filmstar66

I plan to spend most of the time in the Philippines, with my wife, next year/post covid19. Does anyone have suggestions on health insurance? I recently saw an article of an older guy not being accepted into a hospital and after a few hours of waiting in an ambulance he died. Probably a good idea to sort something out as my wife said they need to see your money before they accept you into hospital. Any thoughts gratefully received!

Gazza-d

As a retiree Phil Health is pretty much your only option. Most health insurance cuts off into your 60s and that that doesn't getz stupid expensive.

Raffin

Pacific Cross (formerly Blue Cross) was quite reasonable for me up to 66. Premium then was about P26k a year, in patient only and had risen slowly annually. They paid out for a P20k claim once ok, and my wife had one big claim. But in her case they then massively upped her renewal premium due to her new and serious pre-existing condition. So I took her out and put her on Philhealth. My experience with her on Philhealth was quite good...just that it was difficult to find out what you would get from them beforehand.

After 66 I had to move on to another policy where premiums started at 50k and would rise every year by a few thousand. Good in patient cover but expensive with no "no claims bonus"..After two years my financial circumstances changed for the worse so I left. I now intend to join Philhealth. And save up for that money they need up front....two years ago in one of the top Manila hospitals I witnessed the admissions staff routinely asking for a down of P35k,,.. even for short stays.

tropicofcancer

Yes definitely enroll with PhilHealth. They will pay a portion of your bill, in a private hospital. Since last year, I have enrolled with KAISER. Which will raise your level of benefits, for each year, you do not claim. At my age, I have to pay, a year's premium in advance. Just under thirty-grand (pesos). They have their own clinics, but you can opt for your own, choice of hospital. With a set limit for various services set out. If you do use a different facility.
You pay full price, for your medication. However, you can opt for better medicines. That the NHS will not pay for.

Andrew_AJP

If this was the case of a Brit expat in Cebu my wife used to work in Chong Hua where this happened and she spoke to one her her ex colleagues still there they had no covid beds left and were in process of sorting something out when he went, it's not what you want but stuff like this happens when specialist hospital wards are full​​​​​

filmstar66

Thanks for the update. Yes this was the case. Makes me feel a bit more relaxed that he wasn't left to die outside due to lack of immediate cash to show them.

David Mashael

Doesn't make much difference, whether you're left to die, because lack of insurance/funds or lack of health care capacity. Pretty sorry state of affairs either way.

Raffin

Saw this report hiding on the BBC's Asian News site. No intention at all to compare the Philippines and Vietnam or comment on the sad case of the Brit in Cebu. Just some exceptional treatment of a Brit abroad which I think many of you would be interested to read about.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53196009