Oona Insurance Unveils Flagship Health Plans Offering International and Local Coverage Tailored to Filipino Families

(L-R) Kai Cuneta, Head of Territorial Sales and Agency Development, Oona Insurance Philippines; Esther Go, President and Chief Executive Officer, MediLink Network Inc.;  Abhishek Bhatia, Founder, Group Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Director, Oona Insurance; Jodi Sta. Maria, Guest Speaker at the Oona Premium Healthcare Launch; Ninoy Rollan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Oona Insurance Philippines; Etchie Munsayac, Head of Sales for Retail Health, Oona Insurance Philippines; Mylene Ong, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Oona Insurance; Manik Bucha, Group Chief and Underwriting Officer, Oona Insurance.

Oona Insurance, one of the Philippines' fastest-growing general insurers, has launched two flagship health products: Global Shield, an international plan with up to USD 2 million for globally mobile Filipinos; and Purple Shield, a premier peso-based plan with up to ₱5 million in local coverage for families seeking exceptional care near home.

Jodi Sta. Maria, Guest Speaker at the Oona Premium Healthcare Launch

The launch was held on October 1 at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City and was attended by journalists, partners, and industry executives. Jodi Sta, an award-winning actor and wellness advocate, spoke at the occasion. Maria, who spoke on "Wellness: The Investment You Can't Ignore," emphasized the growing importance of preventative and holistic care, which is consistent with Oona's objective of supporting both treatment and wellbeing.

Meeting Evolving Needs with Global Shield and Purple Shield

With medical costs rising faster than incomes and families demanding better private care, Oona’s new plans provide meaningful choice:

• Global Shield: An international flagship plan for globally mobile Filipinos, offering access to leading hospitals and specialists worldwide, including competitive rates for options to seek treatment in Singapore and across the region.
• Purple Shield: A premier peso-based plan for Filipino families seeking comprehensive, affordable protection at home.

Together, these policies go beyond the one-size-fits-all concept of typical insurance.  By providing both foreign and local options, Oona guarantees that Filipinos have access to flexible, relevant, and comprehensive coverage.

Oona purchased critical illness insurance last year to protect her health.  The introduction of Global Shield and Purple Shield broadens its range of health solutions and reaffirms its commitment to long-term, complete protection for Filipino families.

Digital-First, Customer-First

What sets Oona apart is not only coverage, but its customer experience. Its digital-first platform makes every step faster and simpler through:

• Instant quotes and same-day policy issuance for eligible applicants
• Real-time claim tracking with transparent summaries
• Online access to policy details, utilization and claims
• Paperless onboarding with e-signatures
• Fully digital overseas claims for faster reimbursement

This end-to-end ecosystem delivers faster, clearer, and more convenient protection which sets a new benchmark for health insurance in the Philippines.

Leadership Perspectives

“The Philippines is ready for a new standard in health protection. Rising medical costs and changing lifestyles demand solutions that go beyond the basics, offering quality, choice and confidence. With Global Shield and Purple Shield, we are reimagining healthcare for Filipinos and delivering world-class coverage, seamless digital access and peace of mind, whether at home or anywhere in the world.” ~Abhishek Bhatia, Founder and Group CEO of Oona Insurance

Abhishek Bhatia, Founder, Group Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Director, Oona Insurance

Nicasio "Ninoy" Rollan III, President and Chief Executive Officer, Oona Insurance Philippines

“For Filipinos, protection isn’t just about covering hospital bills. It’s about staying healthy and caring for the whole family. That’s why we go beyond treatment to include preventive and wellness benefits like check-ups, vaccinations, mental health support, and telemedicine. Health protection must be holistic in order to provide everyday peace of mind for Filipino families.” ~Ninoy Rollan, CEO of Oona Philippines

Accessible Care, Anytime, Anywhere

Oona members benefit from cashless purchases at over 650 hospitals and clinics around the country, 24/7 online access to over 750 doctors, and the option to visit their favorite overseas health practitioners thanks to partnerships with MediLink and Doctor Anywhere.

Global Shield and Purple Shield embody Oona's mission of making health care more accessible, digital, and family-focused, giving Filipinos confidence that with the appropriate shield, nothing can stop them.

They are now available through Oona Philippines and its network of insurance advisors and partners. For more information, visit myoona.ph.

About Oona Insurance Group

Headquartered in Singapore, Oona Insurance is the leading digital general insurer in Southeast Asia, backed by global private equity firm Warburg Pincus. Established in 2022, Oona aims to become the general insurer of choice for both partners and customers through a buy-and-build strategy, leveraging superior customer service, advanced technology, and a strong brand across the region. The firm currently operates in two markets: Indonesia and the Philippines.

Oona Insurance Philippines traces its roots to 1934 and was formerly known as MAPFRE Insurance. Following a series of strategic moves, including a partnership with Insular Life, it became part of Oona Philippines Holding Corporation in 2022 and was fully acquired in 2023. The company rebranded as Oona Insurance Corporation in February 2025 and today offers a broad portfolio of products spanning health, travel, motor, property, personal accident and more.

InLife and GCash Partnership Sees P196M Transactions in 2021, Raises Women’s Role in the Digital Economy

InLife and GCash Partnership

Insular Life (InLife) recorded P196 million worth of transactions made through GCash from January to December 2021. This came from forty-six thousand transactions that were recorded using the GCash app for payments for various InLife insurance products. 

InLife and GCash Partnership

But more than a channel to collect premium payments, the partnership between InLife and GCash serves a more meaningful purpose – inclusion. 

Nina D. Aguas, InLife Chairperson

“Our partnership with GCash, the largest FinTech platform in the country, is the latest and, by far, the widest net we are casting in our financial inclusion agenda for women. GCash breaks the barriers for the millions of the unbanked to avail themselves of financial services and health solutions at the most convenient and safe way.” ~Nina D. Aguas, InLife Chairperson

InLife term life insurance and accident insurance plans that do not need medical examinations are now available through GCash since last year.  It also made the affordable emergency prepaid cards of its health subsidiary, Insular Health Care (IHC), available through GLife. The move is in line with InLife’s advocacy of promoting financial inclusion and empowering women through technology.

InLife and GCash Partnership

• Empowering Women Through Financial Inclusion 

“The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the attitudes and behavior favorably toward getting adequate healthcare and insurance coverage. And data shows that it is the women who are active seekers not necessarily for themselves, but for their husbands, children, or parents.” ~Nina D. Aguas, InLife Chairperson

She noted that because of its reach and wide use, GCash is very suitable in influencing the health and financial security of the bigger communities, especially those who are financially excluded.

In her message during the event, GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon said that their partnership with InLife has enabled them to bring affordable and accessible insurance coverage to everyday Filipinos.

“This has allowed them access to relevant products ranging from life insurance to health care coverage through InLife and InLife Health Care, respectively. We are providing more Filipinos access to get covered more quickly and conveniently, giving them and their loved ones peace of mind. This is another step forward in our pursuit of financial inclusion – where we strive to make financial services more accessible to all Filipinos, especially for the unbanked and underbanked. Through our app, they now have access to digital financial services – even as the banking penetration remains low. Usage of our app is at an all-time high, as people now think of GCash as a digital life hack and more than just an e-wallet.” ~Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO

• Inspired by the Sheroes Movement

IHC President and CEO Noemi G. Azura disclosed that their experience in the InLife Sheroes Movement, InLife’s women’s advocacy program, made them realize the importance of digital channels to reach Filipino women.

In a nationwide study conducted by InLife in 2018 for its Sheroes program, it learned that Filipino women are the primary caregivers in the family, including extended ones. 

Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO

"We realized that online storefronts are viable distribution channels to reach more women who are looking for affordable protection products for life and health for their family. While tech is not usually a field women are associated with, our team at GCash is proof that it can happen – with women making up around half of our employee base.” ~Noemi G. Azura, IHC President and CEO

She added that digital technology is effective in terms of promoting awareness about the program, and in delivering educational activities on health and personal finance.

Ms. Sazon said that they are celebrating their partnership at a special time – Women’s Month.

• Addressing Challenges in Financial Inclusion

Noemi G. Azura, IHC President and CEO

“It is our hope that millions of Filipinos will enjoy peace of mind knowing that they have life and health insurance coverage for themselves and their loved available through GCash.” ~Nina D. Aguas, InLife Chairperson

During the launch, InLife and GCash executives also took the time to discuss the challenges of financially empowering women and how both companies can address them.

InLife and GCash Partnership

Insular Health Care Head of Sales and Marketing Division Tricci Rose A. Sadian; InLife Vice President and Head of Digital Sales Distribution Geraldine G. Pascual; and GCash Assistant Vice President and Head of Financial Services, Distribution, BPO & CICO for Enterprise Kim Pineda shared their insights on financial inclusion for women. They also discussed the various products and services of InLife and GCash that cater to women.

About The Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd

Insular Life (InLife) is the first, largest, and only mutual Filipino life insurance company in the country with over 111 years of uninterrupted service. We apply over a hundred years of experience in financial protection, risk management, savings, and investment to help you make confident decisions for you and your loved ones. 

As a mutual life insurance company, our accountability is to our policyholders.  They can be assured of being protected by a company that has an asset base of over P148 billion and net worth of P37 billion. We have a nationwide presence in 53 branches all over the country, and an expanded digital footprint to serve our customers, wherever and whenever they want. Our success is anchored on the growth and security of our partners, policyholders and beneficiaries, because we exist to offer a lifetime for good for everyone. For more information, visit www.insularlife.com.ph.

About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1.3k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 4.5M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at over 170k partner agents; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.).

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 55 million Filipinos in the country today.

Insular Life Good In Life Video and Photo Competition highlights inspiring Filipino Values

 

Amateurs, enthusiasts, and seasoned content creators are invited to join Insular Life’s “Good in Life Video and Photo” competition. The aim of the competition is to show that even in the ongoing pandemic, ordinary Filipinos can rise above these difficult challenges.

Guided by the values that we cherish as a people – love of God and country, resiliency, malasakit at pakikipag-kapwa tao – we have shown that in whatever circumstance, there is always “Good In Life.” 

In interpreting the theme – “Good In Life”, creators must express their entries in terms of our cherished Filipino values. 

Insular Life Good in Life Video and Photo Contest

For the winning videos, the first place will receive P111,000, second place will get P60,000 and third place will collect P40,000. The winning videos will be chosen from a shortlist of 10 finalists. The remaining finalists will receive P5,000 each. All prizes are tax-free. 

The limit of the video competition is 3 minutes maximum length. Each entrant is allowed to submit up to 3 video entries. 

The same theme applies for the “Good In Life” photo competition. The top prize for the photo competition is P30,000, second place is P20,000 and third place is P10,000. Ten finalists will also receive P2,000 each. All prizes are tax free. 

For the photo competition, each entrant may submit up to three entries of photos or a photobook. Each photobook is considered as one entry. Entrants may submit a combination of photos and photobooks. 

The full mechanics for the competition can be found at their company website at https://tinyurl.com/5dvsbks4 or at our official Facebook page at https://tinyurl.com/t9w2a34k. 

The deadline for sending entries will be on Nov. 20, at 11:00 PM in time for InLife’s 111th anniversary on Nov. 25, where the winning entries will be announced. 

Through your creativity, let’s show the world that indeed, no matter what happens, there is “Good In Life!” 

About The Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd

Insular Life (InLife) is the first, largest, and only mutual Filipino life insurance company in the country with over 110 years of uninterrupted service. We apply over a hundred years of experience in financial protection, risk management, savings, and investment to help you make confident decisions for you and your loved ones. 

As a mutual life insurance company, our accountability is to our policyholders.  They can be assured of being protected by a company that has an asset base of over P148 billion and net worth of P37 billion. We have a nationwide presence in 57 branches all over the country, and an expanded digital footprint to serve our customers, wherever and whenever they want. Our success is anchored on the growth and security of our partners, policyholders and beneficiaries, because we exist to offer a lifetime for good for everyone. For more information, visit www.insularlife.com.ph.

Government, Private Sector Support Biking as Alternative Means of Transport

Tapatan sa Aristocrat Special Edition on Biking Advocacy

During the weekly Tapatan sa Aristocrat, representatives from both the government and the private sector came together to discuss how biking can be safer and more sustainable transport means. It was attended by the Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary, Engr. Bert Suansing; Dr. Antonio Dans of the Philippine General Hospital and the Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC); Allianz PNB Life Chief Marketing Officer Gino Riola; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Traffic Discipline Office Director Noemi Recio; and Mia Bunao of Kalyetista.
 
According to Dr. Dans, biking meets the recommendations on transportation safety of the HPAAC, which includes adequate ventilation, physical distancing, shortened interaction, and personal protection.

“Bikes can satisfy all four criteria. In fact, some of the oldest companies making bikes in the United States began in 1918 and continued to make bikes today because it really helped people travel safely. Biking is really protective. At MMDA, we fully support biking. In fact, kahit wala pang pandemic, nagkaroon na ng protected bike lanes ang MMDA. Lahat na ginawa naming bike lanes are all protected (In fact, even when there was no pandemic, the MMDA already put up protected bike lanes. All the bike lanes we put up are protected).” ~Dr. Antonio Dans of the Philippine General Hospital and the Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC)

He added that bicycles were being promoted during the 1918 pandemic as an alternative to trains, buses, and other forms of public transportation.
 
Dr. Dans underlined the importance of future-proofing the country’s bike lanes as it could help lower the risk of future pandemics; reduce traffic and traffic accidents; reduce pollution and cancer; increase physical activity; control obesity; and diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and heart attack.
 
She added that the MMDA currently has bike repair stations along EDSA that are mostly located underneath flyovers.
 
Allianz PNB Life, meanwhile, recently launched a Ride Safe campaign, which seeks to promote biking as a healthy and sustainable means of transport. Last week, it signed a partnership with San Juan, which made it the Official Life Insurance Partner of the city’s own Bike Safety campaign.

“Sa Allianz, nais naming palawakin ang pagbibisikleta. Doon nagsimula ‘yung insipirasyon na makisali kami sa mga local government units na ayun din ang pakay. Kaya nagsimula ang partnership kasama ng San Juan at ninanais namin na magpatuloy ito (At Allianz, we want to promote biking. That’s how the inspiration started to work with local government units that have the same goal. This is also how our partnership with San Juan started, and we hope that we could continue this). Madalas nakikita natin sa ating lipunan, hindi nangyayari kasi nagiisa ang isang grupo. Pero pag sama-sama nangyayari. (Oftentimes, we see that ideas don’t materialize because there is only one group working. If we work together, we can make things happen.” ~Gino Riola, Allianz PNB Life Chief Marketing Officer

Gino Riola, Chief Marketing Officer, Allianz PNB Life

In line with this partnership, Allianz has provided safety bollards and other infrastructure for San Juan’s bike lanes. It is also putting up a solar-powered bike pit stop, a first in the Philippines, which will have a parking area, bikers’ resting area, and a small footprint bike repair station.
 
Bunao of the bikers’ group, Kalyetista, pointed out that the pandemic ushered in something that they have been asking and fighting for.

“We have to do it the right way the first time. Anything infrastructure is really expensive, and if you don’t do it the right way, sayang po siya (Anything infrastructure is really expensive, and if you don’t do it the right way, it would just be a waste).” ~Mia Bunao of Kalyetista

Buano recommended that government agencies come up with bicycle commuting programs and set up bicycle parking systems.
 
For people who don’t have bikes but would like to take up biking, the government has rolled out a Bike-Sharing Program, where people could borrow bikes equipped with GPS for a certain fee.

“Para sa mga taong gustong magbisikleta, under the Bayanihan 2, actually isang bilyon ang nilaan natin diyan, ‘yung bike lanes at bike-sharing. Hindi lang ‘yan sa Metro Manila. Tatlong lugar. Meron din sa Cebu at sa Davao. Isang parte niyan tungkol sa bike-sharing na station to station ‘yan, pwede mong hiramin yung bisikleta. Of course, may bayad yan. We still have to compute the absolute figure, pero siguradong mas mura yan kesa magko-commute ka using the bus or jeepney per kilometer (For those who would like to bike, under the Bayanihan 2, we have allotted PhP1 billion for bike lanes and bike-sharing. It’s not only in Metro Manila, but in Cebu and Davao as well. A part of that is for bike-sharing. You can borrow bikes from station to station. It has a payment. We still have to compute the absolute figure, but it would be much cheaper than jeepney or bus fares per kilometer).” ~Engr. Bert Suansing, Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary

Concluding, Riola said that in order to further promote biking as an alternative means of transport, awareness, education, and partnership are needed.

Bounce back with a winning game plan from AXA and NBA



Get a chance to win prizes simply by undergoing a quick financial needs analysis session with an AXA financial expert.



AXA Philippines, one of the country's leading insurers and the official insurance partner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the Philippines, helps you reassess your financial game plan as it presents the “Bounce Back” promo from July 25 to September 20, 2020.

 

It’s a special promotion where Filipinos can get a chance to win prizes simply by undergoing a quick financial needs analysis session with an AXA financial expert.

Here’s how to join: Simply fill out the AXA appointment booking form by clicking this link, https://bit.ly/2E0kkz4, which is also posted on AXA’s official social media accounts. After filling out the form, participants must answer the call of the AXA financial expert for a brief financial game plan session on the date and time they indicated in the appointment booking form.

On or before September 30, 2020, participants who were able to talk to an AXA financial expert will receive the following from AXA through their registered e-mail: a Personal Accident Insurance plan worth P50,000 valid for one year and a one-time free access to MyPocketDoctor, a mobile app that connects you with a medical professional for check-ups through your phone from the safety and comfort of your home. Both offerings will help participants stay healthy and protected as they use their game plan in the new normal with helpful advice from the AXA financial expert.

Lucky promo participants will also receive their prizes with instructions on how to use or activate them via e-mail or SMS. Promo participants must be 18 years old and above and can only join once.

For more information and updates, visit www.axa.com.ph or follow axa.Philippines.