Why millions of Filipinos remain vulnerable to hefty medical bills

GAPS IN UNIVERSAL COVERAGE

Under the Universal Health Care Law, all Filipinos are members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The state insurer subsidises medicines and covers treatments for illnesses including cancer, tuberculosis and chronic kidney disease.

But gaps remain, particularly when patients have to seek treatment at private hospitals.

A 2022 study by pharmaceutical company Unilab found that Filipino households paid nearly half of the country’s healthcare expenditure out of pocket.

Private insurance can help cover those costs, but affordability remains a major obstacle.

Christine Manalaysay, president of the Life Underwriters Association of the Philippines, said many households prioritise more immediate expenses.

“They tend to postpone these types of protection instruments because in the Philippines, a lot of households are focusing on food expenses, housing and their daily budget,” she added.

For Aurelia Dela Cruz, the limits of public healthcare became clear when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

She could have undergone surgery for free at a public hospital, but there was no room available.

Instead, she went to a private hospital, where the procedure cost nearly US$1,000 – a bill she could not afford on her salary as a maid.

“My employer gave me some assistance, and so did my friends,” she said. “I was only able to pay for the surgery with the help of people who loved me.”

Nine years later, her cancer returned, this time at stage four.

Dela Cruz now receives free treatment at the Philippine General Hospital and considers herself fortunate to live near Manila, where such services are more accessible.