Maxicare for Freelancers: An Initial Review

I’m not exactly a freelancer as I am employed full-time, but I manage my government contributions, taxes, and healthcare on my own so I’m as good as one. So I’d like to write about my experiences so far with Maxicare for future reference and maybe to help someone out there who’s also looking for an HMO.

 

Applying for the MyMaxicare plan

I was looking around for a good HMO for freelancers, specifically one with a program that covers pre-existing illnesses. After trawling through the comments sections of Facebook posts, many forums, and of course the Maxicare website itself, I decided the MyMaxicare plan fit the bill. It came recommended by my brother, too. But one feature that hooked me in was that my application could be processed entirely online; no need to look for an agent or visit a physical office to submit documents. After carefully reading the MyMaxicare 2017 brochure, which outlined the benefits, limitations, and such, I applied online through the Maxicare website. Three weeks later, I received an email

Passport Renewal

Writing this for future reference. I tried to schedule a passport renewal appointment at DFA Ali Mall last June, but the only available schedules by then were in November. Imagine that! So my father decided that we should just go as walk-in applicants at DFA Aseana.

As before, being an immediate family member of a government employee made passport renewal a breeze because of the courtesy lane. We didn’t have to wait too long for processing and data capturing. The entire family was done in about an hour.

First, we submitted the accomplished application forms to the guy manning the desk on the second floor. Each member of the family had to have a photocopy of my father’s government employee ID. I had filled out the forms at home, opting to type the information instead of writing it down so it would be easier to read, so we didn’t spend much time at the desk. Then we entered the courtesy lane (more like courtesy room) and waited a bit for our numbers to be called for step 1, processing. We had e-passports, so the only thing they asked for were the scans of the data page and last page of our old passports. That’s it. They didn’t even ask for a valid ID. A receipt and a queue number was given.

Afterwards, we paid the passport fee of P1,200 for rush processing (which means you will get your passport after 7 working days, provided there are no problems with your account). The fee for regular processing (15 working days) is P950. Then we waited for our turn to be photographed.

Then we went outside the room and paid for the LBC delivery fee of P150 per passport. (Really, they couldn’t just have put all our passports in one package?) My brother filled out the delivery information on each package, submitted our passport receipts, and got LBC receipts in return. That’s it; we were done! We expect the passports to be delivered around 2 weeks from now. Unfortunately, we’re not getting the new passport yet!

To summarize, these are all we needed for e-passport renewal:

1. Accomplished application forms
2. Photocopy of data page and last page of passports
3. Photocopy of government ID

There are other requirements for other passport types. Check out dfa.gov.ph for details!

Anti-Acne Regimen (so far)

Late 2015 and early into 2016, my face (specifically my jaw and chin area) started sprouting clusters of pimples . I’ve been acne-prone since I hit puberty, but this was the first time since high school that pimples popped up like crazy on my face; I usually get just a couple here and there. I think it must be because of stress brought on by being org president because not too long ago, I enjoyed relatively clear skin despite being exposed daily to pollution.

2016 Eyeglasses from Sunnies and EO

I get new glasses every year or so because my frames break every year or so. Since 2013, I’ve been buying cheap plastic frames (P200 to P300) from the department store and having the lenses replaced with graded ones in optical shops. I spend around P1,000 for them. I don’t really mind shelling out around a thousand pesos each year for glasses because it’s exciting for me to shop for new frames. I never get the same frame twice because that’s just boring.

Essence Get Big Lashes Volume Boost Mascara

~₱199 for 12mL

Available at Essence counters.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), cera alba (beeswax), nylon-12, candelilla (euphorbia cerifera) wax, glyceryl stearate, stearic acid, decyl olivate, hydrogenated olive oil stearyl esters, carnauba (copernicia cerifera) wax, pvp, aminomethyl propanol, hydroxyethylcellulose, potassium sorbate, polyquaternium-10, allantoin, ethylhexylglycerin, tetrasodium edta, TBHQ, phenoxyethanol, CI 77499 (iron oxides)

San San Rosanne Collection Lipstick in Berry Bloom

Price: ₱98 for 3.6g

Available at HBC stores nationwide

Ingredients: Beeswax, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, paraffinum liquidum, Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, Copernica cerifera (carnauba) wax, lanolin, isopropyl myristate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, benzyl alcohol, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), retinol (vitamin A), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), mica, CI 77891, CI 45380, CI 15850, fragrance

MAC Frost Lipstick in Angel

Price: ~P1000 for 3g

Available at MAC counters

Ingredients: Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, trioctyldodecyl citrate, glyceryl triacetyl hydroxystearate, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, octyldodecanol, beeswax, tricaprylin, ozokerite, Copernica cerifera (carnauba) wax, cetyl ricinoleate, microcrystalline wax, tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate, calcium sodium borosilicate, alumina, calcium aluminum borosilicate, tin oxide, silica, vanillin. May contain: Mica, titanium dioxide (CI 77891), iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), bismuth oxychloride (CI 15850), red 21(CI 45380), red 28 lake (CI 45410), red 30 lake (CI 73360), red 33 lake (CI 17200), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), yellow 6 lake (CI 15985), yellow 10 lake (CI 47005)