Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s coverage for normal delivery will be raised to P29,000 from P9,750, while the coverage for cesarean section will increase between P58,000 and P62,000 from P37,000.
Acknowledging the high costs of childbirth that place mothers at risk, President Marcos announced that the maternity benefits provided by state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) would be increased beginning today, April 30.
In a video statement on Wednesday, April 29, Marcos said some pregnant women have to spend for check-ups, laboratory tests, medicines and hospital fees, but some of them were forced to wait or cut costs because of financial problems.
“The dangers start there. Many women give birth without doctors, not because they reject proper care, but because they cannot afford the costs,” the President said.
“We want to change that. Starting April 30, the maternity benefit of PhilHealth will be expanded and increased,” he added.
PhilHealth coverage for normal delivery will be raised to P29,000 from P9,750, while the coverage for cesarean section will increase between P58,000 and P62,000 from P37,000.
“In many instances, if the child delivery takes place in a ward, even in private hospitals, there may be no more costs,” Marcos said.
Prenatal care coverage will also be expanded from to eight from four check-ups and will already include vaccines and laboratory tests. PhilHealth will also cover three postnatal follow-up visits.
“Our goal is simple. To ensure that each mother will be able to deliver her child safely and will not worry about where to get money to settle the bills. We do not want any life to be placed at risk just because of lack of money,” the President said.