Do you have a family member who is sick, with hospital bills piling up? The good news is that you can apply for PCSO medical assistance through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. You can file online on the PCSO website, through email, or by personally visiting a PCSO branch office.
Some people might think that you can simply show your hospital bills and the PCSO will instantly pay for them. It doesn’t work that way. You need to provide the correct documentary requirements for your specific situation or circumstance. Otherwise, your application might get rejected and you’ll have to return to the hospital to get the correct documents.
PCSO’s Institutional Charity Division chief, Dr. Krisch Trine Ramos, explained the application process on DZRH’s “The Situation Report.” Her advice was to check the documentary requirements on the PCSO website before going anywhere else. She said that the website lists all the documents needed for medical assistance applications.
“If you have a medical need, you only need to go to our website first, of course, to check what documentary requirements you will need in order to submit a request for medical assistance,” Ramos said.
“Many of our branch offices now also accept online submission of documentary requirements for medical assistance. That can be accessed on the PCSO website, through the MAP Online Application System,” she said.
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How to Apply for PCSO Medical Assistance Online
The fastest and most convenient way to apply for PCSO medical assistance is via the Medical Assistance Program (MAP) Online Application System.
Step 1: Register for an account
- Open your browser and go to www.pcso.gov.ph.
- Select E-Services.
- Click Online MAP Application.
- Click “Create an Account” and fill in the required details.
- Check your email for PCSO’s message and click Validate Registration.
- The link takes you to the login page.
Step 2: Log in to your account
Enter your first name, last name, date of birth, and email address. PCSO sends a one-time password (OTP) to your email. Copy it into the form and click Submit.
Step 3: Start your application
- Click “Application” from the menu or “Apply Now” on the information page.
- Type the name of the Partner Health Facility (PHF), which is the hospital or facility handling the patient, and its city or municipality.
- Choose the nature of your request, such as confinement or laboratory.
- Click Get Queuing Number.
You’ll find the list of partner health facilities, plus the steps and procedures, on the system’s information page.
Step 4: Upload your documents and submit
When your queuing number appears, upload every required document from the list. Each file must be a PDF of no more than 2MB. Then click Submit Application.
PCSO sends the result to your email, and you can also check the status in your portal.
What to do if the upload fails
If you see a “system has reached limit” message, the usual cause is a file that’s too big or not a PDF. Compress the file, save it as a PDF under 2MB, and upload it again.
How to Apply for PCSO Medical Assistance via Email or Walk-in
Some PCSO branch offices still accept walk-in applications from people who can’t submit their applications online. Because this varies by branch, confirm with the office before you proceed there.
If you prefer to apply via email, just follow these steps:
- Download the MAP Application Form from the PCSO website.
- Fill it out completely.
- Scan all your documentary requirements, including the form.
- Email the scans to [email protected] and upload them as well.
- Submit the printed Guarantee Letter and MAP Assessment Form, with the complete documents, to the hospital, partner health facility, medicine retailer, or diagnostic center.
Documents Needed for Every PCSO Medical Assistance Application
Ramos named three key documents: a medical abstract, a final billing statement, and a valid ID for both the patient and the relative processing the assistance.
The PCSO website adds that every application requires the following:
- A completed MAP Application Form
- Valid proof of the patient’s identity, either a government-issued ID or another accepted ID
- A valid ID of the patient’s next of kin, if applicable
If the patient has no government ID, PCSO accepts these instead:
| Situation | Accepted ID |
|---|---|
| Patient has no government ID | Medical Social Services-issued ID |
| Minor in school | School ID |
| Newborn up to five years old | Birth certificate |
| Minor not enrolled in school | Barangay certification |
| Patient’s identity unknown | Certification from the Medical Social Service or hospital representative |
A few rules apply to medical papers:
- Every abstract, discharge summary, prescription, treatment protocol, and treatment plan must show the attending physician’s full name, signature, and license number.
- A quotation must be signed by the PHF’s representative, except for catastrophic illnesses.
- The abstract must be updated, except for confinement and catastrophic illness cases. If the patient was recently discharged, it must have been issued within the past three months.
Be sure to check the doctor’s name, signature, and license number before you leave the hospital.
Requirements by Type of PCSO Medical Assistance
1. Confinement
This covers patients admitted for less than 24 hours and those managed in the emergency room.
- An original billing statement, statement of account, or service invoice signed by the billing officer
- An original or certified true copy of the clinical abstract or discharge summary (for emergency room cases, a medical certificate)
- For patients already discharged, a notarized promissory note signed by the patient or an authorized representative and noted by the hospital’s authorized representative
2. Chemotherapy drugs and immunotherapy
- An updated original prescription
- An updated original or certified true copy of the treatment protocol
- One quotation from the hospital willing to accept the guarantee letter, or quotations from three different suppliers if the hospital doesn’t carry the medicine
3. Radiation therapy
- An updated original prescription
- An updated original or certified true copy of the treatment plan
- One official quotation that shows the mandatory deductions (senior citizen, PhilHealth, PWD, and HMO)
4. Hemodialysis and erythropoietin injection
This applies to end stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, or acute renal failure.
- For hemodialysis, one official quotation from the dialysis center or hospital, or three supplier quotations if the hospital doesn’t have the medicine
- For PhilHealth members, a certification of PhilHealth benefit exhaustion. This is needed for end stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease, but not for acute renal failure.
5. Specialty medicines
- An updated original prescription
- An original or certified true copy of the treatment protocol
- One hospital quotation, or three supplier quotations if the hospital doesn’t carry the medicine
- A medical certificate may replace the abstract or discharge summary
6. Laboratory, diagnostic, and imaging procedures
This includes CT scan, MRI, PET scan, ERCP, biopsy, and cardiologic tests.
- An updated original copy of the doctor’s request
- One official quotation from the hospital, diagnostic center, or laboratory
- A medical certificate may replace the abstract or discharge summary
7. Orthopedic implants and medical devices
- An updated original copy of the doctor’s request
- Official quotations from three different suppliers
- A schedule of operation certified by the attending physician
- A medical certificate may replace the abstract or discharge summary
8. Rehabilitation therapy
- An updated original or certified true copy of the doctor’s request and the treatment protocol
- One official quotation for the requested services
- A medical certificate may replace the abstract or discharge summary
9. Catastrophic illness treatments
- An original or certified true copy of the clinical abstract, plus a certification that the patient is due for the transplant procedure
- For kidney transplant and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) cases, the attending physician’s certification that the patient did not qualify for the PhilHealth Z-Benefit
- An official quotation or breakdown of expenses signed by the attending physician, or, if the patient is admitted, the statement of account signed by the billing officer
Why PCSO Asks for the Final Billing Statement
PCSO is the last stop. It helps after other assistance has been subtracted from the bill, which is why the final billing statement is on the list.
Ramos put it this way: you first need to claim whatever you can from PhilHealth and the senior citizen discount, if it applies. PCSO is the last line. Families usually go to PCSO first, she said, but once everything else is deducted, that’s when PCSO steps in.
In practice, process PhilHealth and any discounts at the hospital before you go to PCSO. If you arrive with a gross bill, you’ll likely be sent back.
There are exceptions, however. PCSO says that no PhilHealth deduction is required for transfers to another hospital, confinements of less than 24 hours, and patients attended to in the emergency room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for PCSO medical assistance without going online?
Yes. Some PCSO branch offices accept walk-in applications from those who can’t apply online. You can also email scanned documents to [email protected], though you still need to give the printed guarantee letter and assessment form to the provider.
Does PCSO pay the whole hospital bill?
PCSO’s description is that it comes last, after PhilHealth benefits and discounts such as the senior citizen discount are deducted. Its website lists exceptions to the PhilHealth deduction for transfers to another hospital, confinements under 24 hours, and emergency room patients.
What if the patient has no government-issued ID?
PCSO accepts other IDs: a Medical Social Services-issued ID, a school ID for minors, a birth certificate for newborns up to five years old, a barangay certification for minors not in school, or a certification on the unknown identity of the patient from the Medical Social Service or hospital representative.
How do I find out if my application was approved?
PCSO sends the result to the email you registered with. You can also view your application status in your portal.
