Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2209 
Introduced by Representative Ryan S. Recto 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure seeks to extend a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) 
healthcare plan coverage to qualiﬁed government personnel in addition to the medical 
and health beneﬁts and entitlements granted under the National Health Insurance 
Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). This piece of 
legislation would prove to be a crucial step for the government in fulﬁlling its 
commitment of promoting the welfare of those who serve in the public sector.  
According to the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA), health spending went up 
to P11,083.00  in 2023, which is an increase 8.3 percent from the P10,238.00 expense 
in 2022.  Healthcare costs were also expected to increase by 18% this year, largely 
driven by the rising prices of medical supplies. In turn, hospitals would have to charge 
higher fees in order to maintain stable operations.  
It is also noteworthy to mention that in 2022, total health expenditure amounted 
to P1.12 trillion, 45% of which (or P502 billion) was born directly by Filipino 
households. What is even more concerning is that the national government’s share 
was only 21% (P234 billion), local government at 10% (P109 billion) and the Philippine 
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) at 14% (P153 billion) despite the 
corporation’s mandate to provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable 
and accessible healthcare services for all. 
July 23, 2025
8:50 am


The proposed bill aims to address these issues by extending an HMO 
healthcare plan coverage for qualiﬁed government employees, this includes 
individuals in regular Plantilla items in government agencies and instrumentalities, 
including State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) as well as Government-Owned and 
Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).  
The health care plan to be procured by heads of agencies shall include, at the 
minimum, a comprehensive list of medical and health care services, such as an annual 
physical examination (APE), outpatient and in-patient care, dental care, emergency 
and ambulance service, preventive health care, a coverage of pre-existing medical and 
health conditions, network access to accredited hospitals and clinics and a medico-
legal service.  
Not only does this piece of legislation hope to expand healthcare for all 
Filipinos, but it also recognizes the tireless service and vital contributions of 
government employees.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.    
 Ryan S. Recto 
    Representative 
          6th District, Batangas 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Ryan S. Recto 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING HEALTH CARE PLAN COVERAGE TO GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL, PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Government Personnel Health 
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Care Act”. 
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared a policy of the State to promote the 
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welfare of government personnel. In line with this, and in recognition of the constitutional 
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directive to provide for the standardization of compensation of government officials and 
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employees, the State shall formulate and adopt mechanisms to provide a health care plan 
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coverage for all qualified personnel of government agencies and instrumentalities including 
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state universities and colleges (SUCs), and government-owned and/or - controlled 
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corporations (GOCCs). 
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
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a)
Dependents shall refer to  the legal spouse, the children and stepchildren and the
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parents of the qualified government personnel;
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b)
Health Care Plan shall refer to a menu of medical and health care services that
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would be provided for a specified period of time in exchange for the payment of
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premium;
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c)
Health Maintenance Organizations or HMOs shall refer to juridical entities duly
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licensed or authorized by the Insurance Commission (IC) to provide or arrange pre-
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agreed or designated health care services to its enrolled members for a fixed pre-paid
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fee for a specified period of time; and
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d)
Qualified Government Personnel shall refer to individuals appointed to regular
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plantilla items in government agencies and instrumentalities including SUCs, and
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GOCCs.
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Sec. 4. Government Personnel Health Care Plan. – All qualified government personnel 
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shall be provided with an annual health care plan offered by HMOs: Provided, That such health 
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care plan shall be in addition to health benefits and entitlements provided under the National 
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Health Insurance Program as provided under Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
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“Universal Health Care Act”.  
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Sec. 5. Terms of Service. – The heads of agencies in the case of national government 
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agencies and the governing boards in the case of SUCs and GOCCs, shall determine the terms 
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of reference for the procurement of HMO health care plans for the personnel of their 
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respective agencies: Provided, That the HMO health care plan to be procured shall, at the 
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minimum, provide for the following medical and health care services: 
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a) Annual physical examination; 
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b) Outpatient care including, but not limited to, medical consultations, treatment for 
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minor injuries, minor surgical procedures, laboratory examinations, and diagnostic 
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procedures;   
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c) In-patient care including, but not limited to, room and board, use of operating and 
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recovery rooms, professional fees, drugs and medicines, medical supplies and 
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medical procedures;  
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d) Dental care including, but not limited to, dental consultation, dental pain treatment, 
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oral prophylaxis, simple tooth extraction, and permanent filling; 
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e) Emergency care and ambulance service; 
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f) Preventive health care including, but not limited to, medical management of health 
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concerns, health education and counselling, and family planning;  
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g) Coverage of pre-existing medical and health conditions; 
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h) Network access to accredited hospitals and clinics; and 
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i) Medico-legal service. 
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Government agencies that are already providing HMO health care plan coverage to 
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their respective personnel prior to the effectivity of this Act may continue with their existing 
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health care plan coverage: Provided, That the existing health care plan of the government 
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agency concerned complies with the minimum medical and health care services enumerated 
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in this section: Provided, further, That in no way shall this Act be construed to diminish or 
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reduce any health care coverage which the government personnel are already receiving or any 
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entitlement under existing laws, issuances, or collective bargaining agreements between the 
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government agency concerned and their respective personnel. 
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Sec. 6.  Health Care Coverage for Dependents of Qualified Government Personnel. – The 
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HMO concerned may, at the option of the government personnel concerned, enroll 
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dependents of qualified government personnel to the health care plan of the government 
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agency concerned: Provided, That the premium for HMO health care plan coverage for the 
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dependents shall be borne by the government personnel concerned.  
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Sec. 7. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act 
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shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
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Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days after the 
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approval of this Act, the Department of Budget and Management, Civil Service Commission 
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and the Department of Health shall, in consultation with the IC, Government Procurement and 
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Policy Board and other government and non-government stakeholders concerned, issue the 
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necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. – Should any provision of this Act be found unconstitutional 
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by a court of law, such provision shall be severed from the remainder of this Act, and such 
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action shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Act.  
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, resolutions, orders 
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or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
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modified or amended accordingly.  
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Sec. 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
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the Official Gazette or in any national newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
 
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