INTERACTIVE INFOGRAPHIC: Can you afford to get sick?

Getting sick in the Philippines can be costly. And if you can’t afford proper medical care, it can cost you your life.

Medical check-ups and treatment may eat up a big portion of your income – and even your savings – jeopardizing your daily and future expenses.

While getting proper health care is priority, it doesn’t have to be a financial burden.

This is where insurance comes in. By assessing the overall risk of health care costs among its beneficiaries, an insurance provider can pay for your medical expenses like hospitalization, surgery and long-term treatment.

You need to pay certain fees, called “premiums” or “subscription fees,” to be eligible for these benefits. Payment terms may be flexible, depending on the provider you choose. In the event that you get sick, you don’t lose thousands or millions of pesos in one go because your insurance provider helps shoulder your medical expenses.

They say the best time to get health insurance is when you don’t need it yet. So it’s best to start young – illnesses and accidents can strike anytime and anywhere, even for those of us who are in our 20s and 30s.

In this infographic, Rappler and Blue Cross reveal some quick facts about the health insurance industry and medical expenses that insurance can cover for you.

Hover on the items to learn more. – Rappler.com