Medical Insurance in the Philippines

[mogo51]

27 minutes ago, robert k said:

I have been looking at Pacific Cross insurance, formerly Blue Cross Philippines. Being I'm 50 the quotes from 2013 look like it would be about $900 USD per year for a private room with a peso plan. Even allowing for inflation, I think it will still be reasonable, for me. The latest age group they have on the website is 61-65, after that I guess you are on your own. Of course I would be tickled if someone guaranteed that I would live to be 65 so I'm not going to complain too much.

Hey Robert, ease up mate, I am 65 and not really keen on checking out at the moment.  Whilst I have many health issues, I still live a fairly  active life.  I think you need to lift your life expectancy expectations.

[robert k]

33 minutes ago, mogo51 said:

Hey Robert, ease up mate, I am 65 and not really keen on checking out at the moment.  Whilst I have many health issues, I still live a fairly  active life.  I think you need to lift your life expectancy expectations.

Mogo, I was talking about me. My father died at 58. My brother has had his 3rd heart attack and he is a year and 9 months older than me. I'm not being a defeatist, just a realist. It is not all gloomy though. Reality is good if you make it good.

[mogo51]

4 hours ago, robert k said:

I have no idea why I am getting quotes, when just trying to reply.  So deleted the quot, this is just another post.

i am not sure robert that because some of your family have medical history, means you will have the same?

I think it is a bit like life and death, a lottery.  Unless you are showing pre disposition I would just be getting on with it and hoping for the best, not putting a time limit on yourself.

My mother got scitsophrenia? (help chris49), then dementia and alzimrs, all before she was 50.  She is now 94 and has been in a nursing home for 35 years.  I am 65 and apart from normal menory issues which happen  as we grow older, I do not have the symptoms currently.  I am certainly not planning on getting it either.

[frosty (chris)]

On my FB for some reason I get adds from a General Insurance Company stating they have a Premium Health Care Plan for us old f$rts from 50-74 y.o from peso 212.95p.m. I haven't checked it out only read what they put on their FB page. I am not sure about the rules concerning naming outside companies on this blog so I will wait for a Moderator to say if it ok or not.

Edited May 19, 2016 by frosty (chris)
I'm stupid at times

[mogo51]

Sounds interesting, can you let us know your findings.

[markpa]

12 hours ago, mogo51 said:

Hey Robert, ease up mate, I am 65 and not really keen on checking out at the moment.  Whilst I have many health issues, I still live a fairly  active life.  I think you need to lift your life expectancy expectations.

Now Mogo you have plenty left in you 65 is way to young. Barring a bus hitting you, heart disease and diabetes is always a health factor but if you control it another 10 to 15 is more then possible.  Even more. There is no time stamp on your butt saying this is when you get the big one. Look at me i'm 67 be 68 in June. 5 years ago I got the big one, the one that even makes big guys tremble, Cancer. But here I am almost 5 years later. and in remission hopefully. 5 is the magic number, that's in December. So take good care of yourself ok.

Now Bob, your 50 and ready for your death bed and be buried tomorrow.  Sure dad died at 58, your bro is almost 2 years older then you, 3rd, heart attack. That doom and gloom you got to get rid of. There,s no time stamp on you when your going to expire.  But you got to can do things to improve your all over health too, get rid of the gut, stop drinking, get rid of the worrying and stress in your life, if your a diabetic take good care of it, do like I do maybe, a checkup every year or every other year, EKG, Sonogram, of your Aorta  and lab work.Come on in the P.I. those tests must be cheap as hell compared to here in the US. And maybe even look at life differently on the whole. 20 years from now, you'll wonder why you even had such thought.Take Care.Mark

[markpa]

13 hours ago, mogo51 said:

Mark, because it doesn't it is as simple as that.  I can assure you your arrival will not change what happens in Phils.  YOU have to adjust to what it is.  By all means, see what Insurance options you have, but in all cases I have checked out, it is expensive.

The best advice is stop comparing between the states and Phils.  You are going from a 1st world country to a 3rd world country - kick back and smell the roses.

  Ya I given up on the insurance thing just a waste of time. Hey now if I been doing the Ugly American thing I do apologize  I told myself I wouldn't do that. so if I slip let me know. I'm totally open eyed about this. Oh you know newbies do that a lot without thinking. Sorry.Mark

[markpa]

15 hours ago, earthdome said:

My wife tripped while jogging and hit her chin pretty hard including a cut requiring stitches. Cost at ER for stitches, xray of jaw and vaccination was $50. Cost to see a specialist, $10. Cost for an echo cardiogram, $70. In the Philippines it is much easier to be self insured. Many costs for routine things are less than your copay in the US. Just need to make sure you have philhealth and/or cash available for emergency hospitalizations. Because without either of these you will not get treatment. Even if you have great health insurance from the US in almost all cases you will have to pay for your health care in the Philippines then submit the receipts to your US insurer to get reimbursed. Your US insurance will not be accepted. Ohh... and medicare does not provide any coverage or reimbursement when you are outside the US.

 I agree with you those prices I can pay out of pocket. And I will have Phil Health.I gave up on the secondary health plan as a waste of time for me. I have better things to do with my money .Thanks.Mark

[davewe]

22 hours ago, markpa said:

  That's what I mean,sure Phil Health is good if you are a inpatient. But why not coverage for the standard E.R. visit. You cut your hand open get stitches, maybe a tentus shot. Ok you pay. Why not coverage that will cover part of the costs even if they make you just get paid 75% of the bill. Happens every day on m inor injuries,and other conditions. ZI hear you can get cheaper medical plans in the P.I. ever hear of that? I'm going to check things out. Thanks.Mark

Last year I did just this. Was in Cebu and sliced my finger to the bone. A nurse at the hotel who cleaned up the wound (cost 50p) said I would need stitches. 

Grabbed a taxi and wife told him to take us to the ER nearest Ayala Mall; my wife is very practical! Within 10 minutes of arrival I was in an office with an actual doctor (OK, granted the doctor was about 10). The doctor recommended butterfly bandage rather than stitches because the cost would be less. I laughed and said, "Doc, I am a Kano - I can afford the stitches." The doctor still recommended the bandage as my cut would heal faster. Got the wound cleaned up again, bandaged, and a tetinis shot. Went to the cashier. Total cost was less than $9. OK, at the pharmacy, anitibiodics and pain meds were about $20.

This is the Philippines and things do not translate to what we are used to in the US. 

[markpa]

51 minutes ago, davewe said:

Last year I did just this. Was in Cebu and sliced my finger to the bone. A nurse at the hotel who cleaned up the wound (cost 50p) said I would need stitches. 

Grabbed a taxi and wife told him to take us to the ER nearest Ayala Mall; my wife is very practical! Within 10 minutes of arrival I was in an office with an actual doctor (OK, granted the doctor was about 10). The doctor recommended butterfly bandage rather than stitches because the cost would be less. I laughed and said, "Doc, I am a Kano - I can afford the stitches." The doctor still recommended the bandage as my cut would heal faster. Got the wound cleaned up again, bandaged, and a tetinis shot. Went to the cashier. Total cost was less than $9. OK, at the pharmacy, anitibiodics and pain meds were about $20.

This is the Philippines and things do not translate to what we are used to in the US. 

 Oh I agree with those charges its pocket change to me . Than thanks for for the info.Mark