Melai Cantiveros-Francisco makes healthcare her family’s priority

August 30 ------ For many Filipino mothers, taking care of the family often means putting their own health on the back burner. Host and actress Melai Cantiveros-Francisco said becoming a mother changed the way she views healthcare and the importance of preparing for medical needs.

“When I had children, I became more open to having an HMO because there are twice as many things to think about. You don’t have to wait until everyone in the family gets sick before going to the hospital. You have peace of mind knowing you can take your family to the hospital without having to borrow money. I’m very happy that iCare is making adjustments to make it more accessible to the masses.”

The beloved comedienne and celebrity mom is the new ambassador for iCare Prepaid Cards, which offer prepaid HMO plans with a one-time payment and coverage options for emergency room treatment and inpatient confinement. 

Cantiveros-Francisco, who has two daughters, said having children made her more conscious of planning situations that could affect the family’s health and finances. “The goal of iCare is to make things stress-free for parents and people when they are hospitalized. You won’t have to stress about paying the hospital bills,” she added. Among the plans is the ER Care Choice, which starts at P100 and provides short-term coverage for emergency room treatment and confinement resulting from accidents and viral or bacterial illnesses.

The K12 Health Cover/Dengue Flex plan, meanwhile, starts at P500 and provides up to P50,000 in outpatient and inpatient coverage for emergency cases caused by dengue, leptospirosis, and Covid-19. The prepaid HMO plans can be used at iCare’s network of more than 2,000 partner hospitals and clinics and over 50,000 accredited doctors nationwide.

For Cantiveros-Francisco, preparing for healthcare needs is part of taking responsibility for her family. Despite her busy schedule, she said she makes time for her husband and daughters, including bonding over pickleball and movie nights at home. “You can’t just take things easy anymore and fail to prepare when you have people under your responsibility. You should always give them the best you can.” Her experience reflects a broader challenge for families who delay medical care because of concerns about cost. For Cantiveros-Francisco, planning ahead has become part of caring for the people who depend on her

Source: manilatimes.net