Ideal HMO For Diabetes Patients: Lab Test and Medication

Diabetes treatment is costly and expensive. Find out which HMOs have coverage for diabetes in the Philippines.

Diabetes may require blood tests, laboratory examinations, insulin injections and medicine intake. See this list of HMO choices for your needs as a diabetic patient.

1. Maxicare Prima Gold

Benefits

• Unlimited Doctor Consultations
• Unlimited diagnostic procedures including 2d echo, ECG and ultrasound
• Consultation with endocrinologist

See Prima Gold

2. Medicard Select

Benefits

• Includes annual physical exam and blood tests including Fasting Blood Sugar
• Regular doctor consultations and treatment
• Diet counseling

3. Philcare Unli Consult

Benefits

• Unlimited number of consultations (useful for Endocrinologist doctors)
• Consultations with neurologist for diabetic neuropathy
• Consultations with ophthalmologist for diabetic retinopathy

4. ValuCare

Benefits

• Covers pre-existing conditions on the 2nd year for up to 50% MBL or maximum benefit limit
• Covers pre-existing conditions on the 3rd year for up to 100% MBL

An HMO plan will not directly cover diabetes since it is a pre-existing condition. However, you should choose the one that could lessen your out of pocket payments.

For diabetics, the following may be covered:

• Consultations (Endocrinologist)
• Emergency treatment of wounds
• Blood tests
• Related diagnostic tests (up to MBL on the 2nd year of membership

Why don’t you check out the medical tests covered by most HMOs? Diabetics will surely need lab tests especially for FBS and HbA1c.

How much is the covered amount?

Health cards in the Philippines have a diabetes coverage price from Php 5,000 to Php 10,000 since it is considered a pre-existing condition. For some HMOs, this coverage is only applicable in the second year of membership.

Therefore, you can only maximize the card’s benefits after one full year of coverage.

For those who want a comprehensive coverage for diabetes, health insurance may be a good option. The plans will cover hospitalizations and treatments related to the disease. However, one should expect a higher premium to pay.

References: NCBI