Category: PHILHEALTH

“What is PhilHealth?”

This question often escapes the attention of young professionals, and it’s no wonder why. Health insurance tends to slip under the radar when you’re enjoying the prime of your life. Many working individuals place their trust in PhilHealth when they fall ill. According to the official PhilHealth website, the program’s mission is to ensure that healthcare services are affordable, of acceptable quality, readily available, and accessible to all Filipino citizens. But the burning question remains: Can PhilHealth truly serve as a sufficient safety net when faced with substantial medical expenses?

For freelancers, the tale takes on an even more intricate hue. In a blog post dated October 2014, Lianne Laroya, a freelancer and financial advisor, learned the hard way that PhilHealth may not always come to the rescue. A brief visit to the emergency room in 2013 left her with a bill exceeding Php 4000. The explanation given by an ER nurse was that PhilHealth could only be utilized if a patient was admitted and confined for a minimum of 24 hours. This incident brought her to the stark realization that relying solely on PhilHealth might not be the most prudent choice for her.