The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) announced that its benefit package for breast cancer is now up to P1.4 million, a 1,400-percent increase from the previous package of P100,000 effective March 30, 2024.
PhilHealth Circular 2024-0007, published recently, stated that the enhanced Z Benefit Package now covers Stages 0 to 4 of breast cancer and even expanded the eligibility qualifications of members who can avail, even covering patients already undergoing treatment for the said illness.
“This significant leap in the Z Benefits Package for breast cancer is proof that PhilHealth is committed to delivering our mandate, to provide responsive benefits to our Kababayans and we will continue implementing benefits that will improve the financial coverage under our thrust Pinalawak at Bagong Benepisyo para sa Mamamayang Filipino,” said PhilHealth president and chief executive Emmanuel Ledesma Jr.
“This package provides a ‘holistic approach’ to breast cancer treatment because it covers diagnostic tests, breast cancer management up to surveillance or assessment for early signs of relapse after the surgery,” he said.
Based on the guidelines, the mandatory services have different package rates depending on the doctor’s recommendation which is based on the patient’s requirements.
Diagnostic tests and prognostication range from P1,000 to P10,000; surgical procedures from partial mastectomy to modified radical mastectomy range from P30,000 – P140,000; hormonotherapy coverage is P2,700 or P18,000 while cytotoxic chemotherapy shall be paid from P43,000 to P185,010.
The bulk of the package goes to targeted therapy amounting to more than P1 million coverage, which translates to P333,336 for 18 maximum cycles.
The surveillance, which is divided into basic and specific services, ranges from P5,000 and P9,000 respectively.
To avail of the enhanced Z Benefit Package for breast cancer, members or their qualified dependents are advised to contact the Z Benefits Coordinator of any of the current 21 contracted health facilities for them to be guided on the availment procedures from pre-authorization procedures up to cost-sharing aspect of the treatment, if there is any.