Insurer introduces 3 health products

MANILA, Philippines - Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or lifestyle diseases, such as heart attack or heart failure, stroke, and cancer, are the top three leading causes of death among Filipinos, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH added that more than 276 Filipinos die of heart disease on a daily basis, while 142 Filipinos die from cancer every day. At least one Filipino suffers from stroke every nine minutes, and for those who survive, they have a 75-percent chance of becoming permanently disabled.

While there may be increasing public awareness to preventing these diseases through diet and exercise, little is done to raise awareness for Filipinos to prepare financially for the impact of having any of these lifestyle diseases.

The cost for heart by-pass surgery, chemotherapy, or brain surgery ranges from P500,000 to as much as one million pesos, an amount that most regular health plans cannot cover.

Moreover, it is estimated that medical costs are expected to double in the next 10 years --- a rate much higher than economic inflation.

That is why AXA Philippines, one of the country’s largest and fastest growing life insurance companies, is helping Filipinos prepare for the threat of future major medical emergencies by launching three new products that provide adequate coverage to Filipinos when they face a critical illness.

AXA Philippines president and chief executive officer Rien Hermans that with the health trends in the Philippines and in most countries today, the risk of developing a critical illness is now higher than ever.

“Therefore, people should be protecting themselves from the financial impact of being diagnosed with a critical illness,” Hermans added.

Health Exentials is a simple, all-in-one health and protection plan that gives the greatest value at an affordable price.

For as low as P59 per day, customers can get P5.5-million worth of comprehensive benefits, which include a critical conditions benefit, total and  permanent disability benefit, daily hospitalization income benefit, a one-time surgical benefit, and a maturity cash benefit.

Health Exentials premiums can be as low as only P1,140 a month or P39 per day.

Health Max provides maximum lifetime coverage as it gives medical benefits until age 100. It also has the widest coverage of illnesses in the market today, covering 56 major medical conditions and 18 minor illnesses.

Early stage cancer diagnosis and angioplasty, not normally covered by other health plans, are included in Health Max.

It also has higher medical benefits of up to P10 million, as well as a special Advanced Health Fund that starts at age 70, which can be used for various medicines and treatments most common at that age.

SME ProteXion caters to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with at least 10 employees.

It offers health and protection packages-in-one with various benefit options to choose from such as critical care coverage, daily hospitalization income, life insurance coverage and death and disablement coverage.

This simple and straightforward product has flexible payment options to suit your business budget.

What AXA Philippines is emphasizing is the importance of adequate financial preparedness.

Critical illnesses have significant physical and financial impacts, and Filipinos must know that there are products available that will enable them to financially secure their health-related needs, and they can do so while they are still at their prime.