Sulit Ba Ang HMO? Parents Share Top Health Insurance For Families

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is a type of health insurance offered by several healthcare companies. Some companies provide it as a benefit, sometimes covering both the employee and their dependents. Families can also choose to acquire HMOs voluntarily, selecting the type of HMO that best suits their needs.

We asked parents at the Smart Parenting Village, a Facebook community of over 106k parents, if they thought having an HMO was worth it, and they unanimously agreed that it was.

Some parents use it for check-ups, consultations, laboratory tests, hospital confinements, and maternity care. Even those who don't usually get sick still opt to acquire a health card for emergencies. Mommy Kathryn Santos shared, "We rarely use our health card because we rarely get sick, but the point is, in case of an emergency, we have something we can rely on right away.”

Top HMOs according to Smart Parenting Village parents

Illnesses can cost thousands or even hundreds of thousands of pesos, so in emergencies, your HMO can save you from draining your cash reserves or dipping into your savings and other investments.

Here are the top HMO choices of the Smart Parenting Village moms and dads for their families:

1. Maxicare

Maxicare is the top choice for parents when it comes to HMOs. Some families access theirs through their companies, but choosing a plan for your family is also very convenient. Check out its website here. You can opt for the Individual or Family Plan or their Prepaid Plans.

The Individual Plan is categorized as Silver (Maximum Benefit Limit of Php 100,000), Gold (MBL of Php 150,000), Platinum (MBL of Php 200,000), and Platinum Plus (MBL of Php 250,000). It starts as low as Php 17,000 annually for a 25-year-old individual.

One mom from the Smart Parenting Village shared how Maxicare helped her family, "Our family uses Maxicare under a Gold family account, not through a company. It's been over a year, and we've found it valuable and worth it. I've used it many times, most recently just last month for a CT (computerized tomography) scan. I even underwent lithotripsy (a treatment for kidney stones) without paying a single peso. Even my 2-year-old daughter had anti-rabies shots, all covered under Maxicare. So far, it's been great because the card has covered a lot of expensive lab tests and procedures. They even have home service! Without it, the costs would have been overwhelming."

Under the prepaid plan, Maxicare PRIMA Gold is available. It includes emergency care coverage of up to Php 20,000 and access to outpatient consultations and lab services. What's more, you can buy it on Shopee here.

2. Intellicare

Intellicare is provided for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and companies.

Mommy Nilda Ermeno shared her experience with Intellicare, "Intellicare is provided by our company. I can say the coverage they chose for us is one of the best. The top 5 hospitals are covered, and the room accommodation is open private (up to executive private level and even suite room if there's an involuntary upgrade). We experienced getting confined at a hospital in Bonifacio Global City, and we were pleased with Intellicare's patient relations officer. They checked on us daily to see if we needed anything or if all our needs were attended to."

3. Medicard

Medicard is another reputable HMO that the Smart Parenting Village recommends for your family. Its services include hospitalization, outpatient care, preventive health care, emergency services, and dental care. It offers both a Standard Package and a VIP Package.

The Standard Package is for those without pre-existing conditions, while the VIP Package is a health card for members with pre-existing conditions. The VIP Plan also includes extensive programs such as the Point of Service Program, Lifeline 16-911 Medical, Inc., and access to Assist America.

The Standard Package starts at Php 10,739 per year/per member.

4. Philcare

Philcare offers prepaid healthcare products, with a variety of options to choose from, such as Dengue Assist, ER Consult, Unli-Consult, and more. These can be found on its site here. Philcare's comprehensive health plan is called Health LUXE, which includes all consultations, laboratories, and hospitalizations. The annual plan starts at Php 20,000 per member per year.

5. Cocolife

Cocolife HMOs are provided for employees through direct companies. Currently, there are no independent Cocolife HMOs available. Mom of four Annie Del Rosario shared why she recommends Cocolife, "It's very useful for us especially for my children's check-ups, which also covers laboratory tests and hospitalization. Although miscellaneous expenses aren't covered, it's still worth it. We've been using this HMO for almost ten years now. It's worth it, especially in case of emergencines when you don't have cash."

In summary, check out this table for the benefits, packages, and costs of HMOs:

If you are looking for an HMO or a health card for your family, this Facebook Group might help you: Affordable HMO Health Card Philippines. You can find agents who can assist and connect you with these healthcare companies. Just make sure to do due diligence before transacting with anyone in the group.

By investing in a reputable HMO for you and your family members, it's not only the health benefits you are paying for; it's peace of mind especially in times of emergencies. Now that's Smart Parenting!

Still not convinced? Check out these 7 reasons a prepaid health card might be perfect for your family.