Many of my friends are OFWs. They usually have contracts and projects which will only allow them to come home at least twice a year. In this setup, would an HMO for OFW still matter? Read on and see if having a health card is beneficial to a worker abroad just like you.
So what’s My Option?
I have not found any health cards in the Philippines with HMO coverage abroad. A comprehensive health insurance maybe especially those with international ties. But for the regular health plans that you see in hospitals, no options are available.
You can simply apply for a regular health card as usual. Both individual and family accounts are available. For quick coverage, you might want to simply get a prepaid health card just to test its features.
Health Card for Abroad
Can I use Philippine HMO abroad? I only found one (1) health plan that you can use overseas. Although they are also based here in the Philippines, the payment is US dollars. You can use their service during emergencies especially if you are in another country.
On the other hand, local health cards are only useful in our hospital systems. One thing that I noticed is that HMO companies here only offer “sponsorship”. It means the OFW can only open a plan and pay for it so that the family and loved ones in the Philippines can benefit from health care. That’s it.
Advantage of Sponsorship
Why would an OFW apply for health cards for the family? Here are some benefits:
- Well, your family will no longer experience the hassles of opening an account.
- You can pay for the plan while abroad
- You can maximize your money’s worth considering the currency exchange rate
Do They Help Our Country?
Based on Philippine Statistics Authority’s data, the total remittance of OFWs has reached up to Php 197 billion in the last couple of years, keeping the country’s economy afloat. This has a lot of benefits for all especially with regards to dollar reserves and trading.
Do you know an HMO with OFW coverage in other countries? Share with us.
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