An accessible guide to getting more from your PhilHealth membership—and taking a more active role in your health.
For many Filipinos, a visit to the doctor happens only when something feels wrong. Routine checkups and recommended tests are often postponed, sometimes because of busy schedules, sometimes because of the cost. PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, or YAKAP, aims to make it easier for Filipinos to seek care before a health problem becomes more serious.
Formerly known as the PhilHealth Konsulta program, YAKAP is an expanded primary care benefit designed to bring preventive healthcare closer to members and their qualified dependents. Its focus is straightforward: regular consultations, early detection, appropriate tests and access to selected medicines.
But what exactly does it cover, and how can members use it?
What is PhilHealth YAKAP?
YAKAP, which stands for Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, is PhilHealth’s primary care program. Rather than concentrating only on hospital treatment when someone becomes ill, it encourages members to establish an ongoing relationship with a primary care provider who can monitor their health, identify risks and recommend appropriate care.
It is an expansion of the former Konsulta package, with additional services that include laboratory tests, cancer screening and access to outpatient medicines through PhilHealth’s GAMOT benefit.
The program is open to PhilHealth members and their qualified dependents, regardless of age. Each beneficiary must register with a chosen, PhilHealth-accredited YAKAP clinic to access the benefits.
What benefits can members receive?
YAKAP brings several important primary care services together:
1. Primary care consultations
Members can receive consultations and health assessments at their chosen YAKAP clinic. These visits give healthcare professionals an opportunity to review medical history, assess symptoms, identify risk factors and recommend preventive measures or treatment.
2. Laboratory and diagnostic tests
The package includes 13 laboratory tests, provided when medically indicated and recommended by the attending physician. These help assess a patient’s health and detect or monitor certain conditions. Not every patient will need every test; the doctor determines which are appropriate.
3. Selected outpatient medicines through GAMOT
PhilHealth’s Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) benefit provides up to ₱20,000 worth of covered medicines per beneficiary per year. The medicines are available through accredited GAMOT facilities, including participating pharmacies, with a prescription issued by an authorized YAKAP physician.
The benefit covers selected medicines for acute and chronic conditions. It is not a cash allowance, nor does it mean every prescription or brand of medicine is automatically covered. Availability depends on the approved medicine list and participating facilities.
4. Cancer screening
YAKAP also includes outpatient screening services for six cancers: breast, cervical, colorectal, liver, lung and prostate. These services are subject to the program’s clinical guidelines, eligibility requirements and referral process. A consultation with a YAKAP physician is an important first step in determining which screening tests are appropriate.
These benefits are intended to support early detection—not to replace diagnostic workups or specialist care when symptoms or findings require further investigation.
How do you register?
Enrolling is an important first step. Members can select their preferred YAKAP clinic through any of these channels:
- The eGovPH mobile application
- The PhilHealth Member Portal
- A PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office
- An accredited YAKAP clinic
Check the official PhilHealth website for the current list of accredited clinics. Choosing a facility that is reasonably accessible to your home or workplace can make follow-up visits easier.
After selecting a clinic, members must complete their First Patient Encounter (FPE), which involves an initial health assessment and consultation. They must also complete the formal empanelment process by signing the YAKAP Empanelment Slip, also called the Mutual Care Agreement. This establishes an ongoing relationship with the chosen provider; simply attending a one-time medical outreach activity does not automatically complete enrollment.
Dependents should also be registered so they can access their own benefits.
READ: Digital Health Records, PhilHealth, and Your Right to Privacy: What Filipinos Need to Know
Know your rights—and what to expect
PhilHealth has clarified that covered YAKAP primary care services should be free in public clinics. For private YAKAP clinics, the member’s annual out-of-pocket co-payment is capped at ₱900 per member. Once that ceiling is reached, remaining covered and necessary YAKAP services for the year should be provided without additional charge.
If you are asked to pay for a covered service or are denied care despite completing the required enrollment process, you can raise the concern with PhilHealth’s 24/7 Corporate Action Center at (02) 8662-2588 or email yakaptugon@philhealth.gov.ph.
It is also important to understand what YAKAP is not. It is not comprehensive hospital insurance, and it does not mean all medicines, specialist consultations, procedures or hospital expenses are automatically covered. For services outside its package, members may need other PhilHealth benefits, HMO coverage or out-of-pocket payment.
Make preventive care part of your routine
YAKAP is most useful when people use it before a health concern becomes urgent. A routine consultation can be an opportunity to discuss blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, family history, vaccination, age-appropriate screening and other health concerns.
Before visiting your clinic, prepare your PhilHealth identification number, a list of current medicines, relevant medical records and any questions you want to ask. Confirm clinic schedules, laboratory arrangements and medicine availability in advance.
Healthcare is not only about treating illness. It is also about knowing your health risks, making informed decisions and getting the right care at the right time.
YAKAP offers Filipinos another way to take that first step. The benefit becomes meaningful when members know what they are entitled to, complete their registration and make primary care a regular part of looking after themselves and their families.
*Getty Images for Unsplash+
References
1. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). PhilHealth YAKAP: Yaman ng Kalusugan Program. Official program overview, benefits and registration information.
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/yakap/
2. PhilHealth. Paano Magagamit ang PhilHealth YAKAP? Frequently asked questions on consultations, laboratory tests, medicines and cancer screening.
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/yakap/YAKAP_FAQs.pdf
3. PhilHealth. PhilHealth YAKAP: Steps. Guide to registration, consultations, medicine access and follow-up visits.
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/yakap/YakapSteps.pdf
4. PhilHealth. PhilHealth Member Advisory: Know Your Rights Under the YAKAP Primary Care Benefit (Advisory No. 2026-0003). Covers charges in public and private YAKAP clinics.
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2026/PA2026-0003.pdf
5. PhilHealth. Continued Availability of the 21 Essential Medicines under the PhilHealth YAKAP Program (Advisory No. 2026-0007).
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2026/PA2026-0007.pdf
6. PhilHealth. PhilHealth, Private Insurers Build on YAKAP to Maximize Primary Care Coverage (October 1, 2026). Clarifies the relationship between YAKAP and private health insurance.
https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/news/up/article/2026/news_6ad082ada800f.php
7. PhilHealth. PhilHealth Expands Primary Care Access to Over 33 Million Filipinos Through 4,287 YAKAP Clinics (May 15, 2026).
