PhilHealth: Members will have dengue coverage

AMID the alarming increase of dengue cases in the country, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) over the weekend has assured its members of hospitalization benefits. “We are alarmed by the continuing rise in dengue cases from different parts of the country,” said Dr. Rey Aquino, president and chief executive officer of PhilHealth. “We have to ensure that members and their legal dependents confined due to the said disease will be able to avail themselves of hospitalization benefits,” he added.

For stage 1 dengue fever, PhilHealth members confined in a tertiary (or Level 3) hospital can avail themselves of up to P500 a day for hospital room and board fees; and P4,200 for drugs and medicines that should be in the Philippine National Drug Formulary.

He added that P3,200 will also be paid for X-ray and other laboratory exams done during the period of confinement, while a maximum of P1,200 is available for the professional fee of the attending physician.

The PhilHealth chief said that these benefits may be availed of in any of the over 1,300 PhilHealth- accredited hospitals nationwide. “Members only need to ascertain that their member data records are updated, especially if the patient is their dependent; and that they have made sufficient premium contributions,” he added.

From January to June this year, PhilHealth has paid P191 million for confinements due to dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. The amount represents payments for 24,583 claims received nationwide.

Dr. Aquino also appealed to government hospitals to waive any amount in excess of what PhilHealth covers for members and their dependents admitted to ward-type accommodation.

“Let us exercise social responsibility, especially now that the dengue menace has reached alarming proportions and hospitals are teeming with dengue patients,” he said.

At the same time, he urged the public to support the 4S Laban sa Dengue campaign spearheaded by Deparment of Health Secretary and PhilHealth Board Chairman Dr. Enrique Ona.

The campaign seeks to Search and destroy the breeding grounds of mosquitoes by getting rid of stagnant water; seeking immediate consultation, especially if one experiences fever for more than two weeks; saying no to indiscriminate fogging because it only makes mosquitoes move to other places; and introducing self-protection measures such as using insect repellents and donning long-sleeved shirts when going out. -SHEILA M. PELAEZ SPECIAL TO THE MANILA TIMES