How To Spend Wisely On Healthcare In The Philippines

Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of living in the Philippines is how much we spend on healthcare–if we even spend at all. That comes as no surprise.

Make no mistake about it: health care is necessary enough to be a priority. But with the high cost of medical treatments, it gets put on the side–until the unfortunate time comes when we need to shell out exorbitant amounts just to get treated.

The truth is: health care products can be costly–especially when we focus on cures and treatments instead of prevention. But that doesn’t mean there are no ways to get financially covered once the need for health care arises. It’s all about how we manage to spend wisely on healthcare.

Wise Healthcare Management Is The Key To Saving Money Instead of Spending

When we spend on making the right and healthy lifestyle decisions for ourselves and our family, that’s actually the time we’re saving on expenses in the long run. Keep in mind that a healthy body is less prone to sickness, and preventive healthcare is much more manageable on the budget than treatments.

So of course it’s always wise to keep yourself healthy by subscribing to a balanced diet, getting enough sleep (at least 8 hours), keeping yourself active through exercise, and having a normal body mass index.

However, this is just the other half of wise healthcare management. Because we must consider the unexpected such as accidents and emergencies. And also, once we get to a certain age, regular check-ups as well, just to screen certain illnesses that come with age.

Health Insurance Completes The Other Half

Having comprehensive health insurance that covers unexpected visits to the ER because of accidents and ill-timed diseases is the other half that completes the wise healthcare management plan. This helps you save money since you don’t have to shoulder any incurred cost of check-ups, lab tests, and hospitalizations.

But health insurance is almost exclusively available via HMOs that primarily deal with companies, instead of individuals. So if you’re not employed with a company that offers health insurance through HMOs, it can be quite a challenge…until now.

Prepaid Health Cards Are The Answer

Since personal healthcare has been an increasing priority, HMOs are opening up their unique services to individuals with prepaid health cards. So what is a prepaid health card?

A prepaid health card works like health insurance offered by HMOs through companies, albeit in a more specialized package. Prepaid health cards usually cover specific medical expenses for an amount of time, normally within 12 months. That means you can enjoy the benefits offered by these prepaid health cards for one full year.

And since emergencies, accidents, and check-ups are the other considerations in wise healthcare management that actually cost a lot of money, these are the coverages we’re aiming to get in these prepaid health cards.

Maxicare prepaid health cards are one of the leading prepaid health cards that offer affordable healthcare to individuals. Take a look at what they have to offer:

Maxicare EReady

With Maxicare EReady, you can have one-time coverage worth up to P15,000 on illnesses and injuries that require immediate medical attention. Coverage starts at P839.

Product Features:

• Provides up to P15,000 one – time coverage on illnesses or injuries that arises from medical-related emergency conditions
• Eligible for individuals from 15 days old to 65 years old
• One-time availment, but up to two enrollment registration per person per year
• Easy registration via SMS and Online! – No preliminary check-up, no paperwork
• Nationwide ER access to over 1000 Maxicare-affiliated hospitals
• Member can avail in one accredited hospital only within 24 hours
• Card Validity is up to one (1) year upon activation
• Maxicare EReady Titanium (P839) – Access to all Maxicare-affiliated hospitals excluding the 6 major hospitals*
• Maxicare EReady Platinum (P1,039) – Access to all Maxicare-affiliated hospitals including the 6 major hospitals*

*Asian Hospital, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center-Quezon City, St. Luke’s Medical Center-Taguig, The Medical City

Product Coverage:

• Doctor’s Services for Emergency Treatment
• Emergency Room Fees
• Medicines used for immediate relief and during treatment
• Oxygen, IV fluids, whole blood and human blood products
• Dressings, casts, sutures
• X-ray, laboratory and diagnostic exams

Additional Benefit:

• 10% discount on selected Metro Dental services.
• With Group Life with Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Disablement (ADD&D) coverage up to P50,000.00

Maxicare EReady Advance

Maxicare EReady Advance is a one-time medical emergency prepaid health card that covers illnesses or injuries that require immediate medical assistance, with a higher coverage up to P50,000 vs Maxicare EReady.

Product Features:

• Provides up to P50,000 coverage on emergency treatment including those requiring confinement, in a regular private room
• Eligible for individuals from 15 days old to 65 years old
• One-time use only
• Easy registration via SMS and Online! – No preliminary check-up, no paperwork
• Nationwide ER access to Maxicare-affiliated hospitals
• Card Validity is up to one (1) year upon activation
• Maxicare EReady Advance Titanium (P2,950) – Access to all Maxicare-affiliated hospitals excluding the 6 major hospitals*
• Maxicare EReady Advance Platinum (P3,950) – Access to all Maxicare-affiliated hospitals including the 6 major hospitals*

*Asian Hospital, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center-Quezon City, St. Luke’s Medical Center-Taguig, The Medical City

Product Coverage

Life threatening conditions, illnesses and/or injuries that require immediate medical assistance such as heart attacks, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular accidents, loss of consciousness, and convulsions

Emergency Room Coverage:

• Doctor’s Services for Emergency Treatment
• Emergency Room Fees
• Medicines used for immediate relief and during treatment
• Oxygen, IV fluids, whole blood and human blood products
• Dressings, casts, sutures
• X-ray, laboratory and diagnostic exams

Inpatient Care Coverage

• Room and board accommodation in a regular private room
• Use of Operating Room, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Isolation Room (if prescribed by the accredited attending physician), and Recovery Room
• Standard nursing services
• Medicines when in confinement
• Whole blood products, and IV fluid transmission
• X-ray, laboratory and diagnostic tests
• Anesthesia, oxygen and its administration

Additional Benefit

• Free and unlimited consultations in Maxicare Primary Care Centers nationwide
• Access to Maxicare 24/7 TeleConsult
• 10% discount on selected Metro Dental services.
• Emergency medical evacuation for members who are more than 150km from place of residence
• With Group Life with Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Disablement (ADD&D) coverage up to P50,000.00

Maxicare PRIMA

Maxicare PRIMA is an affordable prepaid healthcare plan for individuals which offers unlimited Outpatient Consultations, and availment of 255 types of laboratory and diagnostic procedures within Maxicare’s network of Primary Care Centers (PCC) and MyHealth Clinics.

PRIMA Silver (P4,999) – For 0-59 years old, with access to all Maxixare Primary Care Centers (PCC) only

PRIMA Gold (P12,999) – For 60 years old and up, with emergency care coverage for up to P20,000, Access to all Maxicare Primary Care Centers (PCC) and MyHealth clinics for outpatient consultation and lab availments

Product Features

• Unlimited outpatient consultations in all Maxicare Primary Care Centers (PCC) and all *My Health Clinics branches with any of the following physicians:
  • Internal Medicine (IM)
  • Obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN)
  • Ears-Nose-Throat (ENT) Except in PCC Davao
  • Dermatologist
  • Pediatrician
  • Ophthalmologist Except in PCC Davao and PCC Iloilo

• Unlimited coverage for prescribed **laboratory and diagnostic procedures in all Maxicare Primary Care Centers (PCC) and all *MyHealth Clinics.

*Access limited to Prima Gold only

**Only procedure/s advised and requested by a Maxicare Primary Care Physician will be covered.

• Pre-existing conditions are covered
• With a consumable P20,000 annual emergency room coverage for Gold members in all Maxicare-affiliated hospitals nationwide
• Access to the 24/7 TeleConsult Service: 02 8582 1980
• FREE Dental Care Coverage from MetroDental! Avail of the following services once within one (1) year:
  • Mild Oral Prophylaxis (Cleaning)
  • Panoramic X-Ray (Full Mouth)
  • Dental Consult
  • Emergency relief of dental pain through medication
  • Cosmetic or oral rehab treatment planning
  • Dental nutrition and counseling
  • Dental health education
  • Preparation of dental certificates
  • Safekeeping of dental records as required by law or client
  • Flouride Gel (For Silver members only)

Stop wasting money and start saving money on your health care now with these Maxicare prepaid health cards.