The Philippine government is proposing a ₱74.45-billion budget for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in 2027, including ₱19 billion for improved benefit packages and other priority health programs.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the proposed allocation is aimed at broadening health coverage, particularly for mental health services, severe malnutrition, and assistance to hospitals operated by local government units.
Part of the proposed funding will cover the national government’s premium subsidies for qualified PhilHealth members, with around 11.09 million beneficiaries projected to receive support in 2027, up from an estimated 10.65 million this year.
The funding proposal is also intended to help reduce the amount Filipino families have to pay out of pocket for medical treatment.
In September, the DBM approved ₱10.377 billion for the implementation of the Zero Balance Billing program. Of this amount, ₱9.377 billion was allocated for Department of Health hospitals nationwide, while ₱1 billion was set aside for six participating LGU hospitals in Benguet, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Aklan and Sarangani.
The agency also released another ₱800 million to support the Philippine General Hospital’s implementation of Zero Balance Billing.
Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon stressed that government health expenditures should translate into direct assistance for patients.
“Every peso we release for health must ultimately reach the patient,” De Leon said.
Following the approval of the Zero Balance Billing funds, De Leon said patients should not have to choose between seeking medical care and protecting their families from high hospital expenses.
“This ₱10.377-billion release is about making sure that when our people get sick, government is there to help carry the burden,” he said.
The proposed PhilHealth allocation is included in the government’s ₱353.8-billion health-sector investment plan for 2027.
The broader proposal includes ₱107.29 billion for the operations of 72 DOH regional hospitals and other health facilities, ₱25.39 billion for the National Health Workforce Support System, and ₱3.75 billion for the Cancer Assistance Fund.
PhilHealth’s total funding for 2026 reached ₱129.8 billion after its initial ₱53.13-billion subsidy was increased by a ₱60-billion funding recovery and an additional ₱16.52 billion approved during bicameral conference committee deliberations.