GSIS members, pensioners avail of P70 million in hospital discounts
Partner-hospitals of the GSIS under the GSIS Hospitalization Support Program (GHSP) has provided a total of P70.13 million in hospitalization discounts to GSIS members, pensioners and their dependents during the first five months of the year.
For the period, the hospitals gave an average discount of 16 percent while their clients received an average discount of P1,503.28 each.
GSIS partner-hospitals for the GHSP include University of Santo Tomas Hospital in Manila, Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City, Lorma Medical Center in San Fernando, La Union, Perpetual Help Succour Hospital in Cebu, and the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center in Pampanga.
For the month of May, pensioner Gerarda Macabagba received the highest amount of discount with P365,315.42 from Lorma Medical Center.
Launched in 2004, the GHSP works like an exchange deal between the GSIS and the partner-hospitals wherein the pension fund buys medical equipment and lends these to the select hospitals. In exchange, the partner-hospitals provide discounts to GSIS members and pensioners. The medical equipment remain property of the GSIS.
Those covered by the discounts are members, their dependents and old-age pensioners.
Among the benefits offered to them under the GHSP include discounts in medical services such as outpatient services and emergency cases, medicines as well as discounts in professional fees of select physicians.
Patients can avail of a 40 percent discounts if they undergo special diagnostic procedures, 35 percent for common procedures, 30 percent on room rates, and 10 percent on professional fees including consultation fees.
If the patient has an eCard, he may just present this card to the GSIS coordinator upon admission in the partner-hospital to avail of the discounts.
The GHSP can also be used in combination with the PhilHealth card and health maintenance organization (HMO) card of the patient.
In availing of the hospitalization discount, PhilHealth will be applied first, followed by the HMO and finally the GHSP.
Source: GSIS Kawani, Vol. 1 No. 2, May - August 2007.