Best Cardiac Care In Northern Luzon

[i am bob]

I already found a new 36-40sqm 2 br apartment in Baguio to rent next month after they finish painting the inside. It has nice solid wood doors inside, nice wood cabinets in the kitchen with glass in the doors, and surprisingly a steel security door with 9 key operated dead bolts and real weather stripping. The location isn't too bad... close enough to walk to session road. Only real downside is that it is down a path from the barangay road with a total of 90 steps.

 

All that for $125 a month...  It is just soooo expensive living in the Philippines, don't you think?

 

Lucky guy!

 

:thumbsup:

[JJReyes]

I have very fond memories of Baguio. Our allowances were suppose to last the entire monthly, but it was gone in less than a week. Everyone would lounge around the house looking miserable until the parents coughed up more money. We also had signing privileges at Baguio Country Club. It was fun ordering from the menu without parents being around telling you what you can and cannot eat. An uncle, who was a graduate of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, had privileges at Camp John Hay. We had to use military script, which reminded me of Monopoly money.

[JJReyes]

All that for $125 a month... It is just soooo expensive living in the Philippines, don't you think?

 

Just got the bill for my storage locker. The monthly rental is now $160 plus tax.

[earthdome]

I went and filled my prescriptions today for 3 meds. I am not going to list the meds. 2 are related to heart health and another is for male issues. Jake, not that kind, the other kind.

 

I used http://www.goodrx.com/ to find the prices in USA.

 

Med 1 cost 7600 pesos for a 100 day supply. At my local Walmart in USA the cost would be $4.00 USD for 30, or 542 pesos for 100 day supply!!!

Med 2 cost 3150 pesos for a 100 day supply. At my local Walmart in USA the cost would be $8.00 USD for3 30, or 1084 pesos for 100 day supply!

Med 3 cost 1850 pesos for a 100 day supply. At my local Walmart in USA the cost would be $4.00 USD for 30, or 542 pesos for 100 day supply!!!

 

So my prescription meds cost a great deal more in the Philippines. 12,600 pesos for 100 day supply vs 2168 in USA at Walmart. Over 5 times more.

 

I am not sure, but part of the difference may be getting generics at Walmart vs brand name in Philippines.

 

Definitely something to ask the doctor about on my next visit. Before I retired I only had a small annual copay for meds. Now that I am retired I have to pay for meds out of my own pocket, in my case from an HSA I fund tax free.

[JJReyes]

I went and filled my prescriptions today for 3 meds. I am not going to list the meds. 2 are related to heart health and another is for male issues. Jake, not that kind, the other kind. I used http://www.goodrx.com/ to find the prices in USA. Med 1 cost 7600 pesos for a 100 day supply. At my local Walmart in USA the cost would be $4.00 USD for 30, or 542 pesos for 100 day supply!!! Med 2 cost 3150 pesos for a 100 day supply. At my local Walmart in USA the cost would be $8.00 USD for3 30, or 1084 pesos for 100 day supply! Med 3 cost 1850 pesos for a 100 day supply. At my local Walmart in USA the cost would be $4.00 USD for 30, or 542 pesos for 100 day supply!!! So my prescription meds cost a great deal more in the Philippines. 12,600 pesos for 100 day supply vs 2168 in USA at Walmart. Over 5 times more. I am not sure, but part of the difference may be getting generics at Walmart vs brand name in Philippines. Definitely something to ask the doctor about on my next visit. Before I retired I only had a small annual copay for meds. Now that I am retired I have to pay for meds out of my own pocket, in my case from an HSA I fund tax free.

 

Yes, the first thing to ask or remind your doctor is that you want generic. They assume foreigners prefer familiar, advertised brands. Next, if you have brand name prescription, ask the pharmacist if you can substitute for generic. I recall seeing advertising for a new pharmacy advertising themselves with the word "generic" as part of their store name. The price difference can be substantial. I had a slight a tooth abscess and the 21 generic antibiotic pills cost was $120. The store was Mercury Dugs.

 

Walmart's drugstore is a loss leader. They want you to return in about 45 minutes to one hour. You don't leave the stores. Instead, the wait time is spent buying things at Walmart that you don't need.

[earthdome]

Yes, the first thing to ask or remind your doctor is that you want generic. They assume foreigners prefer familiar, advertised brands. Next, if you have brand name prescription, ask the pharmacist if you can substitute for generic.

 

I found a nice website for looking up generic equivalents of brand name medications, including listing what country that generic is available in.

 

A couple of hints. Do a general search, don't click on the "Search Philippines". When scrolling down the list at the bottom there will be a link to show all results. I did searches based on brand name using the "Search" button, then scrolled to the bottom and hit show all and found the Philippine generic names for all 3 of my medications.

 

http://www.igenericdrugs.com/