KayaMed 2026: The Philippines' First Micro-HMO at ₱2,300 a Year
Quick Answer: KayaMed is the product brand of MI Healthcare Inc. (MHI), a joint venture between CARD MRI and Pioneer Insurance, and it's the first micro-HMO registered with the Insurance Commission (IC CA HMO-2024-05-O). It costs ₱2,300 a year with small annual limits — In-Patient ₱10,000, Out-Patient ₱5,000, Emergency ₱15,000, Surgical ₱10,000, Maternity ₱2,500 — built as a supplement to PhilHealth, not a substitute for a full HMO. As of March 2025 it's sold only to CARD MRI microfinance clients and their legal dependents in select Laguna, Cavite, Manila, and Bulacan branches, not to the general public.
Table of Contents
- What is KayaMed?
- Is KayaMed legit?
- How much does KayaMed cost and what does it cover?
- Who can actually buy KayaMed?
- How do you enroll in KayaMed?
- Why micro-HMOs like KayaMed matter
- KayaMed vs the big HMOs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What is KayaMed?
KayaMed is the flagship (and so far only) product of MI Healthcare Inc. (MHI), a joint venture between CARD MRI and the Pioneer Group (Pioneer Insurance) established in February 2024. MHI's President and CEO is Molly C. Uyecio, a Pioneer executive. KayaMed launched at the end of January/early February 2025 in San Pablo City, Laguna, and is billed as the first micro-HMO registered with the Insurance Commission in the Philippines.
MI Healthcare's own corporate website, mihealthcare.com.ph, functions mainly as a governance page for the company rather than a product storefront — there are no detailed plan pages there. Most of what's publicly confirmed about KayaMed's pricing and coverage comes from CARD MRI's own announcement rather than a dedicated KayaMed product site, so treat this as a young, still-narrow offering rather than an established retail HMO.
Is KayaMed legit?
Yes — MI Healthcare Inc. holds an Insurance Commission Certificate of Authority for KayaMed, IC CA HMO-2024-05-O. That means it's a licensed HMO product, not an informal savings scheme. We found no reported cease-and-desist orders, conservatorship actions, or other adverse IC notices against MI Healthcare in the available records at the time of writing. As with any newly licensed product, it's still worth confirming your CA and any updates directly with the Insurance Commission or CARD MRI before enrolling, since KayaMed only launched in 2025.
How much does KayaMed cost and what does it cover?
KayaMed's published price is ₱2,300 per year, per CARD MRI's own announcement (cardmri.com/?p=8378) — the only confirmed price point for this product. Coverage comes in the form of separate annual peso limits per benefit category, not a single combined Maximum Benefit Limit:
| Benefit | Annual limit |
|---|---|
| In-Patient | ₱10,000 |
| Out-Patient | ₱5,000 |
| Emergency | ₱15,000 |
| Surgical | ₱10,000 |
| Maternity | ₱2,500 |
These are micro limits — a few thousand pesos per category, not the five- and six-figure Maximum Benefit Limits typical of standard individual or corporate HMO plans. KayaMed is designed to cushion small, everyday medical costs on top of PhilHealth, not to fund a major hospitalization on its own. Dental coverage, pre-existing condition rules, and dependent age brackets are not published anywhere in MI Healthcare's or CARD MRI's available materials, so don't assume any of those are included — confirm directly with a CARD MRI branch before enrolling.
Who can actually buy KayaMed?
This is the part most people miss: KayaMed is not open public retail. As of March 1, 2025, it was sold exclusively to CARD MRI microfinance clients and their legal dependents, through CARD MRI branches in specific areas — Laguna (Districts 1, 3, and 4), Cavite, Manila, and Bulacan. If you're not already a CARD MRI microfinance client in one of those branch areas, you currently can't buy KayaMed.
CARD MRI and MI Healthcare have talked about eventually widening access, but that's a stated intent, not a live, general-public offering — there's no evidence in the company's own materials that KayaMed has expanded beyond CARD MRI's client base and those specific provinces. If you've seen KayaMed described elsewhere as "available nationwide" or "open to anyone," treat that claim with caution and verify with CARD MRI directly.
How do you enroll in KayaMed?
Enrollment runs through CARD MRI branches in the covered areas (Laguna, Cavite, Manila, Bulacan) rather than an online signup or a general insurance agent. If you're already a CARD MRI microfinance member, ask your branch about adding KayaMed for yourself and your legal dependents. For general inquiries, MI Healthcare lists +632 8812 7777 and mihealthcare@pioneer.com.ph as contact channels. Because this is a new, narrowly distributed product, confirm current enrollment steps and any updated coverage areas with your branch before assuming eligibility.
Why micro-HMOs like KayaMed matter
There's a real gap between what PhilHealth covers and what a full commercial HMO plan costs. PhilHealth is mandatory and low-cost but leaves significant out-of-pocket exposure for outpatient visits, minor surgeries, and everyday care. Traditional HMO plans fill that gap, but many low-income and informal-sector families — the kind CARD MRI serves through its microfinance network — are priced out of them or can't access individual retail plans at all.
Micro-HMOs like KayaMed are built for that specific middle ground: a small, affordable annual premium that adds modest but real cash limits on top of PhilHealth, aimed at people who'd otherwise have no supplemental coverage at all. It's not a substitute for a full HMO — see our PhilHealth benefits and coverage guide for what PhilHealth already covers, and our HMO vs PhilHealth comparison for how the two are meant to work together.
KayaMed vs the big HMOs
KayaMed isn't really competing with Maxicare, MediCard, or Intellicare — it plays in a different category entirely. Where established HMOs offer five- and six-figure Maximum Benefit Limits, broad hospital networks, and (for some) individually purchasable plans, KayaMed offers a few thousand pesos per benefit category and is currently restricted to one lender's client base in a handful of provinces. If you have access to a standard individual or employer HMO plan, that will almost always give you far deeper coverage than KayaMed's micro limits.
Where KayaMed makes sense is for CARD MRI microfinance clients who currently have no HMO coverage at all — for them, ₱2,300 a year for extra outpatient, emergency, surgical, and maternity cushioning is better than nothing. If you're comparing options more broadly, see our roundup of the best HMOs in the Philippines or the full list of IC-licensed HMOs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KayaMed?
KayaMed is a micro-HMO product from MI Healthcare Inc., a CARD MRI and Pioneer Insurance joint venture. It's registered with the Insurance Commission (IC CA HMO-2024-05-O) and is billed as the first micro-HMO of its kind in the Philippines.
How much does KayaMed cost?
₱2,300 per year, per CARD MRI's own published announcement. That's the only confirmed price for the product.
What does KayaMed cover?
Separate annual limits per category: In-Patient ₱10,000, Out-Patient ₱5,000, Emergency ₱15,000, Surgical ₱10,000, and Maternity ₱2,500. Dental coverage and pre-existing condition rules are not publicly disclosed.
Can I buy KayaMed if I'm not a CARD MRI client?
Not currently. As of March 2025, KayaMed is sold only to CARD MRI microfinance clients and their legal dependents in select branches in Laguna, Cavite, Manila, and Bulacan. Any claim of nationwide public availability is not supported by the company's own materials.
Is KayaMed a substitute for a full HMO plan?
No. Its coverage limits are a few thousand pesos per category, far below standard HMO Maximum Benefit Limits. It's meant to supplement PhilHealth for people with no other coverage, not to replace a full HMO or handle major hospitalization costs.
Who owns MI Healthcare, the company behind KayaMed?
MI Healthcare Inc. is a joint venture between CARD MRI and the Pioneer Group (Pioneer Insurance), formed in February 2024. Its President and CEO, Molly C. Uyecio, comes from Pioneer.
Where is KayaMed available?
As of March 2025: Laguna (Districts 1, 3, and 4), Cavite, Manila, and Bulacan — specifically areas served by CARD MRI branches.
How do I enroll in KayaMed?
Through a CARD MRI branch in a covered area, if you're already a CARD MRI microfinance client. You can also reach MI Healthcare at +632 8812 7777 or mihealthcare@pioneer.com.ph for general inquiries.
Conclusion
KayaMed is a genuinely new category for the Philippine HMO market — a licensed, low-cost micro-HMO built to sit on top of PhilHealth for people who'd otherwise have no supplemental coverage. At ₱2,300 a year with a few thousand pesos of cushioning per benefit category, it's honest about being small: a safety net, not a replacement for a real HMO plan. For now, access is limited to CARD MRI microfinance clients in specific Luzon provinces, so most readers won't be able to buy it directly yet.
If you're not eligible for KayaMed or want deeper coverage, compare it against the best HMOs in the Philippines, read our guide to choosing an HMO, or see the full list of IC-licensed HMOs operating in the country. And whatever HMO you end up with, remember it works on top of — not instead of — your PhilHealth coverage.