
ILOILO City – Patients admitted to basic ward accommodations in four Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals in Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region (NIR) do not have pay a single centavo for their confinement, as the government fully implements its “zero balance billing” policy.
The program, highlighted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28, guarantees free hospitalization for eligible inpatients in DOH facilities.
“Itinuloy na po natin ang zero balance billing. Libre po,” Marcos declared.
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Region 6 Public Affairs Unit head Janimhe Jalbuna confirmed that the policy applies to the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo; Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital in Santa Barbara, Iloilo; Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City; and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City which is now part of NIR.
“Patients admitted to hospitals managed by the Department of Health will not have to pay any bills, provided they are confined to a ward,” Jalbuna said, noting that the NIR is under PhilHealth Region 6’s jurisdiction while the DOH manages a separate office.
The zero balance billing is part of the wider Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, which emphasizes the principle of equitable access to quality health services for all citizens without causing financial strain. It aims to promote health equity, especially for underprivileged populations, by mitigating the costs associated with hospitalization and treatment.
Undersecretary and spokesperson Dr. Albert Francis Edralin Domingo explained that coverage under the Universal Health Care Law applies to all PhilHealth registered Filipinos.
“Even if you do not contribute, you are still covered. The funding comes from what we call indirect contributors, which include subsidies and sin taxes, among others,” he said. “In simple terms, you will not have to pay anything as long as you are admitted as an inpatient under ward admission.”
The policy covers room and board, physician fees, diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medicines, provided they are within PhilHealth’s coverage.
It does not cover private hospitals, patients who select private rooms, or those having elective procedures.
“If a patient wants a private room or suite, it is not covered by basic ward accommodation. If they want an extra doctor, they must pay for that themselves. Additional amenities like air-conditioning, a TV, a refrigerator, or a telephone also require personal payment. The government and PhilHealth only guarantee basic ward accommodation, which provides the minimum standards of care at no extra cost,” said Jalbuna.
NO BALANCE BILLING (NBB) POLICY/ NO CO-PAYMENT POLICY IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS
In his SONA, President Marcos said the “zero balance billing” policy applies only to DOH-run hospitals. It is important to note that not all public hospitals fall under the DOH.
PhilHealth, however, clarified that since 2011, it has introduced the No Balance Billing (NBB) policy to support financially vulnerable patients, particularly those categorized as indigent. Under this policy, patients can be assured they will not be charged more than what is covered by their PhilHealth package during their confinement in government hospitals. This initiative aims to alleviate the burden of medical expenses and strengthen the healthcare safety net for the most vulnerable members of society.
PhilHealth also revealed that the NBB policy had been updated in 2019, covering all membership categories, with “no financial status restrictions” under the Universal Healthcare Law.
“Si (President) nag-focus lang sa DOH-retained hospitals, nga kon mag gwa ikaw ang imo bill ma-zero, wala ka na bayaran. Pero actually ang aton “no co-pay” policy indi lang sa DOH-run hospitals; covered man ang other hospitals, amo ini ang mga devolved hospitals under sa LGUs (local government units) like mga district hospitals. Meaning, kon magsulod aton pasyente sa ila, other than DOH-run hospitals, apply man naton ang no co-pay policy basta basic ward accommodation. Guaranteed nga wala sila bayran on top sa ginabayran ni PhilHealth” Jalbuna emphasized.
Additionally, there are limitations to consider. Any expenses incurred after discharge from the hospital must be covered by the patients themselves./PN