What to Do to Prepare for Long-Term Confinement

August 9, 2019

Illnesses or diseases may come without a warning, many even have no symptoms at all. For example, some of the health issues in the Philippines like heart disease, cancer, or autoimmune diseases do not happen overnight. They start slowly and develop into more advanced stages over the years. Whether your illness is chronic, one of the common diseases or one of the lifestyle diseases, what is important is you are prepared for when the need for confinement arises.

Every person suffering from a serious illness would prefer to be admitted to a hospital where they can be provided with the best care and services, but unfortunately, this is not always possible in some public hospitals in the Philippines. The problem with the health care system in the Philippines, specifically in public hospitals, is the lack of facilities and equipment to provide appropriate medical care to patients with certain illnesses or diseases.

Hospitalization can be expensive, especially if it’s long term or if the patient is elderly. Older adults are more susceptible to getting sick and so, hospital stays and convalescence periods could be more lengthy compared to those of younger patients. One of the programs for senior citizens in the Philippines is universal health care, where seniors are covered automatically, but sometimes even the combination of Philhealth confinement coverage and your savings may not be enough to cover the costs for prolonged hospitalization.

Whether you are young or already in your golden years, healthcare is important because out-of-pocket medical expenses can push you into debt if planning and preparation are not done proactively.

Here’s the list of what you should do in order to prepare yourself for long-term confinement:

Regular Checkups. People go to clinics for different reasons, but as you age the more you need to pay for frequent visits to your doctor to help detect and prevent health issues early on. Having regular checkups is one of the best ways to maintain good health and live a longer and happier life. Your family history, age and lifestyle are big factors in knowing when and how often you need health care. Thus, scheduling regular procedures and checkups are vital.

Savings. Saving money requires a lot of discipline and should start as soon as you receive your first paycheck or salary. It is essential in building long-term wealth, preparing you for any kind of emergencies, or getting you through hospitalization expenses should you fall ill.

Treatment for health issues in the Philippines is expensive. As of 2018, a sick person would spend a total of Php5.6 million for cancer treatment, Php2.93 million for a stroke, and Php1.92 for myocardial infarction. Without savings, you and your family would have difficulty covering the costs of major hospitalizations and may be pushed further into debt and poverty.

Eating & Sleeping Habits. As people always say, health is wealth. Through proper nutrition and enough sleep, you can get a healthier mind and body.

Having a good night's sleep lessens your cravings for salty and sweet food, helps burn calories, prevents you from getting fat, lessens your chances of depression, and strengthens your immune system. People with fewer hours of sleep are at high risk of developing two of the leading health problems in the Philippines - heart disease and diabetes. So, whether you are a teenager, young adult, adult, or even a senior citizen, don’t deprive yourself of a good sleep.

Having a balanced diet and eating the right food that is rich in vitamins and minerals such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain is the key to a healthy life. The right diet and exercise make your body stronger and heals faster in case of any illness.

Exercise. Daily physical activity can make you active and reduce the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or cardiovascular disorder.

Aside from walking or cycling, if you are below 45 years old, you can also do muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week. On the other hand, people above 45 years old should consult a doctor first to know what activities are good for you. The different benefits of exercising are promoting good blood circulation, energizing the body and lowering blood cholesterol levels. It makes your body stronger and ready to combat sickness.

Insurance. For the majority of people, until they start to feel sick or suspect something wrong in their body, health tends to be the least priority. You may not realize it just yet, but having a health insurance plan in place saves you a lot of trouble and financial struggle.

Paramount insurance provides a strategic financial solution for regular, ICU, surgical or even long-term confinements through one of their health products called Premium HealthCare Plus Plan. The PHC is health care insurance that gives you added peace of mind should you get sick and need hospital care.

This is an affordable health insurance with a monthly health insurance premium that goes as low as Php216 and is one of the best health insurance in the Philippines for people from 50 to 74 years old.

The Premium HealthCare Plus Plan has the following fixed cash benefits which are given thru reimbursement basis: up to Php4,000 daily for regular confinement, up to Php4,000 daily for ICU confinement, up to Php80,000 lump sum benefit for surgical confinement, up to Php80,000 lump sum benefit for long-term or convalescence confinement. These benefits are directly paid to the insured after hospitalization, and they have the freedom to choose how and where to spend the money. They may even opt to be admitted to any of the best hospitals in the Philippines or health institutions in the Philippines.

It’s time to take charge of your health so you could be ready for long-term confinement. Apply for Premium HealthCare Plus Plan today by clicking the button below.

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