The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has significantly expanded its outpatient HIV treatment (OHAT) package, now offering an annual benefit of P58,500—nearly doubling the previous rate of P30,000.
In a statement on Thursday, PhilHealth reaffirmed its commitment to supporting people living with HIV (PLHIV) by enhancing financial access to essential healthcare services through comprehensive outpatient HIV/AIDS treatment coverage.
“This enhancement aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to continuously improve and sustain healthcare benefits, ensuring adequate financial support for patients undergoing medical treatment,” the agency said.
During his second State of the Nation Address, Marcos emphasized the need for a nationwide effort to curb the rising cases of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, calling for strategic interventions to enhance early diagnosis, treatment accessibility, and availability of testing sites and medications.
The improved OHAT package covers antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all individuals with confirmed HIV-positive test results, regardless of their clinical or immunologic status. It also guarantees access to essential services required for effective HIV management.
PhilHealth members can avail of these benefits at any of the 234 DOH-designated HIV treatment facilities accredited by the agency nationwide.
Encouraging broader participation, PhilHealth urged its members to take advantage of the improved OHAT package by undergoing regular HIV testing. Additionally, a separate tuberculosis directly observed therapy short-course (TB-DOTS) package is available for reimbursement at accredited TB-DOTS facilities. Members may avail of both the OHAT and TB-DOTS packages simultaneously.
In 2024 alone, PhilHealth has disbursed P1.66 billion in benefits for 176,819 outpatient HIV/AIDS treatment claims, reflecting its sustained efforts to expand healthcare coverage for Filipinos.