SENATE, Pasay City — Following the removal of the P74-billion government subsidy in the 2025 proposed general appropriation, Senator Loren Legarda urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to prioritize the use of its surplus funds to expand benefit packages and address gaps in healthcare access to ensure the effective implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

Legarda's pronouncement came during a Senate committee on health hearing where PhilHealth’s financial state and management were scrutinized following the removal of the government subsidy supposed to be allocated to the country's premier healthcare insurer.
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The decision to scrap the government subsidy has left PhilHealth’s 2025 budgetary operation reliant on its surplus and reserve funds.

"I am calling on PhilHealth to make the most of its P150-billion surplus fund to support the goals of the UHC Law. With billions in reserves and surplus, PhilHealth has the resources to ensure every Filipino benefits from quality healthcare. But without proper implementation of the UHC Law, many will continue to face barriers to essential services,” Legarda enthused.

During the committee hearing, PhilHealth senior vice president Renato Limsiaco Jr. reported that the corporation has a total of P628.2 billion in assets as of October 2024, including P281 billion in reserves and P150 billion in surplus funds.

Legarda cited that despite the removal of the government subsidy, PhilHealth’s Corporate Operating Budget (COB) for 2025 is set at P284.1 billion—almost a 10 percent increase from the P259 billion allocated for 2024.

"Of the total budget, P271 billion will be dedicated to benefit expenses, covering PhilHealth’s existing and expanded benefit packages. The funding will come from P203 billion in direct contributions, P20 billion from investments, and P48 billion from the surplus fund," the four-term senator pointed out.

In addition to this, she said, the remainder of PhilHealth's surplus amount could be augment the P271 billion allotted for benefit expense in 2025 should it be exhausted.

The lady senator also underscored the need for PhilHealth to expand its benefit packages to address the full spectrum of healthcare needs

“The UHC Law was enacted to ensure healthcare is accessible at the point of care,” Legarda stressed while directing PhilHealth to identify accredited Konsulta provider centers equipped with breast screening, ultrasound and mammogram machines.

“It is unacceptable for people to queue at multiple offices seeking assistance for hospital bills while billions sit unused,” she stated emphatically.

In ending, Legarda called for operational reforms, faster reimbursement processes, and prioritization of vulnerable sectors.

“The UHC Law was enacted to provide equitable healthcare for all Filipinos. PhilHealth must rise to the challenge and fulfill this promise. No Filipino should be left behind when it comes to healthcare,” she concluded.