5 of the 14 hospitals are in Metro Manila alone. Seven areas haven’t any accredited amenities in any respect.
MANILA, Philippines – Entry to state insurance coverage protection for Filipino youngsters with disabilities stays restricted, as information gathered by the Second Congressional Fee on Training (EDCOM 2) present that seven areas haven’t any amenities for such protection.
EDCOM 2 discovered that in your complete nation, there are solely 14 hospitals providing the Z Profit package deal of the Philippine Well being Insurance coverage Company (PhilHealth) for youngsters with disabilities.
Of these 14 hospitals, 10 are in Luzon, whereas there are solely two every within the Visayas and Mindanao. Out of the ten in Luzon, 5 or half are concentrated within the Nationwide Capital Area.
The next areas would not have accredited amenities:
- Ilocos Area
- Mimaropa
- Central Visayas
- Zamboanga Peninsula
- Northern Mindanao
- Soccsksargen
- Caraga
The Z Profit package deal provides monetary protection to folks affected by “catastrophic diseases” or medical circumstances requiring expensive, long-term remedies akin to most cancers and kidney transplants.
Within the Philippines, there are 5.1 million youngsters with disabilities, in keeping with an EDCOM 2 coverage transient.
The package deal for them covers 4 forms of disabilities: developmental disabilities (akin to autism, mental disabilities, cerebral palsy, and others), listening to impairment, mobility problems, and visible disabilities.
As of June 2026, just one facility within the nation affords protection for all 4 forms of disabilities — the Philippine Normal Hospital in Manila. One facility within the Visayas and one facility in Mindanao each provide protection for 3 forms of disabilities. The remaining amenities solely cowl one sort of incapacity.
Discover the entire hospitals on the map beneath. Click on the white dots to see every hospital’s title and the forms of disabilities coated below the Z Profit package deal. Areas shaded in lighter orange haven’t any accredited amenities.
Here’s a listing of all of the hospitals in a searchable desk.
PhilHealth information confirmed that there have been solely 841 Z Profit paid claims nationwide in December 2025, amounting to P6.8 million. These don’t replicate particular person transactions, as one beneficiary could make a number of claims.
PhilHealth at present operates with a P128.7-billion finances for 2026, with an extra P60 billion following a Supreme Court docket choice. P16.5 billion has been put aside to strengthen the implementation of the Common Well being Care Act, together with enhancements to Z Profit packages.
In a 2022 report, the United Nations Youngsters’s Fund or UNICEF discovered that elevating a baby with incapacity within the Philippines prices 40% to 80% greater than elevating a baby with no incapacity. It beneficial that PhilHealth ramp up its protection because it solely covers a fraction of the particular bills.
In his fifth State of the Nation Deal with (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talked about that PhilHealth would develop its protection for youngsters with developmental disabilities.
“Dodoblehin natin ang PhilHealth package deal para sa pagpapatingin sa remedy. Dadamihan din natin mula 90 hanggang 150 ang bilang ng remedy classes na sakop ng PhilHealth,” Marcos stated in his speech.
(We’ll double the PhilHealth package deal for remedy consultations. We will even enhance the variety of remedy classes coated by PhilHealth from 90 to 150.)
Package deal advantages
Requested for extra particulars relating to Marcos’ SONA remarks, PhilHealth stated it’s nonetheless reviewing the best way to improve the package deal for youngsters with developmental disabilities, and that it goals to have the specifics out by the top of 2026.
For now, beneficiaries — who have to be 0 to 17 years outdated and should endure the required assessments to be eligible — can search the next types of insurance coverage protection that change per incapacity:
| Youngsters with developmental disabilities | – P3,626 to P5,276 for evaluation and discharge evaluation – As much as 9 remedy units, with 10 classes every, at P5,000 per set |
| Youngsters with listening to impairment | – Insurance coverage for listening to help becoming ranges from P45,000 to P67,000, relying on the age and severity of the situation – P22,000 to P63,000 for speech remedy classes and counseling |
| Youngsters with mobility problems | – P13,110 to P163,540 for buying assistive gadgets, relying on the age and severity of the situation – P1,500 to P13,000 yearly companies and substitute of gadgets |
| Youngsters with visible disabilities | – P9,000 to P31,000 for preliminary evaluation and intervention, together with rehabilitation and coaching, relying on visible impairment class – P2,000 to P7,000 for optical aids, relying on visible impairment class – P780 to P3,000 for yearly diagnostics |
View the total listing of PhilHealth’s packages and detailed advantages for every incapacity right here.
PhilHealth’s Company Communication Division informed Rappler that also they are seeking to enhance the remainder of the packages for different disabilities.
“We’re at present bettering our advantages packages…. Depende po sa final result ng research/analysis (It will depend on the end result of research and analysis), so as to develop the coverage,” they stated in a Viber message.
On Monday, August 3, the Home training committee discovered that there’s additionally a scarcity of medical specialists to diagnose youngsters with disabilities.
As of July 27, there are solely 109 developmental pediatricians — who assess, diagnose, and deal with youngsters with studying difficulties and behavioral problems — and 155 clinics licensed by the Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics that serve your complete nation. – Rappler.com
