MANILA - Philhealth members needing hospital care due to the effects of the extreme heat may avail of a benefit package for heat-related illnesses, an official of the state health insurer said Thursday.

“Kung saka-sakali po ang mga kababayan natin sa kabila ng pag-iingat ay kailangang ma-admit ‘no, maospital dahil po sa heat stroke, mayroon po tayong Z-benefit package para diyan, at iyan po ay nagkakahalaga po ng P8,450 na dati-rati po ay P6,500 lamang,” Rey Baleña, Acting Vice President of the Corporate Affairs Group of PhilHealth said in a televised briefing.

Balena says the package is already inclusive of hospital charges and professional fees of the attending physician.

“So makakaasa po iyong ating mga miyembro na nahagip na po both ng hospital charges at iyong bayad po sa doctor,” he said.

In the same interview, Balena reported that the Philhealth Board has approved a significant increase in the benefits for breast cancer patients starting March 30, 2024.

Balena says the benefits package is now worth P1.4 million, up from the previous P100,000.

“Dati-rati P100,000 lang po ang coverage natin diyan; ngayon po up to P1.4 million ang atin pong sasagutin sa pagpapagamot ng atin pong pasyente. At kagandahan po nito, Ma’am Niña at Asec. Wheng, ay sa lahat ng stages ‘no, ay makaka-avail din kung iyong pasyente...Sapagkat dati-rati po earlier stages lang po ang qualified sa Z Benefit for breast cancer,” he said.

The official says Philhealth is also set to enhance this year its benefits packages for prostate and cervical cancer.