The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will expand its benefit package for leptospirosis starting July 15, 2026, allowing qualified patients with severe cases to receive up to P411,000 in healthcare coverage, Malacañang announced.
Presidential directive drives expansion
The enhanced benefits align with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive to improve healthcare access and reduce financial burden for Filipinos, according to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro during a Palace briefing on Tuesday.
Under the updated package, qualified patients can receive up to P63,000 for hospital care, P170,000 for hemodialysis, and P230,000 for peritoneal dialysis.
Coverage details for intensive treatment
Castro noted that coverage could reach P411,000 for qualified patients requiring intensive treatment, including a combination of hemodialysis, mechanical ventilation, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
PhilHealth continues to provide free consultations through its Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (Yakap), where patients can be prescribed doxycycline, an antibiotic used to prevent leptospirosis when medically necessary.
Medicine benefit and high-risk groups
The PhilHealth medicine benefit package also provides up to P20,000 annually per member for drugs needed to treat leptospirosis, Castro added.
According to the Department of Health, many cases involve farmers who are frequently exposed to mud and potentially contaminated water while working in rice paddies.
