PhilHealth now covers human “bird-flu cases”

TKEEPING that vision to serve, especially with the global threat of the avian flu pandemic at the doorstep, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has expanded its benefits earlier allotted for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and now it includes “bird flu” and all the influenza pandemic that hits humanity.

A PhilHealth Board Resolution No. 880, s-2006 has allowed the government health service provider to expand its benefits range to cover H5N1 or new subtypes of avian influenza A virus. The virus is now reportedly circulated among humans despite the fact that it and other subtypes of avian influenza A virus, that have not been circulated among humans for a long time.

PHIC's new offer covers the patient's hospitalization benefits at P50,000 per case. It may be availed of by PhilHealth members and dependents admitted to Avian Flu and Influenza Pandemic hospitals designated by the Department of Health (DOH).

Furthermore, hospitalization benefits for health care workers in DOH-designated Avian Flu and Influenza Pandemic hospitals may get P100,000 per case, provided the health care worker contracted the disease while caring for an avian flu or flu pandemic patient. The current eligibility rules apply for the availment of the benefit.

Excluded from this benefit package are influenza-like illnesses and other seasonal outbreaks of influenza caused by flu viruses that occur widely in humans. These cases of influenza are covered by the regular hospitalization benefits of PhilHealth.

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