What to Do If You Have No Health Insurance During the Pandemic

1.  Explore health insurance options NOW.
   
   Before the onset of the pandemic, healthcare was more widely available in the event that you’d need it. Now that PhilHealth is limiting its coverage of COVID-19 cases, having no insurance can drain your financial resources and put medical needs out of reach. Getting a health insurance plan now can give you the peace of mind you need in the long run.
   
   When shopping around for options, it’s crucial to find an insurance product that fits the exceptional needs in this pandemic. Products like BPI AIA's MedLife Protect Plus allows you to receive comprehensive medical care while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses.
   
   Aside from coverage of hospitalization costs, MedLife Protect Plus gives policyholders access to a vast network of accredited hospitals and doctors.
   
   
2. Ask your employer if your HMO has COVID-specific policies.
   
   While you may not have personal health insurance, most professionals are enrolled in an HMO policy with their employer. Following the IC’s call for insurers to make care more accessible, HMOs have adapted their policies to accommodate these new, urgent needs.
   
   A few of the IC’s recommended changes include waiving policies for waiting periods, access to non-affiliated health networks, and the exclusion of pandemics or epidemics. HMOs and other insurance providers are also encouraged to streamline processes to facilitate faster claims processing and payments.
   
   Get in touch with your employer, so you can better familiarize yourself with any COVID-specific policies that your HMO might have. Make sure to document this information and take note of any requirements or details you may need when availing of these benefits.
   
   
3. Take extra precautions against infection.
   
   With the transition to more lax quarantine provisions and the slow opening of public and business establishments, you may face a bigger risk of infection in your daily routine. It is critical that you stay vigilant with protecting your health, as the current healthcare system is struggling to treat the virus.
   
   Best practices, such as using a face mask when in public, maintaining social distancing, keeping up good hygiene and disinfection habits, and avoiding non-essential travel, can go a long way in reducing the risk of infection.
   
   Other things you can do to avoid the worst of the virus include paying close attention to your overall health, monitoring any under-the-weather symptoms, and opting to self-isolate in the event you experience any COVID-like symptoms.
   
   
4. Have a plan in case you do get sick.
   
   Part of preparing for the unexpected is coming up with a plan should anything go wrong. This plan should include how you intend to monitor yourself, where you can get tested and confined, and how you will be financing any medical expenses.
   
   Create a list of hospitals in your proximity and their respective hotlines. Inquire with both your LGU and healthcare provider for possible testing centers should you need to be tested for the virus. If you have access to your employer’s HMO policy, prepare any necessary documentation that will be needed for all the relevant procedures.
   
   Getting sick can be a stressful ordeal on its own, so having a plan in place can help lessen your stress and get you the medical care you need as quickly as possible.

Additional Protection against the Virus

In the face of a public health crisis, being able to anticipate your needs and preparing adequately for them can help improve one’s outlook in these troubling times. Staying calm yet vigilant is the key to reducing your overall risk and making the unexpected more bearable, should it occur.

BPI AIA offers easy and accessible solutions for getting insured during the COVID crisis. To learn more about our coverages, schedule an appointment with our Bancassurance Sales Executives today.