Marcos: PhilHealth services to continue, improve

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured Filipinos Thursday that Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) services will continue and even improve despite the proposed removal of government subsidies in the 2025 budget.

Marcos emphasized that regardless of funding, PhilHealth's services and insurance claim payments will not decrease and may even expand to provide more benefits to members.

Senate finance committee chair Grace Poe previously revealed that PhilHealth has P600 billion reserve funds to operate without a subsidy.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said lawmakers are studying the possible year-long suspension of PhilHealth premiums, as they look into whether the agency is financially stable enough to support such a move.

PhilHealth itself confirmed it has sufficient funds but expressed hope for reconsideration of the zero-subsidy decision.

Lawmakers and health advocates continue to discuss the implications of the subsidy cut, with assurances from President Marcos that services will not be reduced and may even improve.