Go lauds removal of 45-day hospitalization cap

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go has welcomed the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)’s decision to abolish its decades-old policy limiting hospital confinement coverage to only 45 days per year, calling the move a long-overdue step in aligning health care policies with the real needs of Filipinos.

Effective April 4, PhilHealth will lift the 45-day benefit limit on hospitalizations for both members and dependents.

The policy shift will allow the state health insurer to continue covering prolonged confinement, especially for patients battling severe illnesses or chronic conditions.

“We thank PhilHealth for removing this limitation. There are many patients forced to stop treatment for fear of expenses,” said Go, Senate committee on health chair.

Go noted that the cap had unfairly penalized patients suffering from critical illnesses that require extended hospitalization and has repeatedly urged PhilHealth to remove outdated policies that restrict access to vital services.

“Money should not dictate until when we can undergo treatment,” Go said.

Edwin Mercado, PhilHealth president, described the 45-day rule as an “outdated cost-containment strategy,” adding that the policy no longer makes sense under the current case rates system.

Go has consistently pushed for reforms that shield Filipinos from catastrophic health spending, reiterating that government health services should be built around “malasakit” (caring) and not on bureaucracy.

“Government, especially in health services, should not scrimp on caring for the poor. We all get sick, but not all have the means to pay,” he said.

The reelectionist senator vowed to keep close watch over PhilHealth’s compliance and to continue engaging with stakeholders to ensure that reforms translate into tangible relief for ordinary Filipinos, not just on paper but in hospital wards across the country.