PhilHealth YAKAP program: coverage, registration, and how to find a provider

I used the old Konsulta package for a basic check-up in 2024. The consultation went fine, but finding an active provider and figuring out which medicines were actually free took more time than it should have. That program no longer exists under that name.

PhilHealth rebranded Konsulta as YAKAP in July 2025, and the expanded version is meaningfully different. Medicine coverage jumped from roughly 21 drugs to 75 when GAMOT went nationwide in 2025, and the October 2026 list has 81. PhilHealth added cancer screening tests for the first time. The P20,000 annual medicine budget is a specific number now, not a vague “selected medicines” list.

If you’ve been putting off registering because you weren’t sure what the Konsulta package actually covered, the current YAKAP version is worth understanding properly. This guide covers what it covers, who qualifies, how to register, how to find a good provider, and what happens when you need care beyond what YAKAP handles.

What is PhilHealth YAKAP and what happened to Konsulta?

YAKAP stands for Yaman ng Kalusugan Program. PhilHealth launched it in July 2025 as the official replacement for Konsulta (Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama). The core concept is the same: PhilHealth pays accredited clinics to deliver primary care to registered members at no out-of-pocket cost. What changed is the scale and structure of the coverage.

Konsulta was a single benefit with a limited medicine list. In contrast, YAKAP reorganizes the package into four named components, each with a broader scope than what Konsulta offered.

If you had an active Konsulta registration before July 2025, PhilHealth transitioned your record to YAKAP automatically. As a result, you do not need to re-register from scratch.

What does YAKAP actually cover?

All covered services are free at the point of care at accredited YAKAP clinics. There is no co-payment for services within the package. So what you pay for are services and medicines outside the covered list.

GAMOT: 81 essential medicines

Each beneficiary gets up to P20,000 worth of medicines per year. The 81 medicines are not all in one place, though. According to PhilHealth, 21 essential drugs are available directly at accredited YAKAP clinics. Meanwhile, the rest are dispensed through PhilHealth-accredited GAMOT partner pharmacies.

The newest list, attached to PhilHealth Circular 2026-0018 in October 2026, also adds four first-line TB medicines. They are covered from November 1, 2026, for confirmed drug-susceptible TB, and they do not count against the P20,000 limit.

To get them, first visit your YAKAP clinic for your First Patient Encounter and a consultation. If you need a medicine the clinic does not carry, the doctor sends an electronic prescription through the GAMOT system, and the partner pharmacy fills it.

The 81 covered medicines span common conditions: antibiotics (including amoxicillin and co-amoxiclav), diabetes medications (metformin), blood pressure drugs (amlodipine, losartan), anti-asthma (salbutamol), cholesterol management (simvastatin), fever reducers (paracetamol), and treatments for common infections.

Medicines not on the 81-drug list are not part of the GAMOT benefit. The attending physician at your YAKAP clinic prescribes from the covered list based on your diagnosis. As a result, you cannot request a specific medicine from the list if it isn’t clinically indicated for your case.

LABORATORYO: 13 outpatient lab tests

Your YAKAP provider orders the 13 tests based on clinical need, not on request. Together, they cover the most common screening and monitoring tests for chronic and infectious conditions.

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• Urinalysis
• Fecalysis
• Lipid Profile
• Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
• HbA1c
• Creatinine
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Chest X-ray
• Pap Smear
• Sputum Microscopy
• Fecal Occult Blood

SCREEN: 6 cancer screening tests

This component is completely new, because the old Konsulta package did not include cancer screening. YAKAP added 6 cancer screening tests, which your YAKAP provider recommends based on your age, sex, and health risk profile. This is one of the most significant upgrades from the old package, especially for members over 40.

Who is eligible for YAKAP?

All registered PhilHealth members qualify: employed, self-employed, OFW, senior citizens, indigents, sponsored members, and lifetime members. Qualified dependents (legal spouse who is not a PhilHealth member, unmarried children below 21, children over 21 with permanent disability, and qualified parents) are also covered, as long as they are officially declared in your PhilHealth MDR.

Freelancers and self-employed members have the same access as employed workers, but no HR office is managing the account on their behalf. Before registering, confirm that your membership category is correctly tagged as self-earning individual or self-employed, and that contributions are reflected properly. A lot of freelancers assume YAKAP works like a company HMO benefit and think they’re excluded. They’re not. In fact, PhilHealth designed YAKAP for the full range of members, including voluntary and self-paying contributors. For a full breakdown of rules by member type, see PhilHealth rules for self-employed, voluntary, and senior members.

One step many members skip: dependents must be officially listed in your PhilHealth MDR before they can use YAKAP. If your spouse, child, or parent is not yet in the system, update your records first. The process for downloading and verifying your current MDR is covered in the guide on how to download your PhilHealth MDR. For details on exactly who qualifies as a dependent under PhilHealth rules, the guide on qualified PhilHealth dependents has the full breakdown.

How to register for YAKAP

There are two paths: online through the PhilHealth Member Portal, or on-site at an accredited YAKAP clinic. Both lead to the same outcome. However, you need a portal account before using the online option. If you haven’t registered one yet, the PhilHealth online registration guide covers that first.

Option 1: Online via PhilHealth Member Portal

Log in at memberinquiry.philhealth.gov.ph/member. Look for the Konsulta or YAKAP module within the portal. Select your province and municipality, then choose an available accredited provider from the list. Not all providers will show open slots, as registration is tied to the clinic’s catchment population limit.

Once registration is confirmed, your assigned provider appears in your Member Information section. Also, keep your MDR information updated before registering, as mismatched details can cause problems during the process.

Option 2: On-site at a YAKAP clinic (First Patient Encounter)

You can also register directly at an accredited YAKAP clinic during your first visit. This is called the First Patient Encounter (FPE). The clinic staff will complete PhilHealth identity verification and ask you to sign a YAKAP Empanelment Slip, which formally registers you to that provider.

For members without internet access or those who prefer in-person help, PhilHealth also allows assisted registration through Local Health Insurance Offices (LHIOs), PhilHealth CARES staff, and partner LGUs. Also, ask at your nearest PhilHealth office if you need help locating an LHIO near you.

How to find an accredited YAKAP provider near you

PhilHealth publishes a PDF list of accredited Konsulta and YAKAP providers nationwide, updated periodically on philhealth.gov.ph. You can also search by province and municipality through the Member Portal when registering. The list covers Rural Health Units (RHUs), city health centers, private medical clinics, ambulatory centers, and outpatient departments of hospitals.

Here’s the practical reality: being on the accredited list and actively accepting new registrations are two different things. Some clinics already hit their population limit and won’t show open slots on the portal. Others are technically accredited but haven’t fully set up their YAKAP processes yet.

What helped me more than the official list was calling the clinic directly before going. Ask specifically: are you currently accepting new YAKAP registrations, what lab tests do you perform on-site, which of the 21 clinic medicines you have in stock, and which GAMOT partner pharmacy is nearest for the rest. For example, a smaller barangay health center may be accredited but have far fewer medicines and labs on hand compared to a larger medical center. The goal is finding a provider that is both accepting new members and has the services you’re likely to need.

Can you switch YAKAP providers?

Yes, but there is a specific window for it. Under PhilHealth Advisory No. 2024-0058, members can request a transfer to a different YAKAP provider during the fourth quarter of the year, from October 1 to December 31. Approved transfers take effect on January 1 of the following year.

To transfer, submit the PhilHealth Konsulta Registration Form (PKRF) to the nearest PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO). There is no direct “change provider” button inside the Member Portal at this time. Instead, the portal is mainly for viewing your current registration status, not editing it.

This is the part many members discover too late. If you registered with a clinic that turned out to have limited services or is now far from where you live, you have to wait until Q4 to make the switch. Therefore, check the clinic’s actual services and location before confirming registration the first time.

Does YAKAP cover dental?

Yes, but only preventive care. Under PhilHealth Circular 2024-0034, each member and each listed dependent can get up to ₱1,000 a year in dental benefits. It pays for check-ups and cleaning. It does not pay for regular fillings or root canals.

At a public dental clinic, you pay nothing. A private accredited clinic may charge you more on top of PhilHealth’s payment, but only up to a cap. That cap is ₱1,500 per visit for the exam and cleaning. For a sealant, a Class V filling at the gumline, or an emergency extraction, it is ₱600.

How to use the dental benefit

Start at your YAKAP clinic, not at a dentist. Your YAKAP clinic picks the dental clinic you go to and gives you a referral. If you skip that step, the dentist cannot claim the benefit for you, and you pay the full price.

Each listed dependent also gets their own ₱1,000. When my mom used hers, the clinic staff put it plainly: “Ma’am, may sariling ₱1,000 po siya as dependent.” Her cleaning did not touch my own benefit. Before the visit, though, make sure your dependents appear in your updated MDR.

The benefit stops at prevention. It does not cover a regular filling on the biting surface, a root canal, a crown, braces or implants. A planned wisdom tooth removal is out too, so you pay for those in full. That is why the two free cleanings matter. A dentist who spots decay early can treat it before it turns into a ₱10,000 root canal.

What YAKAP does not cover and what happens next

YAKAP is a primary care package. It is not a replacement for full health insurance or inpatient coverage. Specialist consultations, surgery, CT scans, MRI, advanced procedures, and hospital confinement are not part of YAKAP. Basic preventive dental is the one exception, covered in the dental section above.

That does not mean you pay everything out of pocket. If your condition requires higher-level care, your YAKAP provider issues a referral. Depending on the diagnosis and facility, PhilHealth may still cover part of the treatment under a separate benefit package, such as inpatient case rates, Z Benefits, or the Select Diagnostic Procedures (SDP) benefit.

The gap people run into is assuming that a free Konsulta or YAKAP consultation means all follow-up care is also free. It isn’t. Branded medicines, specialist fees, private room charges, and procedures outside the covered package can still result in out-of-pocket costs after the referral. If you end up admitted to a hospital, see the guide on what documents you need to file a PhilHealth claim for what to prepare at the billing office.

Frequently asked questions

Is PhilHealth YAKAP the same as Konsulta?

YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program) is the official replacement for Konsulta, launched in July 2025. The core concept is the same but YAKAP expanded coverage to four components: free consultations, 81 essential medicines up to P20,000 per year, 13 lab tests, and 6 cancer screenings. Members previously enrolled in Konsulta were transitioned to YAKAP automatically.

How much is the YAKAP medicine benefit per year?

Each beneficiary gets up to P20,000 worth of essential medicines per year under the GAMOT component. Your YAKAP provider prescribes from the covered list. Of the 81 medicines, 21 are available at accredited YAKAP clinics and the rest at PhilHealth-accredited GAMOT partner pharmacies, which fill the doctor’s electronic prescription. Only medicines on the 81-drug covered list qualify.

Can my spouse and children use YAKAP with my PhilHealth?

Yes. Qualified dependents are covered under YAKAP, including your legal spouse, unmarried children below 21, children over 21 with permanent disability, and qualified parents. They must be officially declared in your PhilHealth MDR first. Dependents not yet listed in the MDR need to be added before they can use YAKAP.

Can self-employed members and freelancers register for YAKAP?

Yes. YAKAP is available to all registered PhilHealth members, including freelancers, online sellers, and gig workers. The registration process is the same as for employed members. Before registering, confirm that your membership category is correctly tagged and that your contributions are reflected in your account.

What happens if I need specialist care after a YAKAP consultation?

Your YAKAP provider issues a referral to a specialist or higher-level facility. YAKAP covers primary care only. Specialist consultations, hospitalization, surgery, and advanced diagnostics like CT scans are not part of the package. However, those services may still be partly covered under a separate PhilHealth benefit package, such as inpatient case rates or Z Benefits.

Does PhilHealth YAKAP cover dental?

Yes, for preventive care only. Under PhilHealth Circular 2024-0034, each member and each listed dependent gets up to ₱1,000 a year. PhilHealth pays ₱300 per visit for a mouth exam, cleaning and fluoride, up to two visits a year. A visit with sealant on one or two teeth pays ₱500 to ₱700. Emergency extraction is also covered. Fillings on the biting surface, root canals, crowns and braces are not. Get a referral from your YAKAP clinic first.

Browse the complete PhilHealth guides on WisePH for more step-by-step walkthroughs on contributions, claims, eligibility, and benefits.

Once your PhilHealth benefits are sorted, a practical next step for long-term savings is the Pag-IBIG MP2 savings account, which earns tax-free dividends and is open to any Pag-IBIG member, including self-employed contributors.