By Janna Pineda
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Quality oral healthcare is now within reach for every Filipino through the expanded PhilHealth YAKAP.
The expansion of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) to include dental health services marks a significant shift in the country’s primary healthcare settings, moving toward a more integrated approach that treats oral health as a vital component of overall wellness.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) encourages Filipinos to take advantage of these new benefits to reduce the risk of more serious medical complications linked to poor oral hygiene.
“Huwag mahiyang magtanong at magpatingin,” said the state health insurer, stressing that practicing dental care is a crucial step in maintaining a healthy body.
Under the new guidelines, PhilHealth members can now access essential dental health services, including:
- Routine dental check-ups and consultations
- Cleaning sessions
- Fluoride treatments
- Procedures like sealants and emergency dental interventions
The benefit package includes P600 annually for routine preventive oral care and P200 per tooth for sealant applications. Members are entitled to one cleaning per year and two dental fillings (pasta) annually.
To date, there are 129 PhilHealth-accredited dental clinics in Metro Manila and Rizal. In cases where your primary YAKAP clinic does not offer dental services, a referral will be issued to another clinic that can provide the necessary treatment. The clinic handles the necessary PhilHealth processing and facilitates patient referrals.
Meanwhile, PhilHealth assures the public that the 21 essential medicines under YAKAP remain available in all accredited primary care facilities nationwide.
“Patuloy po ang aming pagsisikap na pagbutihin pa ang paghahatid ng aming serbisyo sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga YAKAP providers upang patuloy pang magkaroon ng kapanatagan ang lahat ng Pilipinong umaasa sa PhilHealth,” said PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado.
(We remain steadfast in our commitment to enhancing service delivery by maintaining close coordination with YAKAP providers. Our goal is to ensure continued peace of mind for every Filipino who relies on PhilHealth.) (JMP/PIA-NCR)
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