Health expenses can easily overwhelm families, especially when illnesses go undetected until they require hospital care. This is why YAKAP, PhilHealth’s enhanced primary care package, was created.
Replacing the older Konsulta program, YAKAP (PhilHealth YAKAP Primary Care Benefit) shifts the focus from costly hospital treatments to prevention, early detection, and outpatient support.
It aims to give Filipinos regular access to checkups, tests, and medicines before health conditions become life-threatening.
What Is YAKAP?
YAKAP is PhilHealth’s improved primary care package designed to protect Filipino families by promoting prevention. Unlike the older Konsulta program, YAKAP provides a wider range of services and a bigger benefit for medicines. With this package, members and their dependents can regularly see doctors, undergo routine laboratory tests, and access a list of 75 essential outpatient medicines under the GAMOT package.
This shift marks an important step: instead of only helping during hospitalization, PhilHealth is investing in keeping members healthier every day.
Who Can Join the YAKAP Program?
One of the strengths of YAKAP is that it’s inclusive. Enrollment is open to:
- All PhilHealth members and their dependents
- Private workers in both formal and informal sectors
- Government employees covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
- Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families
- Senior citizens and indigent families registered under PhilHealth’s sponsored program
You can enroll through different channels:
- Accredited YAKAP clinics and hospitals
- The PhilHealth Member Portal
- The eGovPH app
- Local Health Insurance Offices (LHIOs)
This flexibility ensures that Filipinos, regardless of work status or location, can easily register.
Services Covered by YAKAP
- Preventive and Diagnostic Services
Members can avail of free consultations and regular checkups. Common laboratory tests like CBC, urinalysis, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, creatinine, chest X-ray, and ECG are covered. For women, preventive screenings such as pap smears and mammograms are also included.
YAKAP also covers more advanced screenings: colonoscopies, liver ultrasounds, low-dose chest CT scans, and alpha-fetoprotein blood tests for certain cancers. These help detect serious conditions early, when treatment is most effective.
- GAMOT Package (Outpatient Medicines)
One of the biggest improvements is the expansion of medicine coverage:
- From 21 medicines under Konsulta, YAKAP now includes 75 essential medicines.
- Each member is entitled to ₱20,000 worth of medicines per year.
- Dependents are also covered with ₱20,000 each annually.
This includes life-saving medicines for chronic illnesses such as:
- Antibiotics and antivirals
- Asthma and COPD medications
- Insulin and oral diabetes medicines
- Hypertension and heart disease drugs
- Neurological treatments and cholesterol control
By including outpatient medicines, YAKAP reduces the burden of out-of-pocket expenses that often prevent families from completing treatment.
Where to Avail YAKAP
YAKAP services are accessible nationwide. Members can go to:
- Accredited YAKAP clinics and hospitals for checkups and laboratory tests
- Partner drugstores and pharmacies for medicine access
PhilHealth is actively accrediting more facilities. For example, in Albay alone, 31 health facilities have already been certified to provide YAKAP services and medicines. This expansion will continue across the country, making the program more accessible even in provincial and rural areas.
Tools to Help Members
PhilHealth has also launched digital tools to help members track their benefits:
- PhilHealth All Case Rate App – lets members monitor their benefits, deductions, and availments in real time.
- eGovPH App – allows online registration, making YAKAP enrollment faster and easier.
These tools empower Filipinos to take charge of their health and monitor their benefits conveniently.
Why YAKAP Matters for Filipinos
Healthcare in the Philippines has often been criticized for being “curative”—helping only when patients are already sick and in need of hospitalization. YAKAP changes this behavior by:
- Promoting preventive care – encouraging checkups and screenings to catch diseases early.
- Reducing out-of-pocket expenses – with free medicines and diagnostics, families can save thousands yearly.
- Ensuring long-term health – supporting continuity of care for chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension.
- Protecting the whole family – since dependents are also entitled to their own medicine allowance and preventive services.
For Filipinos struggling with medical costs, YAKAP offers a safety net that goes beyond hospital bills. It makes staying healthy more affordable and accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is YAKAP automatic for all PhilHealth members?
No. Members need to enroll via accredited clinics, LHIOs, or online through the PhilHealth portal or eGovPH app. - Do dependents get their own medicine allowance?
Yes. Each dependent is entitled to ₱20,000 worth of medicines annually, separate from the member’s allowance. - Are all medicines included?
No. Only 75 essential medicines under the GAMOT package are covered. Members should confirm with accredited pharmacies before claiming. - Is YAKAP available nationwide?
Yes, but availability depends on accredited clinics and drugstores in your area. PhilHealth is expanding coverage steadily.
Conclusion
The PhilHealth YAKAP program represents a new chapter in healthcare for Filipinos. By shifting from hospital-based treatment to preventive care, it helps families avoid costly medical bills, detect illnesses earlier, and manage chronic conditions with less financial burden. With its focus on free consultations, diagnostic tests, and essential medicines, YAKAP is a concrete step toward making healthcare more affordable and accessible for every Filipino family.