PhilHealth said it has reached out to the family of a deceased member after a widow’s viral social media post sparked public outrage over the denial of benefits.
The state insurer said it is coordinating with the member’s wife and the hospitals involved to better understand the circumstances and explore possible avenues of support.
The controversy stemmed from the case of Marvin Sulit, who died from a brain hematoma after his family was unable to raise the millions of pesos required for emergency surgery.
His widow, Maria Lourdes Sulit, said PhilHealth later denied their claim because her husband had been confined for less than 24 hours before his death, despite being a longtime contributor.
She has since called on PhilHealth and health authorities to review and abolish the 24-hour confinement requirement for members who die during hospitalization.
Source: PhilNews24 | June 15, 2026
