BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — PhilHealth Baguio Local Health Insurance Office Chief Janet Palaez clarified key details about the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) and updated health insurance policies, addressing public inquiries and misconceptions to help residents maximize their benefits.
Following numerous reactions to their previous information drive, Palaez sat down with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to explain that YAKAP is designed as a preventive care measure intended to decongest hospitals and ensure every resident has access to basic health services.
YAKAP: Who can avail, where to go, and what to get
Palaez clarified the eligibility requirement. She said that only a PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) is needed to avail of YAKAP services. Unlike hospital confinement, payment of contributions is not required to access preventive care.
“You do not need to worry about unpaid contributions or penalties. As long as you are registered and have a PIN, you can go to any accredited center. This is different when you are confined in a hospital, where contribution history is checked,” she said.
In Baguio City, 15 out of 16 District Health Centers are accredited YAKAP providers, with the Mines View currently undergoing accreditation. Residents are encouraged to visit their nearest center, such as Lucban, Atab, Engineer’s Hill, Pacdal, Loakan, or Scout Barrio, instead of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) where queues are long.
Services start with the First Patient Encounter (FPE), a complete health profiling including weight, height, blood pressure check, and doctor consultation. Members are entitled to a P20,000 annual allowance covering 75 essential medicines, 21 of which are available directly at the center while 54 are at accredited GAMOT pharmacies. Thirteen (13) basic laboratory tests are also covered, with lab services centralized at the main health center.
Palaez emphasized that the allowance cannot be converted to cash, nor used for prescriptions from private doctors. She also assured the public that generic medicines are safe and effective, as all are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The goal is simple: hospitals are for the seriously ill; health centers are for check-ups and prevention. We want to stop sickness before it happens,” she added.
Addressing questions raised on social media, Palaez reminded members that YAKAP and hospitalization benefits are separate, and availing one does not cancel the other.
While contributions are not required for preventive care, she still encourages members to pay regularly to ensure full coverage during serious illness, noting that there are no penalties for delayed payments.
“Health is wealth. Even with plenty of money, a serious illness can wipe out your savings. PhilHealth is your safety net—better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it,” Palaez said.
She invited residents with further inquiries to visit the PhilHealth Baguio Local Health Insurance Office or the nearest accredited health center for assistance.
The expanded coverage of Philhealth is part of the efforts of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the provision of comprehensive health services to all Filipinos. **JDP/MAWC/PIA-CAR
