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| Philam Life, the country’s premier life insurer, launched Health Invest, a unit-linked health and life insurance plan which provides financial protection from health-related setbacks. In photo are (from left): Medical specialists Avenilo L. Aventura Jr. and Emily Tan Aventura, Philam Life SVP-head of marketing Jessica Abaya, and Philam Life AVP-head of product marketing for Protection and Health Rozanne Magararu. |
For someone who worked for an HMO in the Philippines, I have known that some conditions are not covered in one’s medical plan. You’d know this because we always received complaints that their availment was denied or something like that. Last February 26, Philamlife unveiled its latest addition to its portfolio of unit-linked products – the Health Invest.
Health Invest is a unit-linked health and life insurance plan which provides financial protection from health-related setbacks. It provides life insurance coverage, plus it lets you build a fund for your future health care needs. Ms. Rozanne Magararu, Protection and Health Product Marketing Head at Philam Life, noted that Health Invest “prepares Filipinos for the unexpected realities of getting sick and the inevitable realities of growing old.”
Did you know that 11 Filipinos are diagnosed with cancer every hour and the cost of treatment is at least Php700,000? If you’re a young professional or a simple employee, how would you address that big of a money for treatment?
“Health Invest is ideal for mature couples with young dependents or breadwinners who fully understand the value of planning ahead for critical illness, accidents or loss of life,” she said. “It can work as a supplement to health maintenance organization (HMO) cards and Philhealth coverage through its more comprehensive benefits.”
I think that Health Invest is an ingenious product because it fused both insurance and investment benefits in one plan. Plus, it helps us have that saved up money in case of a health condition.
The Health Invest fund will be expertly managed by Philam Life’s affiliate company Philam Asset Management, Inc. It accumulates over time depending upon the performance of the chosen investment fund. The fund may be used to pay for medical and health needs incurred beyond the policyholder’s working years or in excess of HMO coverage. Policyholders also have the option of topping up premium payments to boost the growth of the fund.
In sickness and in health
According to Magararu, many Filipinos may be misled by the notion that getting health insurance is “redundant” because of existing HMO and Philhealth coverage. “Such coverage is normally tied to our years as employees. What happens to the expenses that are not covered? What happens after we retire? In real life, medical expenses from getting sick and growing old are often funded out of one’s pocket. On the other hand, Health Invest begins where your HMO coverage ends,” she added.
Health Invest works this way: you can get a lump sum cash benefit upon diagnosis of a critical illness or in the event of an accident, you can get hep in financing your recovery and pay for your medical bills. That way, you'll be ready and you'd stop worrying about the future. The good thing about this plan is the sum will not be deducted from the health fund or the life insurance coverage, and payment for future premiums will be waived until the plan reaches fruition. Aside from that, you can choose from their flexible terms - may it be three, five, seven or ten years, depending on your/policyholder's age and chosen coverage.
Investment and protection
“Health is an oft-overlooked issue for Filipinos, and yet it’s a pressing concern that affects everyone. Health issues are real life problems that are best dealt with early on,” Jessica Abaya, Philam Life Head of Marketing, said.
In the recent Healthy Living Index (HLI) survey, results revealed that, while 98 percent of Filipinos acknowledge that healthy living is important, Filipinos are not as proactive as they should be when it comes to exercising, getting enough sleep, and eating healthier.
HLI aims to “understand how people feel about their health, concerns, and hopes for a healthier way of life.” It was conducted by AIA, the largest independently-publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group of which Philam Life is part of, in 15 AIA markets in Asia including the Philippines.
Abaya added, “Health Invest is a response to the unique health needs of Filipinos. With this, we hope to empower more Filipinos to prepare themselves and their families in the midst of life’s health realities.”
How about you? Are you prepared for the future? For more information on Health Invest, you may log on to
www.philamlife.com.
