PhilHealth assures benefits to continue even without 2025 subsidy

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Monday committed to continue providing health benefits for Filipinos nationwide, assuring the public that it has enough funds to do so.

PhilHealth made the pronouncement after the bicameral conference committee decided to completely cut its P74.431 billion subsidy for 2025 down to zero.

READ: PhilHealth has zero subsidy for 2025 due to P600B reserve funds

According to PhilHealth, the bicam’s decision reflected its “wisdom” and acknowledged that the committee understood the agency’s capacity to continue managing the National Health Insurance Program.

“PhilHealth will continue to pay for the health benefits of all Filipinos, with or without government subsidy. It is our goal to finance the best care and benefits available,” PhilHealth said in a statement.

READ: Marcos defends zero PhilHealth subsidy in 2025

“Our financial position is strong and sufficient to sustain our operations, with a total of P281 billion in reserves and P150 billion in surplus funds as of October 2024,” it added.

The state health insurer also bared that its investment portfolio as of November 2024 has already reached P489 billion.

PhilHealth then vowed to better provide reasons for the provision of government subsidies.

“We are deeply aware of the impact healthcare costs have on Filipino families, and we remain dedicated to enhancing our benefits packages and reducing out-of-pocket expenses so that every patient feels the security of their health insurances,” it said.

“Rest assured: all PhilHealth benefits will continue to be paid, and will even improve,” it added.

Initially allocated P74.431 billion in subsidy, the amount was first reduced by the Senate to P64.419 billion before being completely cut down to zero by the bicam.

Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended the removal of the subsidy, also citing the remaining reserves of PhilHealth in funds.