PhilHealth increases breast cancer benefit to P1.4 million

Breast cancer patients may now avail of up to P1.4 million worth of benefit for treatment as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) approved the hike for its "Z Benefit Package."

PhilHealth acting Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group Rey Baleña on Thursday said that the PhilHealth Board approved increasing the package rate for breast cancer patients from the previous P100,000 to P1.4 million, effective March 30, 2024.  

“Good news ito sa mga kababayan natin lalo na sa magpapagamot, kahit ‘yung kasalukuyang nagpapagamot na, for breast cancer,” Baleña said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview. 

(This is good news for our countrymen, especially those who will undergo treatment, and even those who are currently undergoing treatment, for breast cancer.) 

“Ang kagandahan nito ay lahat ng stages [ng breast cancer] ay makaka-avail ‘yung pasyente… Dati po, early stages lang ang qualified sa Z Benefit for breast cancer,” he added. 

(Patients can avail of this benefit regardless of the stage of their breast cancer. Before, only patients with early stages of breast cancer were qualified for the Z Benefit.) 

Breast cancer has five stages from 0 to IV, and its management includes surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonotherapy, and surveillance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that treatment for breast cancer can be highly effective, especially when the disease is identified early.

Its symptoms include a breast lump or thickening; alteration in size, shape or appearance of a breast; dimpling, redness, pitting or other alteration in the skin; change in nipple appearance or alteration in the skin surrounding the nipple; and/or abnormal nipple discharge.

According to PhilHealth, its members and their qualified dependents are eligible to avail of the enhanced benefit package at the time of pre-authorization approval.

In March, the Department of Health (DOH) said PhilHealth was also targeting to offer by June this year free mammography and ultrasound screening services that will help detect breast cancer and other conditions. --Giselle Ombay/ VAL, GMA Integrated News