‘He paid for 25 Years’: PhilHealth Reviews Policies After Widow’s Complaint

PhilHealth has vowed to review its policies after a widow’s complaint over her late husband’s denied benefits went viral, sparking public outrage and renewed scrutiny over how emergency cases are handled.

The issue gained attention after Maria Lourdes Sulit shared on social media the family’s struggle to save her husband, Marvin, who died from a brain hematoma on June 4. 

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According to Sulit, doctors at Manila Doctors Hospital initially informed them that Marvin needed an operation costing around ₱4 million. They were later advised to transfer him to the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERM), where the procedure could reportedly be done at a lower cost.

‎However, Sulit said UERM required a ₱1 million deposit before admission. Unable to immediately raise the amount, the family was left waiting as Marvin’s condition worsened. 

‎Marvin later passed away. Sulit claimed that despite her husband’s more than 25 years of PhilHealth contributions, she was informed that he was not eligible for benefits because he had been confined for less than 24 hours.

“My husband had just died. How could he not be eligible?” Sulit wrote in her social media post.

The case quickly drew widespread criticism online, with many netizens questioning whether existing policies adequately protect members facing medical emergencies.

In response, PhilHealth stated it had already reached out to Sulit and is looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Israel Pargas said the agency is processing the patient’s benefits to help cover the family’s expenses and reviewing its policies to address possible gaps in implementation.

“There are policies where, for example, if a patient passes away in less than 24 hours, or less than two days, there are specific packages assigned. Perhaps the hospital just didn’t notice, see, or familiarize themselves with it, which is why the benefits weren’t provided,” Pargas said.

“We need to do some policy reviews because in situations like this, when we see gaps in implementation, inconsistencies among our healthcare providers, or potentially even irregularities occurring, a policy review is still necessary,” He added.

The incident has also reached lawmakers.

Senator JV Ejercito called for a thorough investigation into the complaint, saying hospitals should not require advance payments before providing emergency or critical treatment.

Ejercito, author of the Universal Health Care Act of 2019, said that if partner hospitals failed to properly implement PhilHealth policies, they should be held accountable.

“If there is non-compliance with PhilHealth regulations, it must be thoroughly investigated. PhilHealth has the power to impose penalties, including fines and suspension of accreditation, on partner hospitals that fail to properly implement its policies,” Ejercito said.

PhilHealth earlier expressed sympathy to the bereaved family and said it remains committed to supporting its members, especially during difficult times.

As of posting time, the agency has yet to release the results of its investigation. 

Manila Doctors Hospital and the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center have also yet to issue separate statements addressing Sulit’s allegations regarding the handling of Marvin’s case.