Philcare's Health Vantage: Pay only what you can afford for a multi purpose health card

Having worked for more than 10 years at the Admitting Section of one of the country’s top hospitals, I’ve had my share of a lot of sad stories (and old excuses) from patients and their companions whenever they have to be admitted.

And as one of the frontliners I admit it can be quite stressful as you’ll be dealing with a lot of people who are stressed and panicking so you need to have lots of patience and empathy. It was kind of tough at first but dealing with them everyday made me more capable of handling even some extreme situations.

It is hard to be admitted and you don’t have cash with you to pay for everything.  The first thing that would often anger them is (If the patient has no healthcard) is when you ask for a certain amount of hospital deposit. It would usually start with some pleading, then they would began citing some news they read, before they would start shouting and will often end with more pleading.


When I left to venture to a different industry my next job was at  BPO. We were given health benefits which included a health card. Thankfully during the 4 years I spent working there, I was never admitted or had a complicated medical consultation.  As far as I can remember,  I only used my card once because of fever and flu. That one time consultation went smooth as I just showed it to the ER Ward clerk. She just swiped and asked for my birthday. No argument, as it is cashless and the doctor attended to me just like everyone else.



So you see, having a health card can really save you a lot of time, trouble and arguments.  You might not see its importance  now that you are healthy, but once you get sick and need to go to the hospital you’ll appreciate it even more. I just wish a lot of Filipinos could see its importance and that too could have a comprehensive health care system similar to the ones abroad.

Did you know that only 4% of Filipinos enjoy comprehensive HMO coverage, and most people who have that coverage only do because they work for large corporations that are given bulk discounts.  This means that most Filipinos simply aren’t prepared even for minor hospitalizations, from still all too common bacterial or viral diseases.  Will such eventualities do occur, the financial cost will very often lead debt that has to be paid over a period of several months.  Ever attentive to the needs of Filipinos.


With the regular Filipino’s financial reality in mind, PhilCare created the Health Vantage prepaid card.  With PhilCare’s Health Vantage, Filipinos pay only what they can afford, for a multi-use prepaid health card that covers ER, hospitalization, and the bulk of other services that go with it up to a limit that is many times the cost of the Health Vantage Card.

Available for individual purchase online, Health Vantage is the most affordable way to approximate the HMO coverage that employees at big companies get under comprehensive, bulk group plans.

Health Vantage gives you coverage for emergency room care and hospitalization expenses, inclusive of Doctors’ fees, Laboratory and diagnostic procedures, Room and board (regular private room) Medicines (except vaccines) as medically necessary during confinement except for cases declared as non-coverable, Special modalities of treatment which are medically necessary during ER and confinement and subject to standard inner limits, Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as medically necessary during ER and confinement

Emergency cases are the sudden, unexpected onset of illness or injury, which at the time of contract reasonably appeared as having the potential of causing immediate disability or death or requiring the immediate alleviation of severe pain and discomfort. Emergency cases include but are not limited to Massive Bleeding; Acute Appendicitis; Fractures/multiple injuries secondary to accidents; Convulsions; illnesses or conditions resulting in moderate or severe dehydration such as diarrhea or fever; and Syncope. Pre-existing conditions and those conditions under the general exclusions of PhilCare are not covered.  In addition, ER Vantage comes with a death of dismemberment payout.

Prices for Health Vantage for adults range from Php 3,750 to Php 9,950, amount of coverage is between Php 40,000 to Php 80,000 depending on the Health Vantage card/voucher purchased.

For kids the prices range between Php 3,850 to Php 13,950.

For more details in the Health Vantage, go to: 
http://shop.philcare.com.ph/index.php?route=product/search&search=health%20vantage