The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) still owes approximately 1,200 private hospitals around P4 billion in unpaid claims dating back to the pandemic, according to Dr. Jose de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi).

In a televised interview on Friday, 10 January, De Grano revealed that while PhilHealth’s debt once stood at P8 to P10 billion, a portion has been settled. Many hospitals, however, remain unpaid.

“When we ask our members, many still haven’t been paid. Our rough estimate is that the remaining balance is around P4 billion,” De Grano said.

De Grano also noted rising healthcare expenses in 2025, potentially exceeding the 18.3-percent increase projected by global consultancy Willis Towers Watson (WTW).

Although WTW data showed the growth rate was slightly lower than the previous year’s 19.3 percent, De Grano said costs are expected to remain elevated due to inflation, a weaker peso, and increased operational expenses.

“The peso has dropped to 58 [to one dollar]; it used to be just 43 to 47. So the imported equipment used by hospitals is affected, along with the services we provide, which is why costs are increasing,” he said.

He added that while the 18-percent projection may be an average, some hospitals could experience even higher cost increases up to 25 percent.

While the PHAPi president expressed his support for the increased benefits for PhilHealth members, he called the increase by 50 percent on all benefit packages “double-edged.”

“Of course, we support better benefits for the members, but PhilHealth should pay us promptly. Hospitals are shouldering these costs in advance, a burden the government should handle,” he said.

Earlier this month, PhilHealth announced that it would increase all benefit packages despite this year’s denial of a government subsidy for the public health insurer.