Philhealth launches Z package benefit

By Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, July 24 (PIA) --- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) in Region 7 has officially launched the new Z benefit package for members suffering from breast cancer, acute lymphocytic leukemia for children, prostate cancer and kidney transplant at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City on July 6, 2012. 

Philhealth-7 Public Affairs Head Atty. Karisma Agraviador disclosed this during the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) Forum held July 24. 

“The Z benefit package” could be availed of by members and beneficiaries of the health program who are diagnosed with any of the four cases,” Agraviador added. 

In the Visayas, Philhealth accredited only VSMMC because of the required facilities and equipment in providing medical treatments for both breast cancer and kidney transplant. The hospital is also capable of meeting the package cost of the said illnesses. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Avril Tiu, Medical Specialist, Benefits Administration Section explained that under Philhealth’s Type Z package, breast cancer patients get a P100,000 subsidy while kidney transplant is subsidized by P600,000. 

With regards to the sponsored members such as the indigents or registered under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), they will fall under the “no balance billing” category which mean that they don’t pay a single centavo while the employed members will pay the excess amount under the fixed reimbursement system, Tiu added. 

This is only an initial offer to our members, and we are hoping for additional benefits in order to help them avail better and quality services in the future, Agraviador added.(PIA-7/HFG)