Pia slams PhilHealth 18% hospital coverage

Senator Pia Cayetano joined over 10,000 barangay health workers at the Barangay Health Workers Day 2025 celebration in Cebu were she honored their role in grassroots healthcare but also criticized the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for its plan to cover only 18% of hospital costs by 2025.

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She labeled the target as a "joke" that undermines the principles of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

With PhilHealth receiving over P534 billion in sin tax revenues, she questioned how it can justify covering only 18% of patients' hospital costs.

"How do you expect the poor, even the middle class, to afford healthcare when PhilHealth only plans to cover 18%?... People are already struggling to make ends meet. What more when they face unexpected illness?" she said.

Cayetano called on PhilHealth to reassess its coverage targets and align them more closely with the objectives of the UHC Law

She recalled that five years ago, they saw significant improvements in PhilHealth's coverage, which was helping a lot of people. If individuals got sick, they knew PhilHealth would help shoulder expenses.

However, when a foundation she was connected with offered eye surgery for an eight-year-old child, his older brother said they couldn't afford it due to lack of funds.