SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, pressed officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to expand its dental coverage, particularly to include tooth fillings and dentures for the poor and elderly.
During a Senate committee hearing on February 12, Senator Go sought clarity on the current scope of PhilHealth’s dental benefits and challenged the agency to do more to ensure accessible oral healthcare for Filipinos.
“So ano pong libre ngayon? Dahil ito ‘yung nirequest natin at meron kayong commitment letter dito to include dental packages. So, paki-explain lang po sa publiko saan nila pwedeng ma-avail ito? Check-up lang ba? O kasama ng bunot sa ngipin? After bunot, anong bibigyan ba ng gamot?” Senator Go asked, addressing Philhealth officials as well as Undersecretary Emmie Liza Perez-Chiong of the Department of Health (DOH).
Chiong explained that the current PhilHealth dental package, which was approved last year, remains focused solely on preventive services. It covers oral check-ups, twice-a-year prophylaxis, pit and fissure sealants for children, and root surface protection for older individuals.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, however, raised concerns over the exclusion of dentures from PhilHealth’s coverage, particularly given the agency’s substantial reserve funds. He argued that senior citizens, who often require dentures, should not be burdened with the cost, stressing that the service should be made free.
PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado acknowledged the package’s current limitations but assured senators that efforts were underway to expand coverage. At present, the services offered are mostly preventive, including extractions, cleaning, and fluoride treatment. However, other essential procedures, such as tooth fillings and broader curative care, remain unavailable.
Senator Go pressed for more details, particularly on whether PhilHealth coverage extended to multiple tooth extractions and if services could be accessed through Super Health Centers.
“Pwede n’yo ma-explain sa publiko kung ano ‘yung pwede nilang ma-avail sa PhilHealth at pwede ba nila itong gawin sa mga Super Health Center? Kasi sa Super Health Center natin, nakikita ko doon, may mga dental chair po doon. So, kung may dentist doon, anong iko-cover ng PhilHealth sa ngayon? Bunot? Ilang ngipin? Isa lang? O may limit ba? One at a time? O pwedeng dalawa? O pwedeng tatlo?” he asked.
Chiong clarified that under PhilHealth’s current preventive package, only one emergency tooth extraction is covered. This prompted Senator Tulfo to question why the benefit was so limited.
In response, Chiong explained that the existing coverage is still in its initial phase, focusing only on preventive care. She noted that in 2025, the curative dental package would be introduced, which would expand the range of services available under PhilHealth.
Senator Go then urged PhilHealth to ensure that tooth fillings would also be included in the expanded dental package, stressing that preserving teeth should be prioritized instead of resorting to extractions.
“‘Yun ang check n’yo rin po, ‘yung pasta. ‘Yung iba kasi, habang pwede pang pakinabangan, ‘yung iba tatanggalin na lang, hindi ilibre ‘yung pasta. Sayang naman ‘yung ngipin. Mas alam ng dentista ‘yan. Mas alam n’yo po ‘yan. Pero baka pwede pa isalba,” he said.
Senators Go and Tulfo emphasized the need to include tooth fillings in PhilHealth’s coverage, arguing that the procedure should be provided for free, similar to other medical services that the government has already subsidized.
Senator Go emphasized that PhilHealth had already made commitments during previous budget deliberations to improve its coverage, including additional medical tests and procedures.
“Pinapirma natin sila. May commitment letter sila during last budget deliberation,” he said.
Senator Go reaffirmed the Senate Committee on Health’s intent to monitor PhilHealth’s expansion of dental benefits, particularly to ensure that lower-income Filipinos and senior citizens receive the oral healthcare services they need.
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