VA Guide Series: How to Ask Your Client for HMO Benefits
8 min read
Key Takeaways
- Asking your client about healthcare support can be an honest, respectful conversation. It is not a demand, and the answer may be no.
- You can start with an allowance, reimbursement, direct payment by the client, or a wider talk about employment benefits.
- Bring a short, specific request, a little research, and an easy next step. The builder and ten samples below give you the wording.
- Private HMO is separate from statutory benefits and is never automatic, even under formal employment. Confirm everything in writing.
The conversation many VAs put off
You have worked with your client for months, maybe years. The work is going well, the invoices are paid, and every month you also pay for your own healthcare. You would like to ask whether your client could help. Then the worry kicks in. Will it sound ungrateful? Expensive? Difficult?
Knowing how to ask your client for HMO benefits starts with one idea: it is a conversation, not a demand. You can explain why it matters, ask what might be possible, and accept that the answer could be no.
This guide gives you copy-and-paste messages and a few arrangements to talk through. If you are the client, it is for you too: it shows how to open the topic without pressure on either side.
Before you ask
Start with your reason. Be clear on why healthcare support matters to you and what kind of help you have in mind. Then keep the focus on a practical outcome. Comparing yourself with other VAs or criticizing how your client works today tends to close doors.
Then check the context. Is the timing right, away from a deadline or a tight month? Does your contract or agency arrangement limit changes to benefits or working terms? Would your client prefer a quick message first, an email, or a scheduled call?
What exactly are you asking for?
Four things you can bring to the table. They are discussion options, not entitlements. Your client may have a budget, a policy, or contract terms that decide what is possible, so asking does not guarantee a yes.
A. A healthcare allowance Option
Your client contributes a fixed amount toward your healthcare costs. Agree on the amount, how it is paid, any documents needed, and how it is treated in your contract.
B. Reimbursement for an HMO or health plan
You buy the plan and request reimbursement under an agreed process. Settle who pays upfront, which documents are needed, and whether a budget or approval step applies.
C. The client pays the provider directly
Your client pays a plan provider directly, if the provider and your arrangement allow it. Confirm who the covered person is, how billing and renewals work, and what happens if the contract ends.
D. A broader employment-benefits discussion
If your client wants a more formal, long-term setup, you can explore employment through an Employer of Record (EOR). Any HMO or extra benefit is agreed and written down separately.
These options can differ in tax, legal, administrative, and contract terms, so avoid assuming how any of them is treated. An allowance or reimbursement does not by itself decide whether someone is a contractor or an employee, and staying an independent contractor is a valid choice. For questions about your situation, ask a labor lawyer, tax professional, or DOLE.[4]
Sample messages for real situations
The builder covers the basics. These ten cover situations that need more careful wording, including the difficult answers. Replace anything in [brackets], and trim freely.
Whichever you use, three habits help: thank your client first, say plainly what you are asking, and suggest one small next step.
1Asking for the first time
Why it works: It opens with appreciation, names the topic plainly, and makes it clear that a no is fine.
2A long-term VA asking for support
Why it works: Time together is framed as continuity and shared planning, not as leverage.
3Asking for an allowance, not a specific plan
Why it works: It shows you did the homework without quoting a number, so your client can set the range.
4The client already pays a fixed contractor rate
Why it works: It respects the budget up front and asks about structure, not a bigger total.
5You want the client to help with an existing plan
Why it works: It explains the request, offers two routes, and keeps everything subject to the provider's terms and your agreement.
6The client says, "We don't offer benefits to contractors"
Why it works: It accepts the answer, leaves the door open once, and protects the relationship.
7The client says the budget is too tight
Why it works: It acknowledges the constraint and offers flexibility without assuming a smaller contribution is possible.
8Discussing formal employment
Why it works: EOR is one option, HMO is not assumed, and staying as you are stays on the table.
9A client offering healthcare support first
Why it works: It asks about arrangements, not health, and leaves the VA in control of what to share.
10A follow-up after no response
Why it works: It gives room to answer, sets no deadline, and stays a single polite follow-up.
If your client asks, "How much would this cost?"
Research real options before you quote a number. Cost and coverage depend on the provider, the plan, age eligibility, benefits, and other product terms, so there is no single figure to rely on. Bring a simple comparison with:
- The exact plan you are considering and its current quoted price.
- What it covers and what it excludes.
- Payment frequency and renewal conditions.
- Whether you are asking for a contribution, reimbursement, or direct payment.
- Any out-of-pocket costs that may remain.
Treat the figure as a proposal to discuss, not a guarantee. It also helps to confirm that the provider is authorized to operate.[5] And remember that PhilHealth is separate from any private HMO: self-earning individuals can be self-paying members.[3]
Making it easier for your client
People answer more comfortably when the next step is clear. Four habits help.
Look at one or two suitable options and note the key details.
Explain what you are asking for in plain English, in a few sentences.
Offer the provider's official plan information, and be open on timing, budget, and alternatives.
If there is no reply, send one polite follow-up. A no is not a personal rejection.
For clients: you can ask about the administrative side, such as enrolment, billing, and renewals, without asking for any private medical information. A VA only needs to share what is required to set up the arrangement.
When a broader benefits discussion may help
Some client and VA relationships stay as independent contractor arrangements, and that works well for many people. Others may suit formal employment. The right choice depends on the actual working relationship, what both sides want, applicable law, contract terms, and the admin involved.[4]
An Employer of Record (EOR) is one route when a client wants to employ someone in the Philippines without setting up a local entity. Zero-Ten Park's published scope covers onboarding and legal employment, payroll and tax filing, statutory benefit compliance, and HR support, subject to the service agreement.[1]
- Private HMO is not automatic with EOR employment. Statutory benefits (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG) are separate from it,[2] and any HMO or extra benefit is discussed and documented on its own.
- The service page lists a management fee of US$230 per employee per month, apart from salary and statutory contributions,[1] and the wiki lists a standard 12-month commitment period.[2] Confirm current terms with Zero-Ten Park.
- EOR does not make an arrangement compliant by default, and it is not a way around an agency contract or fee. It is not worth switching to just to get an HMO.
To learn more, see the EOR service page and the EOR wiki. If your team would also like a place to work together, the EOR + Workspace bundle may be worth a look. Otherwise, you can skip it.
FAQ
Is it okay to ask my client for HMO benefits if I'm a freelancer?
Yes, it is reasonable to ask politely, as long as you accept that the answer may be no. Check your contract first, keep the request specific, and be open to alternatives.
Should I ask for an HMO plan, an allowance, or reimbursement?
There is no single best choice. An allowance is simple to administer, reimbursement lets you choose your own plan, and direct payment depends on whether the provider allows it. Each can have different tax, legal, and contract effects, so confirm the details in writing and ask a professional if needed.
What should I do if my client says they don't offer benefits?
Thank them, accept the answer, and keep the relationship strong. You can ask once whether a different arrangement could be discussed later. If not, you can keep arranging your own coverage.
Does an international client have to provide HMO coverage to a Filipino contractor?
It depends on the facts of the working relationship and applicable law, so there is no blanket answer. Private HMO is separate from statutory benefits, and many contractor arrangements do not include it. DOLE guidance or a labor lawyer can help assess a specific situation.
Can an EOR arrangement include HMO benefits?
It can be discussed. Zero-Ten Park's published EOR scope covers onboarding and legal employment, payroll and tax filing, statutory benefits compliance, and HR support. HMO is not listed as automatic, so any private benefit has to be agreed and confirmed in writing.
You do not need the perfect message
You need a respectful opening, a clear explanation of what you are asking for, and a willingness to explore options together. Try the message builder, personalize one of the samples, or share this guide with your client if it helps start the conversation.
If you and your client are curious about formal Philippine employment, structured HR administration, and discussing benefits as part of an employment package, you can learn more about Zero-Ten Park's EOR service or book a consultation.
Sources
Reviewed October 23, 2026. Rules, rates, and fees change, so verify with the official sources.
- Zero-Ten Park, Employer of Record service page (last modified September 2, 2026): EOR model, scope, and listed management fee.
- Zero-Ten Park, EOR wiki (last modified September 4, 2026): statutory benefits administered, itemized costs, and commitment period.
- PhilHealth, Circular No. 2026-0011 and the official website: self-paying members, including self-earning individuals, and current contributions.
- Department of Labor and Employment, official website, for guidance on employment relationships.
- Insurance Commission, official website, and each provider's own product pages for features, exclusions, and enrolment requirements.
General educational information only. Not medical, insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice, and not a recommendation of any HMO provider or product.
