Providing broader, easier access to employees' healthcare

POOR HEALTH continues to affect a wide segment of the Filipino population, creating a cycle that takes a toll on both personal well-being and workplace productivity.

- By Mhicole A. Moral Special Features and Content Writer

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that government schemes and mandatory healthcare contributions covered 44.7% of the country's current health expenditure. Household out-of-pocket payments followed at 42%, with voluntary healthcare payments accounting for 12.6%.

Total health expenditure reached P1.56 trillion in 2024, a 17.1% increase from P1.33 trillion the previous year. On average, each Filipino spent P12,751 on health.

Consequently, projections from global advisory firm WTW indicate that healthcare expenses in the country will rise another 18.3% in 2025. This is the second-highest expected increase in the Asia-Pacific region, only behind Indonesia.

With medical costs rising, more companies are shifting from purely covering treatment expenses to promoting prevention. Employers are offering programs that include regular health checkups, fitness benefits and mental health services.

Health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, remain the most common choice for employer-sponsored healthcare in the Philippines. They typi cally provide employees with access to a network of doctors and hospitals at prearranged rates that help lower out of-pocket costs.

Christopher V. Tan, first vice-president and head of the sales and marketing department of Cocolife's Healthcare Division, said demand for health coverage remains strong as more employees see it as an essential part of their employment package.

"Filipinos today are more healthconscious than ever," Mr. Tan said. "Healthcare is increasingly viewed not just as a benefit but as a necessity and a security blanket."

In the past, most employees used their health coverage mainly for hospitalization or treatment after becoming ill. Cocolife has seen a change in behavior, with more employees now using it for preventive care such as executive checkups, vaccinations and wellness screenings.