Patients Can Get Treated for Free at These 87 DOH Hospitals—Here’s What You Need to Know

Under this scheme, patients staying in basic accommodations at DOH hospitals won’t have to pay at discharge. This includes hospital room fees, medications, laboratory tests, and even professional fees of attending doctors.

“Itinuloy na po natin ang zero balance billing. Libre po,” President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. “Ibig sabihin, ang serbisyo sa basic accommodation sa ating mga DOH na ospital wala nang babayaran ang pasyente dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo.” 

To avail, patients must clearly inform hospital staff that they want to access zero-balance billing and request basic or ward accommodation. Presenting a valid PhilHealth ID and a government-issued ID is required. Even those who aren’t enrolled yet may still be eligible since hospitals are instructed to assist with PhilHealth registration upon admission. 

The most important thing is to be admitted to a basic room. Upgrading to a private room or requesting an elective service—whatever is not medically necessary—will require you to pay out of pocket. Take note that zero balance billing also doesn’t apply to government-owned and controlled specialty hospitals like the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Lung Center, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. Only DOH-managed facilities are covered for now. 

“Basta 'wag lang kayo nasa private, kasi pag nagpunta ka sa private may bayad yung doctor, may bayad yung room. Basta nasa basic accommodation ka ng DOH, bayad na ang bill mo,” DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa explained in 24 Oras.

Here are the DOH hospitals that offer zero balance billing: