PhilHealth now covers measles confinement

CEBU, Philippines - Outbreaks of measles are to be expected during the summer season, but 2010 saw incidences of outbreaks as early as January.

Symptoms include fever, general weakness and occasional red eyes, which come before the characteristic skin rash. And because it is airborne, measles is highly contagious especially four days before the rashes appear and four days after.

The Department of Health has recorded a total of 954 cases of measles in the country from January 1 to February 20, 2010. Children aged one to nine are the common victims of measles and this is said to be due to the high percentage of children not vaccinated.

While measles is usually self-limiting and may not require medication, infected persons sometimes suffer from complications due to weak immune systems.

Some of the complications caused by measles are diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis and corneal ulceration leading to corneal scarring. All of which may require hospitalization.

These cases are usually categorized as Type A under PhilHealth’s unified benefit schedule. Case type classification may vary depending on the complications.

Members or dependents confined in Levels 3 or 4 hospitals (like Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center or Chong Hua Hospital) may avail themselves of as much as P500 per day for room and board charges; P4,200 for drugs and medicines; and P3,200 for laboratory procedures and others.

Coverage for doctor’s daily visits is included ranging from P300 per day but not exceeding a total of P1,200 coverage per confinement (for general practitioners), to P500 per day but not exceeding P2,000 coverage per confinement (for specialists).

Qualified PhilHealth members and their dependents may avail of hospitalization benefits if the following conditions are met: (1) confinement in a PhilHealth-accredited hospital, (2) confinement of not less than 24 hours, and (3) availability of room and board allowance.

Members must also ensure that their premium payments are updated. Employed and individually-paying members under the KASAPI program must have paid at least three months of contribution within the immediate six months prior to the month of availment.

Sponsored and overseas worker members may avail themselves of benefits within the validity period of their coverage. Lifetime members are entitled to avail of benefits simply upon presentation of their PhilHealth identification card and their member data record. — /LPM  FREEMAN NEWS)