Phil Health Price Increase

[jpbago]

Just now, Dave Hounddriver said:

It cannot succeed so long as their best doctors become OFWs and go to other countries to practice.  It would take dull witted person to come here and pay half the cost of medical treatment to a doctor that only got 50% on his medical exam and thus does not qualify to follow his colleagues to another country.  What about the ones who are bright and stay here for love of country?  They are overworked and underpaid and the last thing they need is more customers.

Such is my opinion, based on common knowledge rather than links to any internet site 

Take note that Filipinos with a credit card and air ticket frequently go to USA for medical treatments, and these are governors, senators, mayors, and such who have insurance of more than PH and live near to St Luke's yet they go to the most expensive hospitals in New York and pay out of their pocket ( well, likely out of some one else's pockets). I often read that so and so is out of country for medical reasons.

[sonjack2847]

1 hour ago, JJReyes said:

Philippines is trying to join countries offering medical tourism. The selling point is quality medical care including surgery at a lower price. Most popular destinations include Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India. Haven't tried medical at this time. We have done dental and vision tourism.  My wife did buy a tube of prescription skin cream in the Philippines during our last visit at a lower cost. The same cream in the United States was priced at $222.

I agree the increased premium is less important than your life. I prefer to pay.

 

Some people in the UK used to go to Poland for treatment.Most of my friends here who needed something done have go to Thailand as you say.

[sonjack2847]

25 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

It cannot succeed so long as their best doctors become OFWs and go to other countries to practice.  It would take dull witted person to come here and pay half the cost of medical treatment to a doctor that only got 50% on his medical exam and thus does not qualify to follow his colleagues to another country.  What about the ones who are bright and stay here for love of country?  They are overworked and underpaid and the last thing they need is more customers.

Such is my opinion, based on common knowledge rather than links to any internet site 

Until this place changes it`s practices very drastically I would try to talk anyone out of coming here for medical tourism.Too many medical failures here for my liking. 

[mogo51]

17 hours ago, JJReyes said:

Before qualifying for Medicare, I was paying $650 a month (P32,500 or P390,000 a year) for healthcare.  The reason was a pre-existing condition. As a cancer survivor, my status was "high risk." The Republican healthcare proposal will be a return to high premiums. Many Americans won't be able to afford it. 

My back-up position is to go back to the Philippines. if the Republicans messes around with Medicare.

 

Ouch!!!

[JJReyes]

9 hours ago, jpbago said:

Take note that Filipinos with a credit card and air ticket frequently go to USA for medical treatments, and these are governors, senators, mayors, and such who have insurance of more than PH and live near to St Luke's yet they go to the most expensive hospitals in New York and pay out of their pocket ( well, likely out of some one else's pockets). I often read that so and so is out of country for medical reasons.

If you are a resident of the Philippines, you can purchase global health insurance coverage at a very reasonable price compared to what Americans pay for theirs. I have friends and relatives who take advantage of this by flying to the United States for medical treatment. A preferred provider is Stanford University Medical Center because they have staff who cater to this market. The hospital directly bills the insurance company.   

We have an Indonesian friend who underwent open heart surgery in San Diego. No insurance. When the doctors and hospital heard he was paying in cash, they gave him a 50% discount. The reason is immediate payment and no paperwork compared to insurance companies. The insurance companies may take months before mailing a check. In addition, the insurance companies often dispute the hospital and doctors' bills requiring more paperwork. Doctors prefer to spend their time practicing medicine rather than doing paperwork.

 

[davewe]

So Bob M just posted that some foreigners can qualify for Phil Health under the old rate plans and including the Z plan and said to me:  "The cost is no different unless you are part of the informal economy, nothing has changed. Zero difference, unless you are in the informal economy. There is absolutely no reason why you cannot use it the same as I can, you just have to set it up properly."

Does anyone know anything about this? Does it relate just to those who have employment in the Philippines? 

[Jack Peterson]

6 minutes ago, davewe said:

Does it relate just to those who have employment in the Philippines? 

I think it must Do as I am on My wife's employers programme and there are no changes.

[robert k]

4 hours ago, davewe said:

So Bob M just posted that some foreigners can qualify for Phil Health under the old rate plans and including the Z plan and said to me:  "The cost is no different unless you are part of the informal economy, nothing has changed. Zero difference, unless you are in the informal economy. There is absolutely no reason why you cannot use it the same as I can, you just have to set it up properly."

Does anyone know anything about this? Does it relate just to those who have employment in the Philippines? 

I don't think most people will want to find Philippine employment to save a little on health care.

[davewe]

2 minutes ago, robert k said:

I don't think most people will want to find Philippine employment to save a little on health care.

I don't know the rules, which is why I asked, but it sounds like having a small business might also qualify you, as well as Jack's situation (having a working wife). Here's the PhilHealth definition of members of the formal economy. I could certainly qualify as a "family driver"!

• Government Employee

• Private Employee

i. Corporations, partnerships, or single proprietorships, NGOs, cooperatives, non-profit organizations, social, civic, or professional or charitable institutions, organized and based in the Philippines including those foreign owned; 

ii. Foreign governments or international organizations with quasi-state status based in the Philippines which entered into an agreement with the Corporation to cover their Filipino employees in PhilHealth; 

iii. Foreign business organizations based abroad with agreement with the Corporation to cover their Filipino employees in PhilHealth.

• All other workers rendering services, whether in government or private offices, such as project-based contractors, and the like

• Owners of Micro Enterprises

• Owners of Small, Medium and Large Enterprises 

• Household Help

• Family Drivers

[robert k]

2 minutes ago, davewe said:

I don't know the rules, which is why I asked, but it sounds like having a small business might also qualify you, as well as Jack's situation (having a working wife). Here's the PhilHealth definition of members of the formal economy. I could certainly qualify as a "family driver"!

• Government Employee

• Private Employee

i. Corporations, partnerships, or single proprietorships, NGOs, cooperatives, non-profit organizations, social, civic, or professional or charitable institutions, organized and based in the Philippines including those foreign owned; 

ii. Foreign governments or international organizations with quasi-state status based in the Philippines which entered into an agreement with the Corporation to cover their Filipino employees in PhilHealth; 

iii. Foreign business organizations based abroad with agreement with the Corporation to cover their Filipino employees in PhilHealth.

• All other workers rendering services, whether in government or private offices, such as project-based contractors, and the like

• Owners of Micro Enterprises

• Owners of Small, Medium and Large Enterprises 

• Household Help

• Family Drivers

I guess if you are married and don't mind filing/ letting the Philippine government into your finances, you could be a driver or household help if you had a 13A. Make sure you pay your SSS! Not sure I would be down with that, just to get coverage for a ward and save $300 USD.

Everyone will find the right thing to do for themselves just as water finds it's own level.