The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has increased its benefit package for heat-related illnesses by 30 percent as some fall ill due to continued extreme heat nationwide.

The package is inclusive of hospital charges and professional fees of the attending physicians.

“Dati-rati po, PHP6,500 lamang, pero effective po February 14, nag-increase po tayo, PHP8,450 na (Before, it’s only PHP6,500, but effective February 14, it has increased to PHP8,450),” PhilHealth corporate affairs vice president Rey Baleña said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on Thursday.

Under the Universal Healthcare Law, all Filipinos are PhilHealth members and are eligible for the benefits.

However, members must ensure that they go to health facilities accredited by the PhilHealth, Baleña said.

The Department of Health has recorded 77 cases of heat-related illnesses from Jan. 1 to April 29, 2024. Of these cases, 67 are aged 12 to 21.

Of these, seven were reported deaths (non-conclusive for heat-stroke due to insufficient data).

The deaths may be heat-related illnesses including heat stroke, or heat-influenced such as underlying high risk for heart attack, precipitated by a hot environment that led to elevated blood pressure. (PNA)