MANILA - With the onset of the rainy season, PhilHealth said it is ready with a slew of benefit packages for illnesses that come with the wet weather. 

Abigail Romero-Estrada, PhilHealth’s Chief Social Insurance Specialist said their coverage for dengue has increased 30 percent.

Rainy season is here: PAGASA

"Meron kasing mga dengue na iba-ibang severity–so  merong mild, moderate. So kung pinaka-severe, P16,000. At meron ding P13,000. So depende na po iyon sa case ng dengue hemorrhagic fever," she told reporters at the sidelines of a forum.

(There are different severities of dengue, such as mild and moderate. For the most severe cases, we cover P16,000. There are also cases which are covered up to P13,000, so it depends on the case of dengue hemorrhagic fever.)

The state health insurer also offers coverage for leptospirosis patients.

"Iyon pong leptospirosis, currently binabayaran namin siya at the rate of P14,300," she added.

(For leptospirosis, we currently cover P14,300.)

PAGASA forecasts above normal rains by October

Amid the increase in COVID-19 cases and existence of new variants, Romero-Estrada coverage for the disease was "continuous."

"We have been paying COVID-19, starting from P43,000 up to P786,000. Iyong P43,000 po iyong moderate na COVID, then up to iyong critical condition na P786,000," she said.

(The P43,000 is for moderate COVID-19, and it goes up to P786,000 for critical condition cases.)

"For out-patient, currently meron po tayong... home isolation package. And then meron kasing pagbabago kung paano natin gagamutin iyong mga nasa isolation o kung paano iyong isolation. So meron pong mga pag-aaral ngayon na ginagawa iyong PhilHealth kung paano natin ira-rationalize iyong benefit package for COVID-19," she added.

(For out-patient care, we currently have a home isolation package. There are changes in how we treat those in isolation and how isolation is handled. PhilHealth is conducting studies on how to rationalize the benefit package for COVID-19.)

For respiratory distress or lung failure, the PhilHealth covers P14,700 of the hospitalization cost.

The state insurer's Konsulta Package is also available for other out-patient services.