PhilHealth YAKAP Benefits 2026: The Konsulta Rebrand Explained

Quick Answer: YAKAP stands for Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, launched 25 July 2025 under President Marcos Jr. as PhilHealth's rebrand of its Konsulta primary care package. It is not a new benefit — PhilHealth's own FAQ describes it as "ang mas pinalawak at pinagbuting Konsulta" (the expanded and improved Konsulta). As of a 15 May 2026 PhilHealth news release, there are 4,287 YAKAP Clinics nationwide covering over 33 million Filipinos, and clinics have until 1 April 2026 to finish updating their Konsulta signage to YAKAP.

About this guide: Sourced from PhilHealth's official news article on the 25 July 2025 launch, the YAKAP FAQ PDF (31 July 2025), PhilHealth Advisory 2025-0061 (29 October 2025), PhilHealth Circular 2025-0017 (18 October 2025), PhilHealth's 15 May 2026 news release on clinic and coverage numbers, and — for the cost and medicines figures — Advisory 2026-0003 (8 January 2026), Advisory 2026-0007 (14 January 2026) and Circular 2025-0013. Last checked: August 2026.

Table of Contents

• What is YAKAP?
• When did YAKAP launch?
• Is YAKAP the same as Konsulta?
• Why some clinics still say "Konsulta"
• How many YAKAP Clinics are there?
• What YAKAP actually covers
• What YAKAP costs you
• Who is covered under YAKAP
• How to register for YAKAP
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What is YAKAP?

YAKAP — short for Yaman ng Kalusugan Program — is the current name for PhilHealth's primary care benefit package. It launched on 25 July 2025, led by President Marcos Jr., as described in PhilHealth's own news article covering the event.

The name is meant to signal an expansion, not a replacement. PhilHealth's official FAQ, published 31 July 2025, describes YAKAP directly as "ang mas pinalawak at pinagbuting Konsulta" — the expanded and improved Konsulta. If you've heard of Konsulta before and are now seeing YAKAP everywhere, this is why: it's the same underlying program, carrying a new name and a wider set of covered services layered on through a string of circulars issued across late 2025 and into 2026.

When did YAKAP launch?

The launch date is 25 July 2025, marked by an official event led by President Marcos Jr. and documented in PhilHealth's own news release from that period. This is the anchor date for the brand itself — the underlying Konsulta program predates it by years, with its most recent major enhancement circular dated 15 May 2024.

What followed the launch was a sequence of supporting issuances rather than a single all-at-once switch: an FAQ six days later clarifying what YAKAP means, a formal transition advisory in October, and further circulars into 2026 expanding specific parts of the benefit — medicines, cancer screening, oral health. If you're trying to pin down "the" YAKAP circular, there isn't one single document that does everything — it's a rollout across multiple issuances, which the next section covers.

Is YAKAP the same as Konsulta?

Yes, functionally. There is no single circular that formally renamed Konsulta to YAKAP — we looked for one and found none. Instead, the shift shows up across three kinds of documents: the July 2025 launch event itself, the official FAQ describing YAKAP as the expanded Konsulta, and PhilHealth Advisory 2025-0061 (29 October 2025, signed by President and CEO Edwin M. Mercado), which states PhilHealth is "actively transitioning from the Konsulta to the PhilHealth YAKAP brand."

Circular 2025-0017 (18 October 2025), covering selection and empanelment of primary care providers, already refers throughout to YAKAP beneficiaries — evidence the internal terminology had shifted before the public-facing signage requirement was even set. For what the package actually contains in detail — the check-up, labs, cancer screening, and medicines — see our Konsulta package guide.

Why some clinics still say "Konsulta"

If you visit a primary care clinic in 2026 and see a sign that still says "Konsulta" rather than "YAKAP," that clinic simply hasn't finished updating its signage yet — it does not mean you're at a different or older program.

PhilHealth Advisory 2025-0061 set a deadline of 1 April 2026 for all Konsulta signage to be changed to YAKAP. Clinics accredited before that transition had to update their physical branding by that date. If you're checking in mid-to-late 2026 and still see the old name somewhere, it's worth asking the front desk directly whether the clinic is a currently accredited YAKAP provider — the benefit itself doesn't depend on which word is painted on the door.

How many YAKAP Clinics are there?

As of a PhilHealth news release dated 15 May 2026, there are 4,287 YAKAP Clinics nationwide, together covering more than 33 million Filipinos. That's a meaningful scale figure — it puts YAKAP among the larger primary-care networks operating in the country, spanning both public and private accredited facilities.

We're citing this figure as a snapshot from that specific news release rather than a running total, since PhilHealth periodically updates clinic counts as new facilities get accredited. If the number matters for your own planning — say, you're trying to find a nearby clinic — the more useful move is checking current accreditation directly with PhilHealth or the clinic itself rather than relying on any single published count to still be accurate months later.

What YAKAP actually covers

The benefit itself hasn't been redefined by the rebrand — what changed is the name and, over a series of circulars, the scope. YAKAP covers four things:

• A free check-up at your registered clinic
• Laboratory tests tied to primary care
• Six named cancer screenings — mammogram, breast ultrasound, low-dose chest CT, alpha-fetoprotein testing, liver ultrasound, and colonoscopy
• Free medicines, through two separate routes described below

Only the medicines carry the ₱20,000 figure: GAMOT is limited to ₱20,000 per beneficiary per year, plus a separate ₱20,000 per qualified dependent.

One point worth pinning down, because it is widely misreported: the ₱20,000 is the medicines limit, not a cap on the whole programme. PhilHealth Circular 2025-0013 §D.2 applies that annual benefit limit specifically to GAMOT, the medicines component. Cancer screening is funded separately under Circular 2025-0014 with its own case rates and a "no co-payment" scheme, so a colonoscopy does not eat into your medicine allowance.

There are also two distinct medicine benefits under the YAKAP umbrella, which is a common source of confusion:

What YAKAP costs you

In a public YAKAP clinic, nothing. In a private one, ₱900 a year at most. PhilHealth set this out in a member advisory, Know Your Rights Under the YAKAP Primary Care Benefit, signed by President and CEO Edwin M. Mercado on 8 January 2026:

"If you are receiving YAKAP primary care services in a public YAKAP clinic, you should not be charged any fee."

"your out-of-pocket co-payment is limited to a maximum of P900 per member per year… Once you have reached this P900 annual co-payment cap, all remaining covered and necessary YAKAP services for the year should be provided to you at no additional cost."

The ₱900 is a co-payment ceiling for the entire year, not a per-visit charge and not an enrolment fee. The same advisory also confirms you cannot be refused care once you have completed your First Patient Encounter and signed your YAKAP Empanelment Slip. If you are billed for something that should be covered, PhilHealth's 24/7 Corporate Action Center takes complaints at yakaptugon@philhealth.gov.ph, on (02) 866-225-88, or by text on 0917-127-5987.

We cover how the cancer screening referral works and how the medicine cap is applied in our companion Konsulta package guide.

Who is covered under YAKAP

Any PhilHealth member with an active PIN can register for YAKAP — it isn't restricted to a specific contributor category the way some benefits are. What's required is that you actually complete registration and attend a first patient encounter at your chosen clinic, since simply holding a PIN doesn't automatically enroll you in primary care.

Given the scale figures above — 4,287 clinics covering over 33 million Filipinos as of May 2026 — YAKAP is clearly intended as a broad-based benefit rather than a narrow one. If you're a senior citizen, note that PhilHealth coverage for seniors is guaranteed separately under law regardless of YAKAP registration — see our guide to PhilHealth senior citizen benefits for that distinct coverage.

How to register for YAKAP

You need an existing PhilHealth PIN before registering for YAKAP — see PhilHealth ID requirements if you need to get one first. With a PIN in hand, registration channels include the eGovPH app, the Member Portal, any PhilHealth office, or directly at a YAKAP Clinic itself.

Registering in person at a YAKAP Clinic is often the most efficient route, since many clinics can process both your registration and your First Patient Encounter (FPE) in a single visit — meaning you leave already empanelled and covered, rather than needing to return. The FPE matters beyond convenience: your right to continuous care, and your ability to transfer clinics later, both hinge on whether you have completed it and signed your YAKAP Empanelment Slip.

Once registered, your assigned clinic becomes your access point for the check-up, screening referrals, and medicine prescriptions described in the Konsulta package guide. For requirements, the eGovPH and Member Portal steps, and the rules on switching clinics, see our YAKAP registration guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does YAKAP stand for?

Yaman ng Kalusugan Program. It's PhilHealth's rebrand of its Konsulta primary care benefit, launched 25 July 2025 under President Marcos Jr.

Is YAKAP a new PhilHealth benefit?

No. PhilHealth's own FAQ describes YAKAP as "the expanded and improved Konsulta" — the same underlying primary care package, with an updated name and additional coverage layered on through circulars issued from mid-2025 into 2026.

When did PhilHealth YAKAP start?

The official launch was 25 July 2025. The formal transition advisory instructing clinics to update signage from Konsulta to YAKAP followed on 29 October 2025, with a compliance deadline of 1 April 2026.

How many YAKAP Clinics are there in the Philippines?

4,287, according to a PhilHealth news release dated 15 May 2026, together covering more than 33 million Filipinos. This is a snapshot figure from that release rather than a live, continuously updated count.

Why does my clinic still say "Konsulta" instead of "YAKAP"?

Clinics had until 1 April 2026 to update their signage under PhilHealth Advisory 2025-0061. A clinic still displaying the old name simply hasn't repainted its sign yet — ask the front desk to confirm current accreditation status if you're unsure.

What benefits does YAKAP cover?

A free check-up, laboratory tests, and six named cancer screenings — all funded without drawing on any peso allowance of yours — plus free medicines. The medicines are the only part with a peso limit: ₱20,000 per beneficiary per year under GAMOT. Full details, including how referrals work, are in our Konsulta package guide.

How much does YAKAP cost?

Nothing at a public YAKAP clinic — PhilHealth Advisory 2026-0003 states you "should not be charged any fee" for covered services there. At a private YAKAP clinic your out-of-pocket co-payment is capped at ₱900 per member per year, and once you reach that cap the remaining covered services for the year should be provided at no additional cost.

Is the ₱20,000 a limit on all YAKAP services?

No. It applies only to medicines under GAMOT, per PhilHealth Circular 2025-0013 §D.2. Consultations, laboratory tests and cancer screenings are funded through separate mechanisms and do not draw down that ₱20,000.

How do I register for YAKAP?

You need an active PhilHealth PIN, then register through eGovPH, the Member Portal, any PhilHealth office, or at a YAKAP clinic directly. Registration is only complete once you attend your First Patient Encounter and sign the YAKAP Empanelment Slip. See our full YAKAP registration guide for the step-by-step and requirements.

Do I need to register again if I was already enrolled in Konsulta?

PhilHealth has not published guidance suggesting previously registered Konsulta members need to re-register under the YAKAP name — the rebrand affects the program's name and expanded scope, not existing member records. If you're unsure of your registration status, confirm directly with your assigned clinic or a PhilHealth office.

Conclusion

YAKAP is Konsulta with a new name, a formal 2025 launch, and a rapidly expanding footprint — 4,287 clinics and over 33 million Filipinos covered as of PhilHealth's most recent published count. The signage transition runs through 1 April 2026, so seeing "Konsulta" on a clinic door in 2026 doesn't mean you're looking at something outdated. For what the benefit actually covers day to day, read our Konsulta package guide next.

Search ClinicFinderPH to find a YAKAP-accredited clinic near you.