Health and critical illness insurance: cancer, stroke, heart attack, hospital bills and how to choose
A serious illness costs more than the hospital bill. Treatment, medicines and follow-up care add up, and the income you would normally earn can stop while you recover. Health and critical illness insurance is how you keep your savings out of it.
This page explains what each kind of plan does, which illnesses critical illness cover usually starts with, and how to choose the plan that fits you and the people who depend on you.
Health insurance and critical illness cover do two different jobs
Many people have one and assume it does the work of the other.
- Health insurance, including HMO and hospitalization plans, pays for treatment: hospital stays, doctors, tests and, on some plans, outpatient care.
- Critical illness insurance pays a lump sum when you are diagnosed with a covered condition. You decide how to use it: treatment, recovery, everyday bills or the income you cannot earn.
What a critical illness costs beyond the hospital bill
The bill is only one part. When you plan your cover, count these as well:
- Treatment that continues for months, such as chemotherapy, rehabilitation or repeated check-ups.
- Medicines and equipment that are not part of the hospital stay.
- Income lost while you cannot work, and for the self-employed, work that simply stops.
- A family member who has to stop working to care for you.
- Travel and accommodation if the best treatment is in another city or country.
Cancer, stroke and heart attack: where critical illness cover starts
Most critical illness plans begin with the three conditions people worry about most: cancer, stroke and heart attack. Stroke insurance and heart attack cover are usually part of a critical illness plan, not a separate policy.
Larger plans cover many more conditions, including early and minor stages, and some allow more than one claim as your illness progresses. Check the list of covered conditions and the definitions in the policy wording.
The kinds of plan you can choose from
Plans tend to fall into four groups. An advisor can explain how they fit together for your situation.
- Starter critical illness cover. A lower monthly cost, focused on the main conditions, often with cover for a child built in and an option to cover a loved one on the same plan.
- Comprehensive critical illness cover. Many more conditions, higher limits, cover in early and later stages, and protection that lasts into later life.
- Hospitalization cover, such as Health Care Access (HCA). It focuses on treatment in the Philippines, with cashless care at partner hospitals.
- International health cover, such as Global Health Access (GHA). It covers treatment in the Philippines and abroad, from common to life-threatening illnesses.
Extras worth looking for on a health plan
Some plans come with services on top of the cover. Ask which ones yours includes:
- Teleconsultation, so you can speak to a doctor without the traffic and the waiting room.
- Mental health counselling with licensed professionals.
- Health information and advisories through an app or online library.
How to choose
- Start with who depends on your income, and for how long.
- Decide whether you need a lump sum, treatment cover, or both.
- Check the list of conditions, and whether early stages and repeat claims are covered.
- Check the waiting periods, the exclusions and what happens to the cover if you stop paying.
- Check whether cashless care is available at the hospitals you would actually use in Cebu.
- Keep PhilHealth. It gives basic protection, and private cover fills the gap it leaves.
Get help from Crux
Crux Consultants Ph advises on health and critical illness insurance in Cebu. Book a free 15-minute consultation online or message us on WhatsApp at +63 917 596 5486. An advisor will look at your family, your income and your existing cover, and tell you which plan to consider first.
Common questions
What is critical illness insurance?
It pays a lump sum when you are diagnosed with a condition the plan covers, such as cancer, stroke or a heart attack. You can use the money for treatment, recovery or the income you cannot earn.
What is the difference between critical illness insurance and health insurance?
Health insurance and HMO plans pay for treatment. Critical illness insurance pays you a lump sum on diagnosis. Many people need both, because they cover different costs.
Is stroke covered by critical illness insurance?
Stroke is one of the three conditions most critical illness plans start with, together with cancer and heart attack. The definition and the conditions differ by plan, so check the policy wording.
Can I cover my child or a loved one?
Some starter plans include cover for a child and let you add a loved one on the same plan. Ask an advisor what your plan allows and at what age.
Can I make more than one claim?
Some comprehensive plans allow more than one claim as an illness moves through different stages. Check how many claims the plan allows and what happens to the cover after each one.
Do I still need PhilHealth?
Yes. PhilHealth is mandatory and gives basic protection. Private health and critical illness cover fills the gap it leaves.
Does the cover continue after retirement?
Some plans are built to last into later life, and the terms differ. Ask what the renewal terms are and whether the premium changes with age.
General information only. It is not a quote, and the policy wording decides what is covered.