CARD MRI reported 24,078 cases of death in 2014; heart-related diseases ranked first again

CARD Mutual Benefit Association, Inc., the insurance arm of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) registered 24,078 cases of death among CARD clients and dependents by 2014.

Heart-related diseases, which registered 8,400 cases, topped the list of deaths for four consecutive years. This is consistent with the Department of Health’s record in 2009.

Of the 8,400 cases of heart-related disease, 4,963 were males (insured spouse/father/son of members) while the remaining 3,437 were females.

In the summary record of CARD MBA’s Life Insurance Causes of Death Claims Paid, all types of cancer (2,153), pneumonia (1,801), fetal death (1,028), diabetes (959), renal failure/disease (950), accident (794), pulmonary disease (658), septicemia (647) and tuberculosis (613) were among the next leading causes of CARD clients and dependents’ mortality in 2014.

CARD MRI through CARD MBA has been monitoring its death statistics and aptly acts on it through several measures to lower death cases among its membership and encourage them to have a healthier lifestyle.

“Considering the numbers, which we hope to not rise drastically this year, we will continue to reinforce our interventions until the number of cases decrease significantly,” shared Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, founder and managing director of CARD MRI.

One intervention is through CARD MRI’s Microfinance and Health Protection (MaHP) program.  A series of health forum on specific illnesses, community health days, and home visits of CARD MRI nurses to its pregnant and old members are being conducted. Field operations staff of CARD MRI’s member financial institutions also conduct weekly Credit with Education (CwE) giving focus on proper heart care. Also, clients can avail free medical consultation in CARD MRI clinics, discounted laboratory services through its own laboratory and discounted medicines through BotiCARD Pharmacy, which is another member institution of CARD MRI. Furthermore, through the partner health providers, CARD clients can avail discounts on medical consultation, laboratory services, medicines and other services.

“We assure you that through the interventions and continuous product innovations, we will be with you as we combat health problems because health is one of CARD’s priorities,” Dr. Alip concluded.

CARD MBA, which has insured 10,693,645 individuals by the end of 2014, paid P695-M in insurance claims for all of its insurance products.