UNISHIELD (HC&D) HMO 2026: Individual, Family & ER Plus Plans
Quick Answer: UNISHIELD is the HMO brand of Health Care and Development Corp. of the Philippines (HC&D), a subsidiary of the University of Perpetual Help System – DALTA conglomerate. Unlike most corporate-only HMOs, HC&D sells individual and family plans directly, alongside corporate/group plans and a standalone ER PLUS emergency-only product. There's no published pricing — everything runs through a Get a Quote form. The one thing to know: HC&D has announced a rebrand to "DALTA Health Care," but the UNISHIELD name is still what's live on its own site and materials.
If you're looking at an HMO you can actually buy on your own — not just through an employer — UNISHIELD (HC&D) is one of the few Philippine providers that fits. This guide covers what it is, what the published benefit limits actually say, and how to apply.
Table of Contents
- What is UNISHIELD (HC&D)?
- Is UNISHIELD (HC&D) a licensed HMO?
- What plans does UNISHIELD offer?
- How much does UNISHIELD HMO cost?
- What does ER PLUS cover?
- What does the Individual & Family plan cover?
- What's the hospital and doctor network like?
- How do you apply for UNISHIELD?
- UNISHIELD vs the big HMOs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What is UNISHIELD (HC&D)?
UNISHIELD is the health maintenance brand of Health Care and Development Corp. of the Philippines (HC&D), a subsidiary of the University of Perpetual Help System – DALTA conglomerate. DALTA's broader group runs four hospitals, four universities, and additional real estate and banking interests, which gives HC&D a built-in ecosystem angle other HMOs don't have — its own parent group operates hospitals that can sit inside its network.
HC&D says it announced a rebrand to "DALTA Health Care" back in 2019, but as of this writing the UNISHIELD name is still what appears across the company's live site and marketing — the rebrand appears to still be pending. Expect to see both names used interchangeably; they refer to the same company.
On founding dates, HC&D's own materials, via the DALTA group's history, cite establishment on September 16, 1980. A third-party source instead puts incorporation around 1978 with the UNISHIELD brand launching later in 2013. We can't independently verify which is correct, so treat the exact founding year as HC&D's own claim rather than a confirmed fact.
Is UNISHIELD (HC&D) a licensed HMO?
Yes. Health Care and Development Corp. of the Philippines appears on the Insurance Commission's official list of licensed HMOs (as of the November 30, 2025 roster). HC&D's own site states it was "duly registered as an HMO as of June 21, 2018." We're not quoting an exact license number here — the publicly available extraction of HC&D's license number was inconsistent across sources, so if you need the precise Certificate of Authority number, confirm it directly with HC&D or the IC. You can see the full list of IC-licensed HMOs to check any provider's standing before you commit.
What plans does UNISHIELD offer?
HC&D sells three separate product lines, which is unusual — most Philippine HMOs pick either corporate-only or individual-only:
| Plan line | Who it's for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Individual & Family | Individuals and families buying direct | Quote-based, no published price |
| Corporate/Group | Companies enrolling employees | Quote-based, no published price |
| ER PLUS | Standalone emergency-room-focused coverage | Quote-based, no published price |
There are no named tiers (like Maxicare's PRIMA or MediCard's plan levels) publicly listed for any of the three lines — HC&D doesn't publish a benefit-tier menu you can browse and compare on its own.
How much does UNISHIELD HMO cost?
There's no published price for any UNISHIELD/HC&D plan — individual, family, corporate, or ER PLUS. Every option runs through a "Get a Quote" form on HC&D's site. That's consistent with most Philippine HMOs outside a handful of retail-focused brands: expect to submit your details and wait for a quote rather than finding a price sheet online. Be skeptical of any third-party site quoting an exact "UNISHIELD annual premium" — HC&D doesn't publish one, so those figures aren't official.
What does ER PLUS cover?
ER PLUS is HC&D's standalone emergency-focused product, separate from its comprehensive Individual & Family plan. Its published inner limits are unusually specific for a Philippine HMO:
| Benefit | Limit |
|---|---|
| Annual Benefit Limit (ABL) | ₱25,000 |
| Physician fees | ₱200 per visit, up to 31 days |
| Surgical fees | ₱4,000 maximum |
| Anesthesiologist fees | ₱1,200 maximum |
| Outpatient/ER care | ₱2,500 per case, ₱5,000 per year maximum |
| Accidental injury | ₱10,000 maximum |
These are tight limits compared to comprehensive HMO plans — ER PLUS reads as a low-cost emergency-room safety net rather than a full hospitalization plan. There's no published overall hospitalization MBL, dental benefit, or pre-existing condition rule for ER PLUS, so confirm those directly with HC&D before assuming what isn't listed is excluded or included.
What does the Individual & Family plan cover?
HC&D publishes a handful of specific benefit limits for its Individual & Family line, though not a complete benefit schedule:
| Benefit | Limit |
|---|---|
| Physical/occupational therapy (PT/OT) | Up to ₱25,000 per member per year |
| Eye laser therapy | Up to ₱25,000 per year |
| Cataract extraction | Up to the plan's limit |
| Lithotripsy | Up to ₱35,000 per year |
| Pre/post-natal consultations | Covered (excludes pregnancy-related lab tests) |
| Minor injuries and minor surgery | Covered |
| Overseas emergency | Reimbursed at 100% of HMO rates, capped at ₱15,000 per case |
| Non-accredited ER (Philippines) | Reimbursed at 80%, capped at ₱15,000 per case |
Notably absent from HC&D's published materials: an overall annual Maximum Benefit Limit (MBL), a dental benefit, pre-existing condition rules, and age eligibility limits. If any of those matter to your decision, ask HC&D directly when you request a quote — don't assume a benefit exists just because it isn't listed as excluded, and don't assume one is excluded just because it isn't listed as included.
Remember that any HMO, including UNISHIELD, works on top of your government coverage. See our PhilHealth benefits guide for what PhilHealth already covers before your HMO benefit applies.
What's the hospital and doctor network like?
HC&D reports a network of 15,000+ physicians and specialists and 900+ affiliated institutions, accessed through its partnership with AMAPHIL (the Association of Managed Care Organizations in the Philippines) — figures the company itself publishes rather than independently audited totals. HC&D also highlights six major partner hospitals on its site, though it doesn't list its full accredited-facility roster publicly.
Given HC&D's ties to the University of Perpetual Help System – DALTA, which operates its own hospitals, it's reasonable to expect DALTA-affiliated hospitals to be part of that network, though HC&D doesn't spell out which specific accredited facilities come from the parent group versus the broader AMAPHIL network. Confirm your nearest accredited hospital directly with HC&D before assuming coverage. You can also browse HMO-accredited clinics on ClinicFinderPH or search for a clinic near you.
How do you apply for UNISHIELD?
HC&D doesn't offer instant online purchase. To apply:
- Fill out the Get a Quote form on HC&D's site (separate forms exist for Individual & Family, Corporate/Group, and ER PLUS).
- Email info@hcd.com.ph with your inquiry.
- Call HC&D directly at (+632) 8871-3014.
Expect a sales or account representative to follow up with plan details and a formal quote rather than an instant online checkout — this is standard for most HMOs in the Philippines outside a few fully self-serve brands.
UNISHIELD vs the big HMOs
UNISHIELD's main differentiator against brands like Maxicare, MediCard, or PhilCare isn't price — none of the four publish individual prices upfront, so you can't comparison-shop on cost without requesting quotes from each. What sets UNISHIELD apart is its DALTA hospital-university ecosystem and the fact that it publishes specific inner limits (like the ER PLUS schedule above) that many competitors keep entirely behind a quote wall. If network size and brand recognition matter most to you, larger HMOs generally publish bigger network numbers. For a broader comparison, see our best HMOs in the Philippines roundup, our cheapest HMO guide, and our how to choose an HMO guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UNISHIELD the same as HC&D?
Yes. UNISHIELD is the HMO brand name used by Health Care and Development Corp. of the Philippines (HC&D). The company also announced a rebrand to "DALTA Health Care" in 2019, but that rebrand appears to still be pending — both names refer to the same company.
Is UNISHIELD the same as "DALTA Health Care"?
Effectively yes. HC&D announced it would rebrand as DALTA Health Care in 2019, but the UNISHIELD name remains the one actively used on the company's site and materials as of this writing.
Can I buy UNISHIELD as an individual, not through an employer?
Yes. HC&D has a dedicated Individual & Family plan line you can request a quote for directly, separate from its Corporate/Group product. This is less common — many Philippine HMOs sell corporate-only.
How much does UNISHIELD HMO cost?
There's no published price for any UNISHIELD plan. Individual, family, corporate, and ER PLUS pricing are all quote-based — submit a Get a Quote form or contact HC&D directly for a rate.
What is ER PLUS?
ER PLUS is a standalone, emergency-focused plan from HC&D, separate from its comprehensive Individual & Family coverage. It has tight published limits — a ₱25,000 annual benefit limit, ₱200-per-visit physician fees, and other capped inner limits — making it more of an ER safety net than full hospitalization coverage.
Does UNISHIELD cover dental or pre-existing conditions?
HC&D doesn't publish a dental benefit or pre-existing condition policy for its Individual & Family or ER PLUS plans. Ask directly when requesting a quote rather than assuming either way.
Is HC&D a licensed HMO?
Yes. HC&D appears on the Insurance Commission's official roster of licensed HMOs as of November 30, 2025. The company also states it was registered as an HMO as of June 21, 2018.
What hospitals accept UNISHIELD?
HC&D reports 900+ affiliated institutions and 15,000+ physicians through its AMAPHIL network partnership, plus six highlighted major partner hospitals, but it doesn't publish a full facility list online. Confirm your nearest accredited hospital directly with HC&D.
Conclusion
UNISHIELD (HC&D) is worth a look specifically because it sells individual and family plans directly, something most Philippine HMOs don't do — and because its ties to the University of Perpetual Help System – DALTA give it a hospital-university ecosystem angle few competitors can match. The tradeoff is the same one you'll hit with nearly every HMO here: no published pricing, and only partial published benefit details, so a quote request and a direct conversation with HC&D are non-negotiable steps before you commit. Compare it against other options in our best HMOs for individuals and freelancers guide, or see the full list of IC-licensed HMOs to keep your search grounded in verified providers. You can also search ClinicFinderPH to check whether a specific hospital or clinic near you is HMO-accredited.