Insurance

[stevewool]

Lots of you say you need this but how many have got it,

What do you pay and what do you get for that cost too,

I have tried looking at different places but the price is sooooooooooooooooooo much , but like anything in life you dont know how good it is until you need it , thats if ever you need it ,

And the other question is would you go without it

[barryneves]

Hi Steve! I have been with Philippine Blue Cross (which I am told has nothing to do with its US namesake, and found the service to be outstanding. I have the cashless admission option  and have had the misfortune to use it twice, once with dengue and once following a knee injury that developed complications. In both instances the girls from the BC office visited me on several occasions to ensure that all was well and the discharge at the end of my stay was quick and painless. So, on a personal level, I have only good things to say about them. My policy is a US$ one, though on reflection I should have gone with the peso equivalent, which is somewhat cheaper and fine if you don't plan on travelling abroad. Premium has stayed at US$1,300 for the last four years though I am sure it will go up before too long! 

[barryneves]

PS: In reply to your last query - no, I wouldn't be without it!!! having no cover is fine till the s--t hits the fan. I made that mistake years ago when I forgot to renew my cover and had a bad bike accident in Thailand. major surgery and I had to pay for it all. Never again!

[brock]

I went about 10 years without insurance, But I had money in the bank to cover myself, I was lucky I never needed it.

[Dave Hounddriver]

I have found that insurance is a high profit business for the big companies and the salesmen so when I can get by without it I generally do.

[jpbago]

I got Blue Cross Select Standard 500k peso policy for my wife and 2 teenage daughters at a total cost of 20,900p for all 3. Never used it but just got it 9 months ago. With this policy they give you a credit card and pin number so when you do make a claim, they load it onto that card and send an email. No cheques anymore. I spent well over 200,000p on hospital bills last year with Philhealth covering only 23,000p.

[Hey Steve]

I'm seriously considering using BC Philippines when I set up my move there from the US, and will be using an agent when I apply rather than directly applying. I'm just hopeful that they spell out clearly their policy on pre existing conditions. I've heard "some" negative feedback in this regard especially before the end of the first year of the policy.

[cebu rocks]

No insurance in the philippines is a death wish . I have used mine 2 times . 1st time was 30,000 p  2nd time was 850,000p  so for the 2 dollars a day it is a real bargain .

 

Although they say you will not be refused without insurance it may take them way to long to start life saving operation if you can not put several thousand down right away or provide insurance .

 

http://www.travelunderwriters.com/corporate/en/partnerwithus/claimsservice.shtml   I use these guys and the service has been great they payed the bill and got the hospital to give me back all the money I payed in advance . (over a 1000 US) because they would not accept the insurance until they contacted them and got approved . Things moved very slow until I forked out over a grand cash and said no problem getting more the next day 

 

The only draw back with this company is only 1 year coverage to renew you must show up in person and may be only available in Canada .

 

What do I pay ?   About 2 bucks a day  Whats my coverage ?  5 million Canadian . Pre existing conditions are only things that have happened in the last 6 months before that its ok  

[MikeB]

I'm seriously considering using BC Philippines when I set up my move there from the US, and will be using an agent when I apply rather than directly applying. I'm just hopeful that they spell out clearly their policy on pre existing conditions. I've heard "some" negative feedback in this regard especially before the end of the first year of the policy.

There is at least one guy I know of that is on a kind "mission" to badmouth this company on forums like this. He typically calls them thieves but provides no details. If the negative feedback is solely from him I wouldn't let it stop me from getting insurance. The decision to use an agent is a good one I think. No cost to you.

[jpbago]

Be accurate in filling out the application questionnaire. You may get a lower premium but you are only fooling yourself by not being truthful about your past medical history. You may pay for years and then with a large claim, they do a search going back 10 years in your home country and deny your claim, even if it is not related to your current condition. For example, if you did not report a hernia operation and then you have heart problems, when they see the hernia scar, they do a search. Honesty is the best policy.