What prescription plans are usable in the Phillipines?

[Paul Hobbs]

I am hoping to move to the Phillipines soon, but I require an expensive psoriasis medication every 3 months. What's the best way for me to handle this. I am not military. Anyone know of a health insurance plan available that will cover prescriptions in PH?

[hk blues]

42 minutes ago, Paul Hobbs said:

I am hoping to move to the Phillipines soon, but I require an expensive psoriasis medication every 3 months. What's the best way for me to handle this. I am not military. Anyone know of a health insurance plan available that will cover prescriptions in PH?

Can't help but just a heads up that it's not always easy or even possible to get hold of some medications here so best check in advance that they are even available here.

[Mike J]

Welcome to the forum Paul.  If you are willing to share the name of the medicine you are more likely to get the information you need.  

[Paul Hobbs]

It's called Taltz. It's a shot that has to stay refrigerated, so I'm not sure how feasable it would be to ship it from the USA.

[Paul Hobbs]

Even if Taltz is not available, there are numerous other similar meds I could use, but they all require refrigeration. I will probably have to figure out a way to get it in the PH. The drug class is MAB ( monoclonal antibody). Crazy expensive.....thousands a dose.

[Paul Hobbs]

Is there such a thing as overnite shipping to PH from the US? Even if it's a hundered dollars or more it would be worth it.

[Jollygoodfellow]

2 hours ago, Paul Hobbs said:

Is there such a thing as overnite shipping to PH from the US? Even if it's a hundered dollars or more it would be worth it.

You would be out of luck with that. Even if it did arrive in one day there would be no guarantee of how long it would take to reach you.

[Dave Hounddriver]

3 hours ago, Paul Hobbs said:

there are numerous other similar meds I could use, but they all require refrigeration.

If you are counting on the Philippines to supply a medicine like that you are in for a shock.  Even "normal" medicines that require refrigeration are sometimes hard to find.  By that I mean anti-rabies or anti-venom medicines that are commonly needed.  Even when they are available you will occassionally run into the "no stock" or "outdated stock" problem.  Yes, that sounds negative, but I have found it to be true over the last dozen years.  Maybe things are getting better now.

[Old55]

I suggest you consult with a Doctor in Manila or Cebu City who would have knowledge of your condiiton and the medications availability there. I would not risk living in Philippines without knowing a doctor specialist was available along with a very reliable supply of the medication. 

Even to this day electricity is not 100% guaranteed at all times in Philippines. 

[hk blues]

8 hours ago, Old55 said:

Even to this day electricity is not 100% guaranteed at all times in Philippines. 

That's an excellent point when considering a medication that requires refrigeration - even if you have an alternative power supply there is no guarantee the pharmacy will have, or that it's effective. 

Hopefully the OP will not see all this as being negative (it is, but...) rather pragmatic and realistic based on experience here.