Isn't it ironic that companies offer health insurance coverage only until the age of 65? But senior citizens still need health coverage, possibly more than any other demographic. They feel more aches and pains but struggle to pay hospital bills since they might be retired and not earning as much as they used to.
But this is the sad reality for many elderly Filipinos. They end up paying for check-ups, hospital confinements, and surgeries with their own money, depleting their savings.
You might think it’s hard to find a health card for senior citizens in the Philippines that provides comprehensive health insurance coverage and medical benefits. But thankfully, there are still great options available.
Health cards should also offer better medical benefits as senior citizens are more prone to illnesses and injuries. If you're looking for health insurance for your senior citizen parents in the Philippines, you can find some of the best options in this article.
What is an HMO Health Card?
HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization. It's a network or organization that provides health insurance coverage for a monthly or annual fee.[1]
If you’re employed in the Philippines, your employer should shoulder the insurance premiums as part of their employee benefits. But if you get individual coverage, you can pay the premiums monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, depending on the provider.
You can only receive services or consultations from doctors within the HMO’s network. For example, you don't need to pay consultation fees if you consult with an accredited physician. But you’ll need to pay if you consult an unaccredited doctor.
The same applies when you go to a clinic or hospital that’s not affiliated with your HMO.
What is the Difference Between a Health Card and a Health Insurance Plan?
The employer usually pays the premium for HMO health cards monthly or annually. And as mentioned, you can receive services or consultations only from doctors within your HMO’s network. Your health card can also offer inpatient and outpatient services, surgeries, and laboratory tests.
For senior citizens, you can get a prepaid health card. Just pay for the card and activate it. You can enjoy the benefits for one year or until you use up the package.
On the other hand, health insurance offers more benefits and access to healthcare organizations or networks. Employers don’t shoulder this, so you must pay health insurance premiums voluntarily.
Depending on the illness, the cash benefit is more significant than HMOs. Where HMO's coverage usually ends at age 65, health insurance can provide coverage until age 100.
What are the Benefits of Health Cards for Senior Citizens?
There are many reasons to get a health card for senior citizens. Here are some of the most significant ones:
- Save money on medical costs - With a health card, a senior citizen in the Philippines can enjoy zero or low out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- Choose a health card according to your budget - Pick a health package that’s right for your needs and pay premiums with payment modes that suit your budget.
- You can conveniently purchase prepaid health cards - And once you activate them, your senior parents can start enjoying the benefits.
- Health cards are affiliated with a network of healthcare providers - This means that you can pick who will provide the medical care.
- No medical checks and interviews - Most prepaid health cards don't require check-ups and interviews, meaning senior citizens can still get health coverage even if they have a pre-existing condition.
Pros and Cons of a Prepaid Health Card vs Health Insurance Plan
Prepaid health cards and health insurance plans are essential for health and financial protection. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each.
👍 Pros of Prepaid Health Cards
- Affordable - For the medical and dental services included in the package, prepaid health cards are cheaper.
- Easy to purchase - Go online, select the prepaid health card you want, pay, and activate the card.
- Suitable for preventive health care and minor emergencies - Doctor consultations and minor emergencies cost money, and having a prepaid health card to pay for them is one less thing to worry about.
- Can cover senior citizens - Because of their age and the onset of age-related illnesses, health insurance for seniors is costly. Prepaid health cards are an affordable and sure way to cover some of their health-related expenses.
- Better than no health coverage - The health coverage of prepaid health cards may not be comprehensive. But it’s good for preventive health care. The goal, after all, is to stay healthy and reduce risks for critical illnesses.
👎 Cons of Prepaid Health Cards
- Limited coverage - You can only use it for doctor consultations and minor emergency cases.
- No hospitalization or surgical benefit - Should hospital confinements or surgical procedures be required, you can’t use a prepaid health card to pay for hospital expenses.
- Only valid for a year - It expires after a year, so you’ll need to purchase a new prepaid health card again.
👍 Pros of Health Insurance Plans
- More plan options - There are more options available. And depending on the health insurance provider, you can customize your health plan according to the insured's needs.
- Broader comprehensive coverage - As this is a complete health insurance plan, the insured can enjoy more health coverage, such as preventive health care, outpatient services, surgical benefits, medical reimbursement, and hospital income benefits.
- Cashless hospitalization - You won't have to bear the high cost of treatment or hospitalization with a health insurance plan.
- Covered until the plan is in force - Your senior parents can also enjoy health coverage as long as the premium is paid.
- Financial protection and peace of mind - Health insurance gives you the reassurance that you can pay for your elderly parent's medical expenses without losing your life savings.
👎 Cons of Health Insurance Plans
- Issue age up to 65 to 70 only - If you have older senior parents, they can’t qualify for the plan anymore.
- More expensive - As the insured's age determines the insurance premiums, they’re very expensive. And the premiums will keep increasing each year.
- Waiting period - Coverage for senior citizens with pre-existing conditions will only start after the first or second year, depending on the provider.
- Co-payment option - You may still have to shell out money if there’s a co-payment option (what you pay out-of-pocket for covered services) or if you’ve reached the benefit limit.
Requirements for Health Cards for Senior Citizens in the Philippines
Usually, there are three things you need to do to get a health card for a senior citizen:
- Register online or fill out an application form.
- Settle your payment.
- Activate the health card.
As mentioned above, prepaid health cards are valid for one year from the activation date. Some health cards also require a few days before you can avail of the medical benefits.
Health Cards for Senior Citizens in the Philippines
You never know when your senior parents will get ill or suffer an injury. So give them health protection and yourself peace of mind. Check out these affordable health cards for senior citizens in the Philippines, which can be helpful in consultations and medical emergencies.
📌 Maxicare Prima Gold
Price: ₱12,999
Key features:
- Unlimited consultations, laboratory tests, diagnostics, and medical consultations at accredited clinics
- Up to ₱20,000 emergency room coverage at Maxicare-affiliated hospitals
- Dental services (single usage type)
- One-year validity from the date of activation
- Pre-existing conditions are covered
- No medical check-ups and paperwork required
This is a prepaid Maxicare for senior citizens in the Philippines who are 60 and older. Maxicare Prima Gold coverage is for one year and includes pre-existing conditions—a notable feature for seniors with pre-existing conditions seeking affordable health coverage.
There’s no need to undergo a complete medical check-up to apply and get approved. With this Maxicare for seniors health card, your parents can have ophthalmologist, internal medicine, ear-nose-throat, obstetrician-gynecologist, and medical dermatologist consultations.
Note:As of writing, the Maxicard PRIMA Gold is sold out. Follow Maxicare’s official social media pages for updates as it works to enhance customers’ overall experience with this product and deliver more healthcare services.
📌 MediCard RxER
Price: ₱1,998
Key features:
- Medicard RxER benefits for senior citizens are valid for one year
- Unlimited consultations with MediCard primary physicians and select specialists
- Preventive healthcare services (APE, CBC, chest x-ray, urinalysis, and fecalysis)
- Free dental consultations and one-time oral prophylaxis
- 30% discount on laboratory, diagnostic and dental procedures, surgeries
- Emergency care benefits (trauma cases, burns, animal bites, etc.)
What are the MediCard RxER benefits for senior citizens? This prepaid health card for seniors offers preventive, outpatient, and emergency care services. There's no age limit, and no medical check-ups required. Just show the MediCard RxER at any Medicard clinic.
This prepaid MediCard for senior citizens in the Philippines also offers discounts on various MediCard services. For its affordable price, seniors can already avail of different medical and dental benefits, whether for an emergency or non-emergency case.
Read more: Maxicare EReady: The Perfect Prepaid Health Card for Medical Emergencies
📌 PhilCare Vida Care CORE
Price: ₱11,120
Key features:
- Valid for one year upon activation
- Benefits start seven days after activation
- One year of unlimited medical and dental consultations with accredited physicians
- Pre-existing conditions are covered (except behavioral and psychiatric disorders and psychosomatic illnesses)
- One year of unlimited outpatient laboratory and diagnostic procedures at accredited clinics
- Unlimited Heyphil Digimed consultations for one year
Looking for a PhilCare health card for senior citizens? Senior citizens who want free consultations can benefit from the PhilCare Vida Care CORE. It’s another prepaid health card option for senior citizens aged 60 and above.
As one of the leading HMOs in the country, this health card in the Philippines for senior citizens can be used in the biggest hospitals and any PhilCare-owned clinics.
📌 PhilCare unli-CONSULT for 65+
Price: ₱5,000
Key features:
- Valid for one year upon activation date
- Benefits start three days after activation
- Non-transferable
- Pre-existing conditions are covered
- Unlimited consultations with doctors and dentists
- Dental services (annual dental exam, orthodontic/aesthetic consultation, emergency treatments, etc.)
- Unlimited HeyPhil Digimed consultations for one year
If you want something more affordable than the PhilCare Vida Care Core, check out the PhiCare unli-CONSULT for 65. This health voucher offers one-year unlimited consultation services for senior citizens 66 years old and above.
Senior citizens can use this health card to consult PhilCare-accredited dentists, family medicine specialists, gastroenterologists, internal medicine specialists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, and endocrinologists.
It also offers dental services such as annual dental examinations, unlimited orthodontic consultations, first aid and emergency treatment, unlimited temporary fillings, simple tooth extractions, and annual prophylaxis.
For its affordable price, your senior parents can already avail of various medical services.
📌 PhilCare Vida Care PREMIERE
Price: ₱13,270
Key Features:
- Valid for one year upon the date of activation
- Benefits start after seven days from activation
- One year of unlimited medical and dental consultations with accredited physicians
- Single-use benefit of up to ₱20,000 for outpatient emergencies
- One year of unlimited outpatient laboratory and diagnostic services at accredited clinics
- Unlimited HeyPhil Digimed consultations for one year
- Accepted at over 500 PhilCare-accredited hospitals
- Pre-existing conditions are covered
If you're looking for a health card for senior citizens in the Philippines, consider Vida Care PREMIERE. This health plan offers unlimited medical and dental consultations and up to ₱20,000 outpatient emergency benefits.
It also provides unlimited laboratory and diagnostic procedures for senior citizens 60 years old and above. PhilCare Vida Care Premiere has medical services available at over 500 hospitals in the Philippines.
📌 InLife MedConsult Seniors
Price: ₱3,500
Key Features:
- Up to four face-to-face consultations with Insular Health Care-accredited doctors and specialists
- Unlimited telemed access
- One year of unlimited dental consultations with accredited Insular Health Care dentists
This is a prepaid health voucher that seniors 65 years and above can use for face-to-face and telemed consultations. It’s valid for 12 months and can be used for up to four face-to-face consultations with Insular Health Care-accredited physicians and specialists.
InLife MedConsult Seniors is an excellent health card for seniors who want to save money on check-ups.
📌 Caritas Health Shield Enhanced Core 10
Price: Varies on the age upon plan enrollment
Key features:
- Medical expense benefits (emergency care, outpatient services, hospitalization, special diagnostic procedures)
- Annual Physical Examination and preventive health care
- Dental care
- Insurance benefits (accidental death, term life, credit life, waiver of installment due to disability)
The Enhanced Core 10 from Caritas Health Shield lets you pay for five years and enjoy coverage for 10 years. Seniors up to 70 can apply for this health plan and avail of its health benefits upon membership effectivity.
The health coverage increases yearly within the five-year paying period, but you pay a fixed premium rate. You can pay in one go or on an annual, semi-annual, quarterly, and monthly mode.
Other Health Packages Available for Senior Citizens
If you’re looking for more than just a prepaid health card for your senior parents, you can also consider health insurance for senior citizens in the Philippines.
However, only a few insurance companies offer this particular product. And because the cost depends on the insured's age, prepare to pay higher payer premiums in a shorter period.
📌 Sun Senior Care (Sun Life Philippines)
Price: Varies depending on the age of the insured
Key features:
- Access to Health Preventive Care Services and GoWell Wellness Program
- Financial benefit equal to 150% of your face amount if diagnosed with any of the 17 covered critical illnesses
- Additional one-time cash benefit equal to 5% of your face amount for specific covered surgeries or conditions
- Available in three, five, or 10 annual installments, or monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual payments
- Dividends or cash value
Sun Life Philippines’ Sun Senior Care health insurance for senior citizens offers preventive health services and financial protection if diagnosed with a critical illness.
If they get sick with any of the 17 covered critical illnesses, they’ll receive a financial benefit equal to 150% of the plan’s face amount, which can cover diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation.
There's also a one-time cash benefit equal to 5% of the plan's face amount for four specific covered conditions or surgeries. The issue age is 50 to 70, and coverage is until age 100.
📌 PrimeCARE Cash Plan (Paramount Direct)
Price: Premiums from ₱213 to ₱1,705 per month
Key features:
- Plan 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 available
- Free application and guaranteed acceptance
- No medical exams and health questions are required
- Coverage starts once the first premium is settled
- Daily cash and ICU benefits up to 365 days per illness and confinement
- Surgical cash benefit
With Paramount Direct’s PrimeCARE Cash Plan, your senior parents can focus on healing when they get sick. This is a health insurance plan in the Philippines for senior citizens aged 50 to 75 with coverage for up to 80 years old.
The PrimeCARE Cash Plan provides cash assistance when your parents get sick. Seniors can reimburse their hospital expenses if they get confined, have a surgical operation, receive treatment for a dreaded disease, or have prolonged hospitalization. The amount will depend on the plan availed.
📌 Premium HealthCare Plus Plan (Paramount Direct)
Price: Premiums from ₱216 to ₱1,730 per month
Key features:
- Plan 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 available
- Daily cash benefit and daily ICU cash benefit up to 365 days per illness and confinement
- Convalescence benefit for confinements longer than 30 days
- Surgical benefit for every covered surgery in your plan
This hospitalization plan is for senior citizens aged 50 to 74. The coverage and payment period is until age 80. It offers financial assistance for long-term hospital confinements, and coverage varies depending on the plan.
📌 Pacific Cross Premier
Price: Annual premiums from ₱31,063 for In-Patient and Emergency
Key features:
- Coverage starts 30 days after the date on your policy
- Immediate coverage for accidental injuries
- Pre-existing conditions are subject to evaluation
- Reimbursement of eligible medical expenses
- Critical care, emergency, and surgical benefits
- Your choice of your doctor, specialist, and hospital
- Maximum coverage of ₱1.5 million
- Emergency overseas coverage
- 24-hour customer assistance and emergency hotline
This health insurance for senior citizens above 65 years in the Philippines is renewable up to age 100. With this plan, you can reimburse medical charges and enjoy a 10% co-payment. This means Pacific Cross will shoulder 90% of the approved claim amount.
The maximum coverage is ₱1.5 million, making it one of the most comprehensive health insurance for senior citizens above 60 years in the Philippines.
📌 Kaiser Senior Care
Price: Annual premium starts at ₱29,095
Key features:
- Plans 250K, 500K, and 1M available
- Includes critical care, surgical, and basic hospital benefits, as well as emergency outpatient services
- Reimbursement-type coverage for pre-existing illnesses, consultations, hospital visits, and medical expenses
- Kaiser to cover 90% of hospital bills
- Your choice of hospital, doctor, and specialist
- Coverage of up to ₱1 million
This medical healthcare plan from Kaiser is designed for seniors aged 61 to 100. It reimburses hospitalization expenses depending on the plan coverage and medical benefits, which can be up to ₱1 million.
Like the Pacific Shield health plan, there's also a co-payment arrangement. Coverage starts one year upon the effectivity of the plan.
📌 PRUHealth FamLove
Price: Annual premiums vary depending on the age of the insured
Key features:
- Shareable health protection plan via myParent Plan
- Critical illness benefits (moderate and several critical illnesses)
- Annual payment with the option to renew every year until age 85
- ₱500,000 to ₱1 million sum assured
- Age eligibility for parents is up to 70 years old
This health insurance product from PRU Life U.K. is a renewable term health protection plan that allows you to share your critical illness coverage with eligible family members, including your senior parents.
You can easily avail of PRUHealth FamLove by just answering a health questionnaire. There's no medical examination as well.
That’s three lives insured in just one plan. It’s simple, easy, and affordable, making it one of the best health insurance products today.
📌 FWD The One
Price: Annual premiums vary depending on the age of the insured
Key features:
- Choose your coverage according to your needs: Critical Illness, Death, Accidental Death
- ₱100,000 critical illness benefit when diagnosed with any of the 42 major covered critical illnesses
- Mode of payment: Annual, semi-annual, or quarterly
- One-year coverage (renewable up to age 79 for critical illness benefit)
- No premium increase after every five years for on-time renewals
This new product from FWD is a plan bundle consisting of critical illness, life insurance, and accidental death cover. Senior citizens up to 70 in good health can avail of this plan and add variants or riders matching their needs.
📌 Etiqa ER Protect
Price: Premiums start at ₱925 (will depend on the age of the insured)
Key features:
- Issue age up to 70
- One year of consumable coverage
- Covers pre-existing conditions under the ER Protect policy (should be considered an emergency case)
- ER Protect Virtual Card
- Outpatient, Surgical Expenses, and Special Hospital Services Benefits (for medical supplies, doctor's fees, laboratory/diagnostic exams, etc.)
- Room, Board, and General Nursing Services Daily Benefit
- Ambulance Service Benefit
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit
The ER Protect plan is beneficial to have in case of emergencies. Upon verification and approval, this plan will cover all emergency care expenses, including laboratory and diagnostic procedures and admission (if required). It also provides accidental death and dismemberment benefits.
The issue age is up to 70. You can complete your application entirely online. Note that it also requires a one-time payment.
📌 PhilHealth
Price: At least 120 months of contributions for lifetime members
Key features:
- Inpatient and outpatient benefits
- Z Benefits package
- No balance billing policy in public hospitals
- COVID-19 Inpatient Benefit Package
Under the Expanded Senior Citizen Act, PhilHealth coverage for senior citizens 60 years old and above is mandatory. Whether you're a lifetime member or an automatic member, all senior citizens can claim PhilHealth benefits.
In case of hospital confinement, seniors can use their health card or health plan with their PhilHealth benefits to save on medical bills.
Read more: Does Health Insurance Cover COVID-19? What Filipinos Need to Know
What to Look for in a Health Card for Senior Citizens in the Philippines
At a glance, these health cards and insurance plans for senior citizens may all look the same. But if you look at the fine print, you’ll discover that terms, conditions, or exclusions can affect your decision to buy the product. With that, make sure to look for these things:
🔎 Cost
First, of course, it should be something you can afford to continue to enjoy health protection every year. Premiums for seniors are significantly higher and will continue to increase each year. Consider whether a one-time payment is better than a monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual one.
🔎 Age Requirement and Coverage Period
Check the age requirement. Some health insurance plans are available only for applicants of a specific age.
Some offer health coverage only during the paying period and another two to five years after that. Going for a health card or plan that provides health coverage until age 100 is best.
🔎 Benefits
When it comes to health plans, you want to get your money's worth, or sometimes even more. If you can find a health card for senior citizens offering different medical services for a reasonable price, that's a steal.
Check if pre-existing conditions are covered. Most health insurance plans will start coverage for pre-existing illnesses only after the first year. Some cover them only after the second year of continuous membership. Understand all these terms and conditions before you sign the form and pay the premium.
Also, compare emergency care, inpatient and outpatient benefits, and critical care and hospitalization packages to get the best health card for senior citizens in the Philippines.
🔎 Accredited Clinics and Hospitals
It may be an affordable HMO in the Philippines, but where can you use it? Where is it accepted? Get a health card with an extensive nationwide network of hospitals and clinics.
Your parents can go to the nearest clinic or hospital and use their health cards with no problem.
🔎 Application Process
It’s a bonus if the health card or health plan provider offers a quick and easy application process. Nowadays, you can request a quote online and pay your first premium without leaving your house. You also don’t need a medical check-up to get health coverage, making it easier and more convenient for seniors.
Health Card for Senior Citizens: FAQ
1. Is there a health card from Intellicare for senior citizens in the Philippines?
As of writing, there is no Intellicare individual plan designed for senior citizens. It only has SME and Corporate plans.
Final Thoughts
You may feel like there aren’t a lot of health cards for senior citizens in the Philippines to choose from. But the options on this list are still quite good. Seeing your parents fall ill and confined in the hospital is no laughing matter, especially considering how much you'll pay for medical bills.
Senior citizens may no longer afford certain things, but their health should never be something to skimp on. Aside from taking care of them, getting them a health card is the next best thing, especially since they’re not getting any younger!
If you have senior parents, invest in a good health product to ease your worries and help cover medical costs. If you don't prepare for medical emergencies, you might be just one hospitalization away from poverty.
Source: [1] Health Maintenance Organization (Investopedia, 2023)
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