Medical Emergency : Expectation vs. Reality

Illness and accidents can adversely affect the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of people. Rising medical expenses can cause great distress, especially for Pinoys who live from paycheck to paycheck. Even average income earners can be vulnerable when a medical crisis comes into the picture. Healthcare insurance can provide individuals and families financial protection in times of sickness and accidents.

But why do many Filipinos still shy away from getting one? A lot of Pinoys take medicare for granted because they think that a medical crisis will not happen to them. Some don’t feel the need to get medicare since they are in good health and often choose to spend their money elsewhere. Known for having close interpersonal relationships, Pinoys think they can get help from relatives and friends in
case a medical emergency arises.

Hindrances in getting healthcare insurance

“Bahala na” attitude

“Bahala na”, a typical Pinoy mentality, can be a huge barrier to healthcare utilization. Letting go and leaving it to fate may apply to some aspects of life but when it comes to health, this kind of risk-taker attitude may seem irresponsible.

“Malakas naman ako at walang sakit. Hindi ko kailangan ng healthcare insurance. Saka ko nalang iisipin yan. Bahala na si Batman.” – Ronel, 33 Ronel casually dismissed the thought of getting medicare. After all, he was fit and healthy but little did he know that a year later, he would be hospitalized due to dengue.

Strapped for cash and with no healthcare plan, Ronel was forced to dip into their family savings allotted for their child’s tuition fees.

When life throws you a curveball, Ronel found out the hard way that it pays to be ready. A healthcare plan promotes the health of individuals and families. It could have protected people like Ronel from unexpected high hospital costs.

Financial unpreparedness

Financial unpreparedness hinders the ability of individuals and families to cope with the impact of a health crisis. Oftentimes, Pinoys borrow money from family and friends to pay for the escalating bills at the hospital.

Esther, 41 did not have enough money to cover for her dad’s hospital bills when he accidentally slipped in the bathroom. She had no choice but to borrow money from relatives and friends. Getting caught in such a predicament was tough on her family. Not
only did it drain their energy and limited funds, but it was also tough on their self-esteem. Esther said that getting turned down multiple times by people they know was embarrassing and painful at the same time.

Medical expenses that lead to indebtedness may compromise your health, harmony, peace of mind, and happiness. Don’t wait for a debilitating illness or accident that needs urgent treatment to eat up your savings and force you to loan money. Choosing a healthcare plan will ease your worries and give you peace of mind in times of a medical emergency.

Preparedness is the key in times of a crisis

It may be difficult to keep medical emergencies from happening but you can control how you can prepare in case one arises. A sense of foresight for a medical crisis, especially during this pandemic, offers protection in the face of uncertainty. Getting healthcare insurance that suits your needs and budget can give you the protection that you and your loved ones need from high medical expenses that may result from an illness,accident, or disability.

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