In a significant move to combat the growing HIV crisis, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has announced a major enhancement to its healthcare package for persons living with HIV. The state insurer reaffirmed its commitment on Monday, coinciding with World AIDS Day observances.
Substantial Increase in Financial Coverage
The upgraded Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment Package now offers an annual benefit of PHP 58,500. This marks a substantial 95-percent increase from the previous coverage limit of PHP 30,000. The enhanced package is designed to provide comprehensive support, covering antiretroviral therapy for all individuals with confirmed HIV test results from accredited facilities.
Dr. Edwin M. Mercado, PhilHealth's Acting President and CEO, directly addressed the community, urging them to seek care without fear. "So do not be afraid or embarrassed to seek treatment. You can be assured that we will protect your personal information," Mercado stated in Filipino, emphasizing the strengthened confidentiality safeguards integrated into the program.
Aligning with National Health Emergency Response
This initiative comes at a critical time. The Department of Health recently reported more than 5,500 new HIV cases from July to September 2025 alone, prompting calls for a national public health emergency declaration. PhilHealth's response is framed as a direct alignment with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to improve and sustain healthcare benefits, focusing on early diagnosis, treatment, and wider access.
The program operates under the broader Yaman ng Kalusugan Program and is available in 234 PhilHealth-accredited and DOH-designated HIV treatment hubs across the country. The scale of the need is underscored by the fact that in 2024, PhilHealth disbursed PHP 1.66 billion to settle 176,819 claims under the OHAT Package.
Call for Community and Family Support
Expressing concern over the trend of younger Filipinos getting infected, Dr. Mercado called for stronger community and family support. "It is alarming to hear that PLHIV are getting younger and younger," he said, appealing to parents to support affected youth and guide them towards early prevention and the regular care available at YAKAP Clinics.
By significantly boosting financial aid and reinforcing privacy measures, PhilHealth aims to remove key barriers to treatment and management, supporting the national theme of "Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response" for World AIDS Day.
