Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
#16
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Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
Seems to be that if you get registered with a GP , the hospital will normally not query your status as generally in the UK you get referred to hospital via your GP. As a hospital has to put your GPs details on various forms, if you do not have one then they may well check your status. If you cannot afford good health insurance here then a major surgery can bankrupt you! My wife recently spent 4 days, 3 nights in Chong Hua for surgery on an infected cyst and even with a contribution from Philhealth AND a 20% Seniors discount, the bill still came to nearly £1000! Cannot fault the care etc and she was admitted within 2 hours of seeing the doctor and operated on the next morning! goodness knows how long she would have waited on the NHS.......
Also certain benefits such as kidney transplant, prostate cancer and some others age out of Philhealth at 70 yrs old. In summation therefore : If you are healthy and/or can afford good health insurance then you'll be OK here. If not then make sure you have an emergency medical fund of at least 250k Pesos or return to UK.
A small point, if you and your partner decide to stay in the UK then you know you would need to apply for one of a Fiancee visa, Marriage visa or Spouse visa? Unless of course your partner has indefinite leave to remain in UK?
Also certain benefits such as kidney transplant, prostate cancer and some others age out of Philhealth at 70 yrs old. In summation therefore : If you are healthy and/or can afford good health insurance then you'll be OK here. If not then make sure you have an emergency medical fund of at least 250k Pesos or return to UK.
A small point, if you and your partner decide to stay in the UK then you know you would need to apply for one of a Fiancee visa, Marriage visa or Spouse visa? Unless of course your partner has indefinite leave to remain in UK?
#17
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Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
Oh, by the way my wifes Statement of Account for her stay was 5 pages long! It listed every item charged for : pills, IV drips, plasters, disposable syringes for injections (she is diabetic), blood tests, ECG , operating room costs, oxygen and on and on! OK some items were only 5/10 pesos but it all added up. Her room was about £45 a night but did include meals,such as they were and I could stay and sleep in her room - common here.
#18
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Joined: Sep 2017
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Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
Quiltman and all,
Thanks for your advice, knowledge and experiences on this matter.
Yes having a good private health insurance in the Philippines would make the future health problems less of a concern. You state having a piggy bank of about 250,000 pesos to cover the serious ailment if not covered. However from my initial checks I have found that health insurance on top of Philhealth could be costing well over 50,000 pesos a month for someone like myself (with a manageable Diabetic and COPD condition). Private health cover being highly expensive as you age.
Anyone know of a good low cost private health plan in the Philippines.
Philhealth paying maybe 30% of costs, can this be combined with a private health cover for the remaining 70%.
You also mention that Philhealth ages out serious ailments at 70, so they just leave you to die after the age of 70!!!!!!!. Is this for both Filipinos and Foreigners?
Thanks
Thanks for your advice, knowledge and experiences on this matter.
Yes having a good private health insurance in the Philippines would make the future health problems less of a concern. You state having a piggy bank of about 250,000 pesos to cover the serious ailment if not covered. However from my initial checks I have found that health insurance on top of Philhealth could be costing well over 50,000 pesos a month for someone like myself (with a manageable Diabetic and COPD condition). Private health cover being highly expensive as you age.
Anyone know of a good low cost private health plan in the Philippines.
Philhealth paying maybe 30% of costs, can this be combined with a private health cover for the remaining 70%.
You also mention that Philhealth ages out serious ailments at 70, so they just leave you to die after the age of 70!!!!!!!. Is this for both Filipinos and Foreigners?
Thanks
#19
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Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
On combining Philhealth with a private health plan, I recall a question on a private claim form as to whether Philhealth had been availed, and I assumed at the time that answering yes would lead to that benefit being deducted under the "double insurance" principal.
It's my understanding that most of the serious ailments "Z benefit" package is available for Filipinos post 70 years old, but some exceptions are prostate cancer,kidney transplants and coronary artery bypass ops.
It's my understanding that most of the serious ailments "Z benefit" package is available for Filipinos post 70 years old, but some exceptions are prostate cancer,kidney transplants and coronary artery bypass ops.
#20
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Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
A friend sent me a link for a health insurance, only had a quick look and unfortunately it does not seem to insure those over 64 but it did seem quite good for the younger set - Shop at PhilCare
#21
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Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
As Raffin says, certain benefits under the Z package age out at 70 for both Filipinos and foreigners lucky enough to have been enrolled in Philhealth before july 1 2017. The rules changed last year so Foreigners on a tourist visa pay 17,000pesos a year with a reduction of 2,000 for holders of the SRRV and benefits were reduced , including removing the Z package. Like yourself, my wife is a diabetic plus had a heart attack 14 years ago plus arthritis so health insurance for her would take all her monthly pensions! As I'm over 70 , my cost would be over $1000 a month!!! Luckily we can afford her medicines and have some savings plus our credit cards to cover emergencies. As an aside, the chance of getting a kidney transplant in UK if over 70 is very low. As I said, it's no paradise but if you want more details on diabetic care here, cost of insulin etc, then send me a PM.
I've attached a copy of the circular re Philhealth from last year.
I've attached a copy of the circular re Philhealth from last year.
#22
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 51
Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
Also note the much cheaper cost of home nursing care/ domestic help. So even if medical care is not as good, QOL for elderly in PHP likely to be better (assuming you have partner who can ensure the help aren't abusing you)
#23
Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
Quiltman and all,
Thanks for your advice, knowledge and experiences on this matter.
Yes having a good private health insurance in the Philippines would make the future health problems less of a concern. You state having a piggy bank of about 250,000 pesos to cover the serious ailment if not covered. However from my initial checks I have found that health insurance on top of Philhealth could be costing well over 50,000 pesos a month for someone like myself (with a manageable Diabetic and COPD condition). Private health cover being highly expensive as you age.
Anyone know of a good low cost private health plan in the Philippines.
Philhealth paying maybe 30% of costs, can this be combined with a private health cover for the remaining 70%.
You also mention that Philhealth ages out serious ailments at 70, so they just leave you to die after the age of 70!!!!!!!. Is this for both Filipinos and Foreigners?
Thanks
Thanks for your advice, knowledge and experiences on this matter.
Yes having a good private health insurance in the Philippines would make the future health problems less of a concern. You state having a piggy bank of about 250,000 pesos to cover the serious ailment if not covered. However from my initial checks I have found that health insurance on top of Philhealth could be costing well over 50,000 pesos a month for someone like myself (with a manageable Diabetic and COPD condition). Private health cover being highly expensive as you age.
Anyone know of a good low cost private health plan in the Philippines.
Philhealth paying maybe 30% of costs, can this be combined with a private health cover for the remaining 70%.
You also mention that Philhealth ages out serious ailments at 70, so they just leave you to die after the age of 70!!!!!!!. Is this for both Filipinos and Foreigners?
Thanks
I have had quotes from Cigna and Pacific Cross. They will both cover over 70 and are cheaper than PPP.
In my case the saving isn't enough to cause me to switch insurers but you might like to ask them for a quote.
#24
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 288
Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
If you are registered with the UK tax office as non-resident then that department tells the NHS BUT not all the NHS hospitals are yet tied in with the national database. Neither do they seem to backdate info so if you registered as non-resident a decade ago and are still registered with a UK doctor chances are they do not know.
#25
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 288
Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
Phil hospitals have a bit of reputation for making things worse rather than curing the problem with things like hip surgery.
#26
Re: Senior (65+) retirees - how is it in your later years
For those senior (65+) retirees.
Do you plan to spend those last few years/Months of your ailing health/life in the Philippines or return back to your home country in those twilight years.
I understand the benefits of life in the Philippines, when your fit and well, but we all must pass on one day. How do we cope when were approaching those final days, managing the daily chores, hospital visits and costs, mobility, travel. etc.
Do most of you only retire and stay while healthy and fit, then return back home once serious health issues arise?. Or have you found that its not a problem at all and those later years are just as caring and comfortable as they would be back in your home country.
Interested in your experiences and expectations
PS. Average life of Filipino = 70 years. Average age of Westerner 83 years. do you think the average age of a Westerner Expat in the Philippines would decrees due to change of environment, diet, climate, etc?
Do you plan to spend those last few years/Months of your ailing health/life in the Philippines or return back to your home country in those twilight years.
I understand the benefits of life in the Philippines, when your fit and well, but we all must pass on one day. How do we cope when were approaching those final days, managing the daily chores, hospital visits and costs, mobility, travel. etc.
Do most of you only retire and stay while healthy and fit, then return back home once serious health issues arise?. Or have you found that its not a problem at all and those later years are just as caring and comfortable as they would be back in your home country.
Interested in your experiences and expectations
PS. Average life of Filipino = 70 years. Average age of Westerner 83 years. do you think the average age of a Westerner Expat in the Philippines would decrees due to change of environment, diet, climate, etc?