Improved health care access for seniors

The elderly population in the Philippines has seen promising developments in terms of health care access, with benefits such as discounts on services and tax exemptions on select medicines. I have been enjoying them for several months now and believe there is still significant potential to enhance these programs further.

Several weeks ago, news reports stated that state health insurer PhilHealth is studying the viability of covering assistive devices such as wheelchairs, canes, crutches and walkers by next year. If implemented, this measure would provide substantial support to senior citizens who rely on these devices for mobility and independence.

Estimates of the National Commission of Senior Citizens show that the Philippines will have a “significant aging population” by 2030 with the Filipino elderly expected to comprise about 8.5 percent of the household population. As of 2020, senior citizens numbered over nine million.

These numbers only highlight the need for the government to expand and improve public health programs and support for the elderly. Majority of Filipinos aged 60 and above are retired and dependent on pension payouts, and over the next half a decade, senior population is only set to increase.

The current list of health care benefits for senior citizens is a welcome development, such as the 20 percent discount on health services and the exemption of several medicines from value-added tax (VAT). Yet the reality is that more support is needed to meet the advanced medical needs of the elderly, many of whom require regular medical attention in their golden years. Strengthening these programs would ensure that seniors receive the comprehensive medical care and promote a healthier and more secure future.

Current financial support programs, including social security benefits and the pension for indigent senior citizens, provide valuable assistance but could be further enhanced to better meet the growing health care needs of the elderly.

And with rising medical costs, it’s a sad reality that many Filipino families are just one hospital bill away from poverty.

Responding to the health care needs of elderly Filipinos require a multifaceted approach that fills in gaps in the public health system and infrastructure, as well as financial support.

Primarily, the government must allocate sufficient funds to improve the facilities and services in public hospitals since these are the most accessible ones, especially to indigent Filipinos. Doing so would improve the quality of medical care provided not only to senior citizens but to the entire community as well.

The situation is especially critical in rural regions, where the lack of health care facilities and the concentration of services in urban centers leave many elderly without timely medical attention. Financial constraints, compounded by limited insurance coverage and transportation issues, further prevent seniors from accessing care, while a shortage of geriatric specialists limits the management of age-related health conditions.

Fortunately, the recent passage of Republic Act 11959, or the Regional Specialty Hospitals Law, brings hope. I was fortunate enough to have an engaging discussion with Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes, one of the principal authors of this law. According to him, this is a major step in making advanced tertiary health care more accessible outside Metro Manila. This is very critical for seniors who have mobility issues. He foresees a time when seniors will be only a short distance away from specialized doctors and facilities, bringing much-needed care closer to home.

Another aspect work looking into is the necessity to expand medical benefits for seniors, given the steep rise in healthcare costs. Top of mind is expanding the tax exemption on medicine purchases of senior citizens to cover the various medical conditions faced by the elderly.

Currently, only select medicines are covered by the VAT exemption, such as those for high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer and hypertension. Expanding this exemption could ease the financial burden on seniors with other chronic conditions.

Moreover, it would also be ideal for the government to mandate all hospitals to have a dedicated unit for attending to inquiries, billing, payment processing, and other administrative concerns of senior citizens.

This would ensure that their concerns are properly addressed without disrupting normal hospital operations.

Another issue that needs attention is the low health literacy among many elderly individuals. Often, limited health services and lack of awareness among the elderly are prevalent in rural areas, gaps that highlight the need for a more robust system to respond to this demographic’s needs.

Local government units (LGUs) should take the lead on this through an aggressive and widespread information campaign on the available programs and benefits for elderly Filipinos to ensure that senior citizens have access to their much-deserved health benefits.

Across the country, LGUs should also invest in programs that promote healthy aging among Filipinos. These include exercise programs to encourage an active lifestyle, which can help reduce the risks of chronic diseases.

As the country’s population ages rapidly, these interventions will help ensure that we have measures in place to ensure equitable health care access for all seniors. Addressing these issues can ultimately help the country build a resilient health care system that honors and supports its elderly population in a dignified manner.

Through improving health benefits for senior citizens, our country not only honors their contributions to society but also strengthens our public health infrastructure for the benefit of future generations of Filipinos who will be senior citizens as well.