Senator JV Ejercito, principal author and sponsor of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law of 2019, confirmed that PhilHealth now covers 40% of the total cost of cataract surgeries as part of the law’s continuing implementation.
Ejercito, who recently underwent an eye procedure himself, noted that PhilHealth now provides 40% coverage for cataract operations, one of the leading causes of blindness among Filipinos. Cataract remains one of the leading causes of blindness in the Philippines. The 40% subsidy helps reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients seeking treatment. He said the benefit is proof that the law’s impact is “now being slowly felt by everyone, especially with hospital bills.”
Under the Universal Healthcare Law, all Filipinos are automatically enrolled as PhilHealth members, ensuring access to health services even without prior registration. The law also mandates the expansion of PhilHealth’s benefit packages, improved financial coverage for essential medical procedures, and strengthened support for public hospitals and local health facilities.
He emphasized that improving PhilHealth’s participation in hospital billing and benefit delivery remains a priority to ensure that Filipinos truly feel the government’s support when seeking medical care.
