04/04/2025
A Real-Life Example of the Importance of Financial Protection
Good morning!
Here’s a compelling real-life story from Philippine Associate Justice Lopez. During his illness, PhilHealth covered only 2% (or P50,000) of his ₱7 million medical bill, leaving him to shoulder an overwhelming financial burden.
I truly hope he had access to sound financial advice and secured a policy with Manulife. If he had, the risk of paying such a massive amount could have been transferred to Manulife, easing the financial strain on him and his family.
This case is a strong testament to the gaps in our government’s healthcare insurance system. It highlights the crucial role that companies like Manulife play in bridging these gaps and providing Filipinos with much-needed financial security.
The opportunity to make a difference is immense, and we are here to help improve the lives of every Filipino. Our mission is not just about business—it is about protecting families and securing futures.
https://www.facebook.com/share/165GhJoNac/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Supreme Court Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez has publicly shared his frustration with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) by revealing that the state insurer covered a mere ₱50,000 or just 2% of his nearly ₱7 million hospital bill when he battled esophageal cancer two years ago.
He made the revelation during the resumption of the SC’s oral arguments proceedings on the consolidated petitions challenging the legality of transferring surplus funds from government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), including the PhilHealth, to the national treasury.
During interpellation, Lopez recounted his personal experience and shed light on the limited financial assistance provided by the government health insurer despite decades of contributions.
“If may be allowed to narrate my own personal experience with regard to PhilHealth. You see, two years ago, I was stricken of esophageal cancer which went into my lungs and I had to be confined for more than two months in one hospital in Metro Manila. And if I recall it correctly, my bill runs up to almost P7 million. And would you know how much of it was covered by PhilHealth? Can you make a good guess, Counsel?” Lopez asked Atty. Paula Mae Tanquieng, counsel for the petitioners.
Tanquieng replied, “Good afternoon, Your Honor. If I may, Your Honor. I am pretty sure, Your Honor, it is not more than 10%.”
Lopez responded, “Definitely much lower than 10%. It’s only 50,000. I don’t know how to compute it but I’m sure it’s less than 2%.”
Lopez further revealed that his post-surgery procedures, each costing around ₱40,000, were not covered at all.
“They have to expand my throat and my esophagus. And every time I do that procedure, I have to spend more or less around P40,000. And again, I went to see PhilHealth. Personally, I asked how much can be covered by PhilHealth. And PhilHealth told me, I ran out of money. They cannot answer�any of the 40,000 despite the fact that I’ve been regularly paying PhilHealth for the last… I’ve been in government service for more than 40.years. I started working for the government in 1985,” Lopez said.
https://abogado.com.ph/sc-justice-jhosep-lopez-philhealth-covered-only-2-of-my-₱7m-cancer-bill/
Tony Leachon
