PhilHealth highlights ‘Yakap’ for workers on Labor Day
Various branches of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) across the country highlighted on Labor Day its Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (Yakap) that aims to assist government and private employees in their health needs.
Under the program, enlisted workers may avail of medical consultations, laboratory services, certain medicine and diagnostic tests from more than 4,000 clinics in all regions of the country, listed on the PhilHealth website.
PhilHealth said there are already millions of registered beneficiaries across the country, but the agency continues to encourage workers to enlist in the Yakap clinics so they can be assessed by physicians, who would then prescribe needed procedures or medication up to P20,000. The program covers 75 kinds of medicine, including those for chronic conditions and maintenance.
The medication assistance falls under the Guaranteed and Accessible Medication for Outpatient Treatment (Gamot), a component of Yakap.
PhilHealth reminded its members that benefit packages for heat-related illnesses are available to provide financial protection as temperatures continue to rise across the country.
PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado assured Filipinos that the state insurer remains ready to cover medical expenses for common summer ailments to help reduce out-of-pocket costs for families.
Heat-related
“PhilHealth stands ready to protect every Filipino. We want all members to know that coverage is available to help ensure their safety, wherever they are and regardless of the season,” Mercado said in a statement.
Members can avail of inpatient benefit packages for various heat-related conditions in any PhilHealth-accredited hospital nationwide.
The packages include heat fatigue and other effects of heat and light (P18,135), typhoid fever (P19,500) sore eyes/conjunctivitis (P16,575), heat stroke, exhaustion, collapse or cramps (P12,675), infectious diarrhea/acute gastroenteritis (P11,700), toxic effect of contact with marine animals like jellyfish (P11,115), moderate to severe dehydration (P7,800) and chickenpox without complication (P7,800).
PhilHealth further reiterated that emergency health-care needs—whether heat-related or otherwise—are covered under the Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit (OECB) Package, which is available in accredited Level 1 to 3 hospitals.
The agency noted that the OECB ensures members can access immediate care for urgent conditions, strengthening financial security during medical emergencies.
