Last month, my son had a minor accident that required an ophthalmologist to suture his eyelid. It stressed me a lot as I need to bring him ASAP to the hospital’s emergency room. Aside from the doctor’s fee and emergency room expenses, we still need to buy him new eyeglasses. The broken lens of his glasses caused the deep laceration on his left eyelid.
Again, the incident stressed me a lot. My husband resigned from his corporate job last January and just started his construction business. Every single centavo is important. And an unexpected trip to the hospital’s emergency room undoubtedly hurt our budget. “If only we have a healthcare plan,” was the only thing I uttered to my husband when he asked about our hospital trip.
Vantage point of HMO
There are things we do not expect, emergency cases included. We have experienced a number of incidents from the past wherein we rushed the boys to the hospital due to accidents and illnesses. Though expenses were high, we never worry about them as we had a healthcare to turn to. One of the perks of being an employee.
Sadly though, now that my husband resigned from work, he also gave up our healthcare plan. With four children and a pregnant wife, he just cannot afford to provide us a health card. The little money we have is for our food, kids’ school needs, and household bills payment. I am yet to save for the kids’ education and our savings account. And the best way to avoid sudden expenses like hospital visits is praying hard that it won’t happen anytime soon.
After my second son’s accident, I readily searched for affordable healthcare plans. I find its value worth everything. It provides us with the comprehensive medical care services we need. With a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) card, we just present our card, and the doctor is ready to see us or assist us.
ER Vantage Plus at your fingertips
Photo Credit: PhilCare Facebook Page
From my online shopping, I came across the ER Vantage Plus. It is PhilCare’s new online healthcare vouchers. It provides coverage for emergency care leading to admission for treatment. These emergency cases are mostly due to accident or illness. When I checked the accredited hospital nationwide, PhilCare has around 500 plus affiliates.
It impressed me how easy one could get an ER Vantage Plus. In just a few clicks, one could readily acquire his healthcare plan online and use it. Take note that unlike getting an insurance policy, ER Vantage Plus requires no medical test for enrollment eligibility.
I checked the system, and the process was just so easy. It would probably take you about a few minutes only.
- Go to PhilCare’s online shop and click on ER Vantage Plus to purchase.
- Upon confirmation of purchase and payment, PhilCare sends an email containing the registration details (voucher number, serial number, and PIN code) and the registration link.
- After successful registration, one receives his ER Vantage Plus voucher, with unique certificate number (identification number as a PhilCare member) validity period, and the complete product details.
- The plan becomes valid seven days from registration date.
- After validation, ER Vantage Plus is ready for use.
Vantage point of PhilCare
Aside from ease of purchase and activation process, I also like the fact that ER Vantage Plus is a product of PhilCare. Established in 1982, PhilCare is one of the country’s pioneering HMO companies. Its company vision is direct to the point – allows Filipinos to enjoy a better quality of life by providing them access to world-class health services.
As part of its constant pursuit of making Filipinos healthy and secured, PhilCare opened the first e-Commerce site for healthcare products in 2014. It adapted the sachet-packaging or tingi system to making healthcare accessible to many. In the latter part of 2016, it launched its first online-exclusive product, fortifying PhilCare as a technology-enabled company. Indeed, who wouldn’t be impressed with such company portfolio?
ER Vantage Plus advantages
ER Vantage Plus has three variants and pricing according to the age of the enrollee. Depending on the coverage one will get, this unique product gives a one-time coverage for emergency room care and hospitalization expense including the following:
- Doctors’ fees
- Laboratory and diagnostic procedures
- Room and board
- 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
- Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as medically necessary during ER and confinement
Vantage point of having ER Vantage Plus
Photo Credit: PhilCare Facebook Page
Have I told you we got a son who just had a school accident? Aside from him, we have two more school boys and a 19-month son. I am pregnant with our fifth boy and my husband works hard to bring food and money to the small house. Because we budget our money – but value our family’s health and security – we may choose from the three variants of ER Vantage Plus. We may opt for ER Vantage Plus 40, 60 or 80 representing one-time coverage of up to P40,000, P60,000 and P80,000 respectively. Aside from that, even my 19-month old boy can be covered with its for kids coverage (6months to 17 years old). And the cool part is, payment differs from the amount and person covered thus I have the advantage to play with my budget.
I do not wish for any of my boys to be brought to the emergency room or worst, be confined in a hospital. But because emergency cases are unexpected, I am secured to have our ER Vantage Plus by our side. I need not worry about hospital deposit as my coverage will pay for it. And the good news is, ER Vantage Plus is accepted in 500 plus PhilCare-accredited hospitals nationwide.
This momi invites you to visit ER Vantage Plus page and check what plan best suits you and your family. Even the payment option is so convenient you may opt to pay through credit card, debit card, online banking or even over-the-counter.
Momi Berlin Directory
This sounds like a good voucher to try. I am also concerned about sudden ER trips or hospitalization. I wonder where I could avail of this besides online.
When I mentioned this to my husband, he also agreed that this seems to be a nice plan for us. We will try it as well, kahit for the boys lang muna.
As for your question, PhilCare is kind enough to answer your query. Relaying their answer: You can go to PhilCare Office and they will assist you in purchasing. However, there is still no physical card. You will just pay on their cashier and their business center will give you a serial number and a pin code to register. When you do register, you will get the voucher via email. That is why they strongly recommend that you buy online. It is easier. You may call them at 802 7333 loc 9216 or 19224. Chat with them on Facebook or check their website, too. 🙂 Hope this helps, Madz.
This is very helpful. I wonder if this is okay for those who work in small businesses or those with few employees.
Yes, small business do get ER Vantage Plus from PhilCare. Although PhilCare has SME Pro Plans, you may still opt to get ER Vantage Plus and other PhilCare prepard health cards instead because of the low premium and the hassle-free availment. You may contact PhilCare through 802 7333 loc 19216 or 19224.
Thank you and hope this helps.
Nung naadmit si Nate, all we had was Philhealth so nalakihan kami sa bills. Mahirap talaga magkasakit. I will tell Dane about this. PS: Hirap mag delete dito, bawal ctrl + A! haha.
hahaha. oo, disabled ang mga shortcuts. ehehe.
Thank God youve survived that bad experience. Now, Nate is happy and enjoying his new air con. hahaha. maluhong bata.
But seriously, check PhilCare’s offer. Sulit.
Ayyy! I’m so sorry for what happen. Sino ba to berns? Nako hirap talaga itong mga biglaang emergency lalo na pag sa hospital. Lalo na pag wala kang healthcare plan. Musta na sya ngayon okay na sya? Anyways, this is great and very helpful lalo na sa mga panahon ng emergency.
Si Miguel. Natamaan ng bola near sa mata kaya kailangang tahiin ung eyelid dahil pumasok ung nabasag na eyeglasses dun, Nway, he is ok na, Nagbabasketball na ulit. Ihihi.
Oo nga e,hirap talaga magkasakit lalo na kapag walang healthcard. buti may mga ganitong affordable plan ang PhilCare.
We already have an HMO but I was looking for something like this, too, for our family for biglaang checkup, reimbursable lang kasi yung amin pag outpatient. Saka may limit ang ER funds. 🙂 Natuwa talaga ako sa PhilCare
Might considered this for my husband, since freelancer siya. I am renewing his health card yearly and will verify if mas ok to 🙂
I can’t even imagine how expensive it must be to receive emergency healthcare if you don’t have a health insurance. Accidents can happen all the time and not having insurance it’s just taking a huge risk, especially when you have such a big family. It’s great the the Vantage Point offers you all the advantages of a health insurance but for so much cheaper.
This would be a good help mostly for working at home and freelancers who don’t have health card. I’m eyeing for this for a year and thru your information, i think i really should get one for me and for my hubby. Thanks again.
I am sorry to know about your son. I hope he is okay now. I know it’s hard to do but I think saving some money for emergency helps. Health care plans work too. It’s great that you have found one.
Online health care seems to be a trend these days. This should definitely help those who are stuck at one place with not much mobility. I haven’t thought of this option yet. Your review makes me think of looking up this as an option.
First, sorry to hear about your son’s accident. Yes, truly it is very important to have health insurance cause we really can’t tell when do emergency comes. Yes, being employed in a certain company has really an advantage when it comes to health insurance for they provide it. Anyway. I’m happy that you would still able to find an insurance that really fits to your needs. I haven’t heard about ER vantage plus yet, i’ll surely check it out, since it is really sounds interesting. Thank you so much for sharing!
I think I’ve come across your story about your son’s accident. Sometimes, I’m still confused about health insurance and health care. My mom got me a health card which I use from time to time whenever I’m sick and away from home. This is really great and very informative. I know someone looking for something like this as well. Might as well share it to them. 🙂
I have my own healthcare provider. It’s a bit pricey but I am satisfied of the services it covers. I remember last month when my daughter has had an emergency and she needs to be confined for 3 days. My HMO paid everything, what’s left for me to pay was only P50.00 ($1). It is really important nowadays to have our own HMO. They are really dependable in times of emergencies. We just have to examine first what they have to offer and if that suits our own needs/requirements for a healthcare provider.
Awww. I feel sorry for you little man being hurt that badly. 🙁 I hope he’s okay now. Hospital trips sure can be wallet-draining, especially when you have no HMO coverage. Even PhilHealth doesn’t help much these days. Options like these from PhilCare are a God-send for those who don’t have health coverage from their companies, especially for parents of malikot kids (like mine, never keeps still).
I brought my sister to the hospital yesterday for check up because she’s been throwing up and worst case of loose bowel. Turns out she has amoeba. But they didn’t confined her. They just gave her oral meds. She sowed her HMO and every lab works and consultation were free. She’s under a different HMO though. Then I told my husband that we need to get a health insurance for our family. I think this is a must in every household.
So sad about what happened to your child. But I have to agree that for those of us parents who are always in a pinch and can’t really afford proper healthcare that will cost hundred thousand php, Philcare Vantage cards are the easier way. Aside from the Philhealth we have of course. my family is also insured with philcare pero awa ng Diyos we don’t need to use it yet. 😀
Just want to share our experience with ER Vantage Plus 40.
Nakakdissapoint sobra!
Yung cost ng card is P1,050 then ang nakuha lang namin sa Philcare is P1,800 out of P9,981 na bill.
So here’s what happened, naaksidente yung husband ko, may lacerations yung daliri nya sa paa. Dahil “accident” sya also malinaw naman na nakalagay sa inclusions ng prepaid nila:
Outpatient Emergency Care and Hospitalization Care Benefits:
ER Vantage Plus 40 for Adults * gives you a one-time coverage up to Php 40,000 for viral, bacterial illnesses and treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except stroke) ** In more than 500 accredited hospitals nationwide excluding six (6) major hospitals in Metro Manila (Makati Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center (QC and Global), Asian Hospital and Medical Center, The Medical City, and Cardinal Santos Medical Center). The Coverage is inclusive of the following benefits:
Room and board (Ward Room)
Doctors’ fees
Laboratory and diagnostics procedures
Special modalities of treatment as medically necessary during ER and confinement, subject to P5,000 inner limits
Medicines (except vaccines) as medically necessary during ER and confinement except for cases declared as non-coverable **, subject to standard inner limits
Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as medically necessary during ER and confinement
Malinaw naman nakalagay, covered yung doctor’s fee, medicines during ER at pati yung Laboratory and diagnostics procedures…
Pagdating na sa bayaran, pagpresent ko ng evoucher sa nurse, lahat nalang di covered ng Philcare, naumay talaga ako, buti nalang may perang pangbayad. Sana man lang kahit HALF ng bill kinover, hindi eh, P1,800 lang out of the P9,981 na bill! Grabe talaga.
Tapos ang nakakayamot, pinagbayad muna ako ng Philcare sa hospital, PINA-REIMBURSE ko pa sa kanila. YES! Walag on the spot na binawas ang Philcare, yung P1,800 galing sa reimbursement.
To think na 3 years na kaming kumukuha ng 2 ER Vantage Plus 40 (for us) at 2 ER Shield (for the kids) yearly yan… at sa loob ng 3 years, ONCE palang namin nagamit, yun ngang naaksidente yung husband ko.
Grabeng hassle lang inabot namin dito sa Philcare, maganda lang “kuno” yung coverage nila, pero pag gagamitin mo na, ito nalang sasabihin nila sayo, ito yung mismong sinabi nila sa email.
“Please be reminded that the reimbursement claims are limited to emergency confinements/consultations only except when
agreement has a Point-Of-Service option”
Oh diba, walang sense?
Sayang lang pera nyo dito mga mommies, ang sabi samin sa hospital, mas ok pa daw ang Maxicare, maliit man ang limit dahil P15,000 lang, pero kahit anong ER case, covered.