The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said it has contacted the family of a deceased member whose widow alleged that he was denied benefits after being hospitalized for less than 24 hours.
In a statement, PhilHealth said it immediately acted after learning about the family’s concerns, which gained attention through a viral social media post.
“PhilHealth immediately mobilized upon learning of the incident to understand and address the situation. We have reached out to the member’s wife and have agreed on the next steps as we explore all avenues of support,” the agency said.
PhilHealth added that it is coordinating with the hospitals involved to better understand the circumstances surrounding the case.
The controversy stemmed from a social media post by the member’s widow, who questioned why her husband allegedly became ineligible for certain PhilHealth benefits after dying less than 24 hours following hospital admission.
In her post, she appealed for a review of existing policies and asked why longtime contributors could not access benefits during times of greatest need.
“What is the purpose of PhilHealth if the people who have contributed for decades cannot access the benefits when they need them most?” she wrote.
PhilHealth said it is aware of the viral post and expressed sympathy for the family.
“Please know that PhilHealth will always stand with our members, especially in their time of need,” the agency said.
The state insurer has yet to release further details on the assistance being considered as discussions with the family and the hospitals continue.
