MANILA — Malacañang said the Supreme Court-ordered return of P60 billion to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will directly reinforce the government’s zero-balance billing (ZBB) policy, a key promise of the Marcos administration to shield poor patients from out-of-pocket expenses in public hospitals.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. considers the restoration of the funds “critical” to sustaining the administration’s health-care commitments, particularly for indigent Filipinos who rely on government hospitals.
“Nakita talaga ng Pangulo ang importansiya ng pondo lalo’t mayroon tayong zero-balance billing,” Castro said in a radio interview. “‘Yun talaga ang gusto ng Pangulo, matulungan ang lahat ng ating kababayan sa pangkalusugan na isyu.”
The Supreme Court earlier ordered the return of the P60 billion originally appropriated for PhilHealth under the 2026 General Appropriations Act after it was set for transfer to the National Treasury. The ruling requires that the amount be remitted back to the state insurer.
PhilHealth welcomed the decision, saying it affirms support for its Universal Health Care programs and will enable the agency to further enhance benefits and services.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto also noted that the recovery of the funds aligned with a directive issued by President Marcos last September, instructing agencies to restore the withheld amount to PhilHealth.
Under the ZBB policy, patients admitted to basic or ward-level rooms in Department of Health hospitals should incur no out-of-pocket costs, as PhilHealth is mandated to shoulder the full hospital bill.
The agency also reiterated that patients availing of ZBB benefits in DOH hospitals will not be required to submit additional documents./PN
