HMOs or Health Maintenance Organizations offer access to doctors within their network, as well as comprehensive and customizable healthcare insurance. The plans are usually limited to a certain amount and depending on the plan, may not be enough to cover treatments for critical illnesses.

Meanwhile, critical illness plans, like Health Max, provide an extra cover of protection for serious illnesses, and can help you in fulfilling other needs since it provides a lump sum amount upon diagnosis of a covered condition or illness. For instance, if you become unable to work because of a critical condition, the critical illness plan payout can be used to not only pay for your treatment but also, fund your recurring bills such as utilities, groceries, and other living expenses.

So if you already have an HMO, having a critical illness plan will complement your health protection. It ensures your lifestyle remains normal especially since a critical illness might render you unable to work.

There is a waiting period of sixty (60) days following your policy effective date or your last policy reinstatement date, whichever is later, before being eligible to make a claim for any critical condition.

Yes, you can only claim up to two (2) times while your policy is in force.   Please note that each claim should be for a different Minor Critical Conditions except for (i) Angioplasty and Other Invasive Treatments for Coronary Artery, and (ii) Carcinoma-in-situ. The remaining sum insured will cover you against major critical illness or death for the rest of the policy’s life.