of its different benefit packages. This is despite Congress not giving PhilHealth any funds as a government subsidy for 2025.
In a related development, newly-appointed PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (P/CEO) Dr. Edwin Mercado met with DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
“They agreed on the job of PhilHealth, that is, to pay the health benefits of its members,” the DOH said of the meeting held at the PhilHealth head office in Pasig City.
