PhilHealth coverage to include eyeglasses, mobility aids in 2025
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will be covering its members’ prescription glasses, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs starting January 2025.
Rep. Erwin Tulfo said on Sept. 22 that House Speaker Martin Romualdez requested additional aid from PhilHealth officials.
“The PhilHealth management agreed to shoulder the cost of these starting next year. It has always been a problem of seniors and persons with disability, where their mobility is always a challenge,” Tulfo said, as per The Philippine STAR.
The ACT-CIS party-list representative added that this will help lessen the financial burdens of our indigent countrymen.
“Wheelchairs are the most in demand, particularly for senior citizens and PWDs. But we didn’t stop there, we also requested [PhilHealth officials] to include eyeglasses, crutches and walkers.”
Tulfo and Romualdez conducted a meeting with PhilHealth officials on Sept. 19.
According to Tulfo, PhilHealth has already agreed to bear the expenses for the equipment starting next year.
Ledesma asked the House Leaders to give them until January next year to implement the program so they can have enough time to create the mechanics of the program.
Earlier in March, AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee filed House Resolution 1623 urging PhilHealth to include optometric services in its benefits coverage.
"While uncorrected refractive errors are the leading cause of vision impairment and are easily addressed with glasses or contacts, unaddressed vision impairment has severe consequences," Lee said in the filing, adding that vision impairment can cause social isolation, depression, and economic hardship in adults.
"Inclusion of optometric services in PhilHealth benefits are essential for promoting eye health, preventing vision loss, and improving the quality of life Filipinos. By providing accessible, comprehensive, and quality eye care services, optometric services can contribute significantly to the well-being of individuals and communities across the country," he added.