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Getting sick can be quite expensive these days. The cost of getting checked, the price of medicine and more so the amount spent for hospitalization can be quite daunting, often leading many to just bear their pain and suffer in silence. While the Philippines boasts having some of the best medical practitioners and health care providers in the world, their care is ironically less available to the masses of Filipino people. This has often led to an unhealthy reliance on self-medication or worse, obtaining medical advice from incompetent individuals.

The sad reality is that many Filipinos are not covered by Philhealth  or other public or private health care programs. Even if an individual were covered by Philhealth, subsidy received under this system is a mere percentage of overall health care cost. As a result, patients are often left to cover the remainder of their pockets. In a Philippine special report dated December 2001 on the healthcare system in the Philippines, “While there exist a national health insurance program, pension funds and private insurance plans, personal expenses still account for about 57 percent of all health expenditures.” It was likewise noted that the prices of medicine in the Philippines is among the highest in the region.

Thankfully, health maintenance organizations (HMO) like IntelliCare have significantly addressed this serious concern. In 1995, Intellicare commenced operations as an HMO with a mission “ to up-hold the right of each individual to health making quality health care services not only efficient, accessible, and affordable but also compassionate.”

Since that time, IntelliCare continued to improve its service by ensuring that their doctors are proven to be the best in their chosen fields and that IntelliCare is available in the country’s major healthcare facilities. This ensures that all enrolled members of the IntelliCare would have excellent medical services available to them while under the care of the finest medical doctors at the most cost-effective prices.

According to Jun Roxas, senior manager for account management, IntelliCare is committed to seeing its mission through.Quality medical care, of course, begins with quality doctors. Roxas says IntelliCare only accredits doctors with highly-regarded reputations and exceptional standing. Through its medical director, Dr. Ricardo Jocson, himself the renowned head of the surgery of Medical City. They identify doctors who are known specialists in their fields and invite them to be part of the IntelliCare family. Often too, they get feedback from their respective locales and they are likewise extended invitations. Through the years, IntelliCare has amassed an army of 9,000 doctors all over the nation, ready and able to provide excellent medical services.

To ensure that these doctors all subscribe to the mission on IntelliCare, they periodically invited to attend medical audit meetings and conferences. As a result, IntelliCare is able to ensure its members the enjoyment of quality medical care at a lower premium.

Complimenting its pool of doctors, IntelliCare also affiliated itself with major medical facilities around the country that house the latest and most cutting-edge medical equipment available today. An Intellicare member is therefore allowed access to these facilities without having to face such prohibitive expenses.

In addition, IntelliCare continues to find ways to further improve its services. It recently introduced the swipe card, which more efficiently determines the eligibilities of members, thus reducing the time it takes to process requests and enabling immediate medical attention. It is hoped that other medical information can be included in the swipe card to assure that each member’s medical history can immediately be accessed.

Today, HMOs like IntelliCare are essential partners of the common Filipino to obtain quality medical care. They provide everyone access to the best doctors, in the best hospitals at the most efficient price. More importantly, they allow everyone the exercise of their inherent right to proper healthcare. As more and more Filipinos join HMOs like, IntelliCare, getting well is now becoming more affordable.

written by admin \\ tags: HEALTH, healthcare, Intellicare, Medical Career