29 The right to social security of the workers in the informal economy/ sector Additionally, PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-024 provides policies on “No Co-Payment/ No Balance Billing for PhilHealth Benefit Packages.” Ms. Gabuya explained that from 14 January 2021, all PhilHealth members admitted in any basic or ward accommodation, no copayment or other fees or expense shall be charged.72 All the benefit packages can also be checked using the PhilHealth mobile application. During the start of the pandemic, PhilHealth covered the full cost of treatment for all Covid-positive patients, but with the release of Advisory 2020-002273 they would only cover patients until 14 April 2020. After that date, the case rates from Circular 2020-000974 would take effect, which is based on the severity of the patient’s illness: 1. Mild Pneumonia - PhP 43,997 2. Moderate Pneumonia- PhP 143,267 3. Severe Pneumonia- PhP 333,519 4. Critical Pneumonia- PhP 786,384 Ms. Gabuya also mentioned the rates for coverage of COVID-19 testing based on the PhilHealth Circular 2020-017,75 which also details certain conditions to be met for a particular rate: 1. PhP 3,409 if all services and supplies for testing are provided by the testing laboratory; 2. PhP 2,077 if test kits from the laboratory came from donation; 3. PhP 901 if the test kits from the laboratory came from donation and if the costs of running the laboratory and the RT-PCR machine are subsidized by the government. In her presentation, Ms. Gabuya reiterated that all Filipinos, even those with insufficient contributions or who failed to pay their premiums, “shall be granted immediate eligibility or automatic entitlement to all PhilHealth benefit packages.” This is pursuant to Section 9 of the UHC Act. Id. PhilHealth Advisory 2020-0022, available from adv2020-0022.pdf (philhealth.gov.ph) (last accessed September 2, 2021) 74 PhilHealth Circular 2020-009, available from circ2020-0009.pdf (philhealth.gov.ph) (last accessed September 2, 2021) 75 Id. 72 73