President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to implement a general amnesty for individuals and employers who have missed their contributions. In a video message, Marcos said the move is part of the government’s continued support for healthcare. “In our continued effort to help our fellow countrymen, especially in what we call healthcare, I have directed PhilHealth to implement a general amnesty for businessmen, private employers, the self-employed who have not paid their PhilHealth contributions,” he said. The President acknowledged that the 3% monthly PhilHealth contribution is a significant expense for many Filipinos. Under the directive, a one-time waiver on interest for unpaid PhilHealth contributions will be applied in 2026. Selected hospitals also offer free cancer screening with a valid prescription from an accredited primary care provider. The program additionally provides access to more medicines through PhilHealth’s Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (Gamot) program. “I have directed PhilHealth, we will do this this year, 2026, the so-called one-time waiver for interest… this year 2026,” Marcos said. Marcos also urged employers to register their employees under the Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) Program to access PhilHealth’s expanded benefits. “We are also encouraging our employers to update all your information and register your employees in the Yaman Kalusugan or ‘YAKAP Program,’” he said. The YAKAP Program builds on the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) initiative and expands primary and outpatient care services, including medicines, check-ups, and basic laboratory tests. This covers missed contributions from July 2013 to December 2024, benefiting an estimated 300,000 employers.
