PhilHealth does not provide pension insurance says DOH chief

PhilHealth, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., does not offer pension insurance, according to Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. He clarified that health insurance and pension serve different purposes, with health insurance covering medical expenses and pensions providing income after retirement. Herbosa noted that PhilHealth's management has mistakenly treated its funds like a pension fund, which has affected the payment of health benefits. He emphasized the need to address this issue within the system. For Fiscal Year 2025, PhilHealth's Board approved a PHP284 billion budget, which does not include a government subsidy for indirect contributors. The budget reflects a surplus of PHP150 billion as of October 31.