The High Cost of Health with Philam

A wise man once said, “If you think wellness is expensive, then try illness.” This particular quote sums up how one leading doctor in the Philippines’ Lifestyle Medicine sector feels about today’s society.

Dr. Johann Kim Mañez first started his medical career training as an Internal Medicine specialist. He noticed that patients affected by critical illnesses who were prescribed essential potent medication would soon fall ill to additional side effects. In order to combat the new complications, more medications would be prescribed. This would only increase the potential of getting even more side effects, thereby increasing the need for more medications, creating an endless costly loop of healthcare.

Seeing that the treatments and surgical procedures can easily cost patients hundreds of thousands, if not millions of pesos without assurance of gaining back health, he decided that he wanted to attack chronic diseases at their root, and treat the cause of diseases rather than their symptoms.  As a Lifestyle Medicine practitioner, Dr. Mañez now advises patients on how to improve their routines; this includes guidance on their diet and an increased rate of their physical activity.

 “Today’s society consumes an inordinate amount of unhealthy food. Humans were not made to survive on the diet that the general public is on nowadays,” said Dr. Mañez. He continued, “In order to maintain optimal health, we should learn how to avoid everything that harms our health including animal-based, junk and processed foods, and consume in moderation, everything that is good for us.” Dr. Mañez’s work as a Lifestyle Medicine practitioner has influenced his patients to start living healthy lifestyles, successfully ridding them of painful symptoms and underlying disease processes.

Sadly, even the physically fit and vigorous members of society have been struck by critical illnesses whether hereditary or caused by unhealthy lifestyle. Worst of all is that some of these critical illnesses are past the point that healthy lifestyles can no longer cure.

True to Dr. Mañez’s observations, these critical illnesses can lead down a costly loop of prescription medications and treatments. It is indeed a crying shame when those who have worked countless days sacrificing their health in hopes of providing a better future for their loved ones, fall ill. The savings they have accumulated from their hard work and dedication must be utilized to help them recover in times of health setbacks.

Considering this, Filipinos are now in need of help to brace for some of the worst events that may occur in their lives. To help financially prepare Filipinos for some of life’s unexpected turns, Philam Life recently launched Health Invest Plus, the company’s flagship health product.

Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus provides lump-sum cash benefits when diagnosed with any of 56 covered major critical illnesses and 11 covered early stage conditions– the most among unit-linked plans in the market. Unit-linked products are life insurance and investment plans-in-one where the benefits are linked to the returns of a chosen investment fund.

Once diagnosed with any of such critical illnesses, the plan holder is also spared from paying future premium payments. If the plan holder is diagnosed with a covered early stage critical condition, 25 percent of the critical Illness coverage will be given in advance.

Unlike most other critical illness plans, Health Invest Plus can be availed even by those who are already up to 65 years old. The critical illness coverage will still be in effect until they are 75, an age when most are in retirement and in need of greater medical care. Since Health Invest Plus is a unit-linked plan, a portion of premium payments are invested, allowing one to grow a Health fund which can be used for health maintenance or other costs during one’s later years. The plan also provides cash benefits for accidental injuries or disabilities and loss of life, providing comprehensive coverage for policyholders.

It is always good to hope for the best, but it’s even better to be prepared for the worst. Insurance plans such as Health Invest Plus can make a significant difference in a patient’s life.

To find out more about Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus, call 528-2000 or visit http://www.philamlife.com.

Philam Life launch Health Invest Plus, the company's flagship health product

Unexpected Emergencies Tops List of Concerns  Among Middle Class, Survey Reveals

“Health is wealth” is an old saying, very often used that it sometimes loses its value. However, a survey commissioned by AIA, the leading pan-Asian life insurance group, shows that this saying is very much relevant and aligned with conventional thinking.

According to an AIA Survey on Middle Class Hopes and Aspirations conducted last year by Ipsos in the ASEAN region, 44% of middle-class Filipinos consider being healthy as a top goal in life. The survey revealed health is actually placed over other commonly held aspirations, such as money, business, career, and education. For many of the middle class, health matters more than many other concerns.

Over the course of 500 interviews conducted with a wide age-range of self-identified members of the Filipino middle class aged 25 or above, findings showed that the cost of unexpected emergencies (65%) is the biggest concern for the Philippines’ middle class. Almost half of the respondents (49%) expressed concern regarding the costs of health care.

In light of this revelation regarding the real life hopes and aspirations of Filipinos, Philam Life, an AIA company, has dedicated themselves to helping people become financially prepared against such unexpected health setbacks. They recently launched Health Invest Plus, the company’s flagship health product, to provide security for those who wish to plan ahead for any health eventuality.

“Health Invest Plus provides much needed financial protection when one is afflicted with major critical illnesses, whether they get diagnosed in the earlier stages or far advanced in their infirmity,” noted Philam Life Chief Marketing Officer Jaime Jose Javier Jr. Cancers, heart attacks, and strokes number among the critical illnesses covered by this insurance plan. “This way, Filipinos will be better prepared for unexpected emergencies and the high cost of healthcare,” added Javier.

Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus provides lump-sum benefits when diagnosed with any of 56 covered major critical illnesses and 11 covered early stages of a critical illness– the most among unit-linked plans in the market. Unit-linked products are life insurance and investment plans-in-one where the benefits are linked to the returns of a chosen investment fund.

Once diagnosed with any of such critical illnesses, the plan holder is spared from paying future premium payments. If the plan holder is diagnosed with a covered early stage critical condition, 25 per cent of the Critical Illness coverage will be given in advance.

Unlike most other critical illness plans, Health Invest Plus can be availed even up to those who are already 65 years old. The critical illness coverage will still be in effect until they are 75, an age when most are in retirement and in need of greater medical care. Since Health Invest Plus is a unit-linked plan, premium payments are invested, allowing one to grow a Health fund which can be used for health maintenance or other costs during one’s later years.


The plan also provides cash benefits for accidental injuries or disabilities and loss of life, providing comprehensive coverage for policyholders.

“The survey also revealed ‘peace of mind’ (38 per cent) as one of the top life goals of the Philippines’ middle class. With Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus, customers can experience peace of mind knowing they are financially prepared against health setbacks now and as they grow older, so they can be there for their families,” Javier concluded.

Indeed, when equipped with the safety net that Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus provides, one can rest easy with hopes for a sound body, as well as a sound mind.

To learn more about the AIA Survey on the Middle Class Hopes and Aspirations, please visit http://asiamiddleclass.aia.com. To find out more about Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus, call 528-2000 or visit http://www.philamlife.com/en/index.html

Value Your Most Important Asset with PhilamLife

Dr. John Solamo, an ophthalmologist with an avid interest in marathons and fitness, was a young man who had every expectation of good health. By living an active lifestyle, that has invested greatly into ensuring his health and well-being through prevention and maintenance.

Unfortunately, a strange, heavy sensation in his chest soon ruined his all carefully laid plans of an active lifestyle. A stress test revealed that three of his major vessels were clogged and that there was barely any blood flowing through the interior of his heart. At the age of 42, Solamo underwent a five-vessel cardiac bypass surgery.

Solamo’s experience is one of many examples that emphasize a worrisome and undeniable fact: health setbacks can happen even to those who are considered to be physically fit. “There’s this wrong idea that you’re invincible when you’re exercising,” Solamo pointed out, as he recalled his struggles four years ago. “Even if you lead a healthy lifestyle, you just can’t be too sure what will happen at any given time,” he added.

Compounding the stress that a major illness brings is the strain it puts on one’s finances. When his heart attack hit him, Solamo had just recently purchased a new home, and had his daughter’s education to think of.

According to critical care specialist Dr. Emily Tan-Aventura, heart disease (which affects 9 out of 10 Filipinos) typically costs patients up to PhP1 million in expenses. Treatment of other critical illnesses like cancer, of which 11 Filipinos are diagnosed every hour, can cost around PhP700,000, or even more. Strokes claim 168 lives daily, racking up to PhP14,400 for each day of treatment and therapy. These are only a few of the costs attached to a clean bill of health.

In the case of Solamo, his foresight and initiative to also financially invest in his health reaped great rewards. He was fortunate enough to have an insurance plan that covered most of his medical bills. Since then, the company that provided this invaluable assistance has developed even better products to address the financial obligations of serious illnesses.

“The key is to provide comprehensive financial protection for critical illnesses such as heart attack, cancer, and stroke beginning at the early stages,” noted Philam Life Chief Marketing Officer Jaime Jose Javier, Jr. “This is precisely what our company’s Health Invest Plus delivers,” he emphasized.

Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus provides lump-sum benefits when diagnosed with any of the 56 covered major critical illnesses. Once diagnosed, the plan holder is spared from paying future premium payments. Moreover, if the plan holder is diagnosed with a covered early stage critical condition, 25 percent of the Critical Illness coverage will be given in advance.

Having 56 types of major critical illnesses and 11 early stage conditions covered makes Health Invest Plus the unit-linked plan with the most number of critical illnesses in the market. “Unit-linked products are life insurance and investment plans-in-one where the benefits are linked to the returns of a chosen investment fund,” Javier explained. “Since Health Invest Plus is a unit-linked plan, premium payments are invested, allowing one to grow a Health fund which can be used for health maintenance or other costs during one’s later years.”

What’s more is that, unlike most other critical illness plans, people up to 65 years old can still avail of a Health Invest Plus, and its critical illness coverage is available until age 75 – when one’s past retirement and in greater need of medical care. The plan also provides cash benefits for accidental injuries or disabilities and loss of life, providing comprehensive coverage for policyholders.

“With Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus, customers can experience peace of mind knowing they are financially prepared against health setbacks now and as they grow older,” Javier said. “Our goal is to make health benefits available to clients so they can enjoy the opportunity to be there for their families as they grow older. In the case of John [Solamo], his decision to have a health policy helped him recover from his seemingly unlikely and unexpected illness. He’s once again enjoying the active lifestyle that he has always pursued, and continues to enjoy life’s moments with his loved ones” he concluded.

To find out more about Philam Life’s Health Invest Plus, contact a Philam Life Financial Advisor or call 528-2000 or visit www.philamlife.com