Confused about the zero-balance billing policy?

The government's zero-balance billing policy, touted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his fourth address to the nation, has raised more questions than answers.

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Many are unsure if the policy is limited to indigent patients or if it applies to all. There's also uncertainty about whether it covers all medical expenses, including procedures, medicines and operation expenses.

The clear-cut answer is this: as long as the patient is admitted to a basic or ward accommodation in a Department of Health-listed hospital, their expenses are covered under the zero-balance billing policy. In this case, they should not incur any out-of-pocket costs.

DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo confirmed this to Philstar.com in a message.

According to the Universal Health Care Act, a basic or ward accommodation "refers to the provision of regular meals, a bed in a shared room, fan ventilation and shared toilet and bath."

Regardless of one's socioeconomic status, age, or job, Domingo said they are eligible for zero-balance billing. Simply put, every Filipino can avail of free-of-charge basic or ward accommodation services at the listed hospitals.

"Ang current policy ngayon is as long as kayo po ay magpapa-admit sa isang basic accommodation or ward accommodation ng isang DOH hospital, kahit kayo po ay magsasaka o manager, kayo ay covered ng polisiya," he said on Friday, August 1, over One News PH's "Morning Matters."

(The current policy is that as long as you are admitted to a basic or ward accommodation in a DOH hospital, whether you're a farmer or a manager, you are covered by the policy.)

WHERE TO AVAIL

The zero-balance billing policy currently applies to 87 DOH hospitals nationwide. This includes five hospitals still under development and four run by government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), which have yet to fully enforce the zero-balance billing policy.