Marcos doubles PhilHealth benefits for kids with developmental disabilities

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday announced the doubling of PhilHealth benefit packages for children with developmental disabilities to expand coverage for consultations and therapy sessions.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos said the number of therapy sessions covered by PhilHealth would also increase from 90 to 150.

“Para mapaganda pa ang suporta natin sa mga batang may developmental disabilities, dodoblehin natin ang PhilHealth package para sa pagpapatingin at sa therapy,” Marcos said.

(To further enhance our support for children with developmental disabilities, we will double the PhilHealth package for consultations and therapy.)

“Dadamihan din natin mula 90 hanggang 150 ang bilang ng therapy sessions na sakop ng PhilHealth,” he added.

(We will also increase the number of PhilHealth-covered therapy sessions from 90 to 150.)

Aside from the expanded PhilHealth benefits, Marcos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Project Aruga would provide additional financial assistance to beneficiaries.

Marcos also said the number of families benefiting from PhilHealth programs has grown from more than 5 million in 2022 to over 7.5 million.

“Lahat ng ito ay gawa ng ating masigasig na paghikayat, maayos na proseso ng pagrehistro, at mas pinabilis pang pagbayad sa mga ospital at healthcare providers,” he said.

(All of this was made possible through our active campaign, streamlined registration process, and faster payments to hospitals and healthcare providers.)

In his 2025 SONA, Marcos promised the implementation of the Zero-Balance Billing program, which covers basic accommodation services at Department of Health (DOH) hospitals. He said nearly three million individuals have since benefited from the program.

The President also said more than 8 million patients have benefited from the government’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program.

In 2025, MAIFIP drew criticism over its heavy reliance on guarantee letters (GLs) from politicians, a practice critics said perpetuated patronage politics.

In his 2026 SONA, Marcos said guarantee letters would no longer be required as MAIFIP services are digitalized, which he referred to as the e-MAIFIP.

“Ngayon, may e-MAIFIP na sa mga ospital ng DOH: online at kasama sa ating eGovPH app. Dalawa na lang ang requirement. Wala na ring GL-GL, kaya hindi na kailangan pumila o magmakaawa pa sa sinumang pulitiko,” Marcos said.

(Now, e-MAIFIP is available in DOH hospitals—online and integrated into our eGovPH app. There are now only two requirements. Guarantee letters are no longer needed, so people no longer have to line up or plead with any politician.)

With MAIFIP now accessible through the eGovPH app, Marcos said the government aims to make its medical assistance programs available to more than 56 million app users.

Marcos also said the administration would begin planning for the construction and establishment of a Virology and Vaccine Institute in the country. — MCG, GMA News