5 Reasons Why Healthcare Is Important

Photo by Greg Vote

Disease has been one of the main causes of death here in the Philippines. According to the DOH website disease of the heart, disease of the vascular system, malignant neoplasms, pneumonia and accidents are the top five causes of mortality in the Philippines from 2004 - 2009.

The high mortality rate due to disease is not caused by inefficient doctors or hospitals, its because most people don't have the financial means to pay for their medical expenses. They tend to self medicate and rely on buying generic medicines because its the only thing they can afford. Other's go to doctors or hospitals only to have problems getting the needed attention and treatment because of lack of money.

The lack of money should never be a problem for people to receive treatment for their health issues and this is one of the reasons why its important to have healthcare.

Healthcare provides people with the means to get medical treatment without the use of money. Yes they pay a certain amount for the premium of the healthcare, but its relatively cheaper compared to paying for your own medical expenses using cash.

Here are five reasons why you need to have healthcare:

1. Cheaper - as stated above, getting healthcare is relatively cheaper than paying for your own medical needs. For most its free because their companies pay for their healthcare. For those who have to shoulder their own, its usually P13,000-P14,000 a year for a coverage of P70,000. That's less than P1,500 a month for your health coverage, it may be big for some, but its still affordable with a little money management and lessening of unnecessary spending and you'll be able to afford it. For those who really can't afford healthcare, there are health cards available that really cheap (I remember paying only P1,500 for this one for one year) that gives you benefits of unlimited check-up only for a year to selected health centers (the good thing about this one is at least you'd get proper treatment and recommendation regarding your illness, instead of treating yourself blindly.
2. Convenience - Having healthcare makes it easier for people to get treated in hospitals and clinics. Before getting treated the first that nurses usually ask is if they have a health card. Once the patient says yes, they immediately admit the patient and have them wait in line to get treated. They'll just confirm with the healthcare provider some of your details and let you fill up a form for their records. Once done you'll get your treatment. If a patient says no, its usually a different scenario, more questions are asked and you're required to fill-up forms first before getting admitted or placed in line to get treated. Some even ask for upfront money first to make sure that you'll be able to pay.
3. Accessibility - Healthcare are accepted in almost all hospitals and clinics nationwide, especially the major ones. So you won't have to worry about your health card being rejected by a hospital and you paying for your own health expense. Other's even offer reimbursement in case you get treated at a clinic or hospital that doesn't accept your health card.
4. Peace of Mind - Having healthcare offers you the peace of mind that regardless of what health issue arises, you know that you're capable to deal with them because of your healthcare.
5. Retirement Security - This is for having long-term healthcare. All short-term have age limit when it comes to health coverage (the highest I heard was 75) and after that you're on your own. Having long-term healthcare though covers that. In the period where our health becomes our biggest concern, having healthcare becomes more important because we'll be the security that we'll be covered in our old age, allowing us to enjoy the money we saved up for our retirement.

Healthcare provides people solutions for their health needs, especially for those who don't have the money to shoulder all of their health needs. It is important that everyone has some form of healthcare for their use. Having healthcare is also one of the foundations of your financial foundation, it is a basic need to building a solid financial foundation.

As the saying goes "Health is Wealth" so have your own healthcare and have the peace of mind that your health is already covered.