What prescription plans are usable in the Phillipines?

[Clermont]

I have a few different medicines and some aren't listed in the PI pharmacy, so the wife got onto Mr. Google and took a list to the doctor of what is available over there. Between the both, no problems, I'll survive.

[Paul Hobbs]

So what I am hearing is.....there is no RX plan available? 

[Mike J]

14 minutes ago, Paul Hobbs said:

So what I am hearing is.....there is no RX plan available? 

There are plans available.  Blue Cross and Philheath for example.  But they may not cover preexisting condition.  Also unknown is if that medication is approved by the Philippines.  If the treatment is not approved it would almost certainly not be covered.  Google search "health insurance Philippines" for available plans.  Many expats self insure as the plans can be expensive and coverage limited.  Many plans stop all coverage at age 70.

Edited April 3, 2021 by Mike J

[hk blues]

1 hour ago, Mike J said:

There are plans available.  Blue Cross and Philheath for example.  But they may not cover preexisting condition.  Also unknown is if that medication is approved by the Philippines.  If the treatment is not approved it would almost certainly not be covered.  Google search "health insurance Philippines" for available plans.  Many expats self insure as the plans can be expensive and coverage limited.  Many plans stop all coverage at age 70.

I'm not even sure Philhealth covers medication, isn't it only "emergency" care? 

[robert k]

1 hour ago, Paul Hobbs said:

So what I am hearing is.....there is no RX plan available? 

I would sure hope you don't need injections often. I believe you are allowed to bring a 90 day supply of medicine, someone will correct me if I am wrong, I'm sure. It's a problem that comes up from time to time, someone whose health would be endangered living in the Philippines. The only suggestion I can think of not already mentioned is medical tourism. Maybe your present insurance would cover the medicine purchase in a US territory like Guam. Maybe some Asian countries have their medical act together better than the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand. Sometimes there is a sliding scale of medicine costs and they could be cheaper in a country less able to pay, first world countries bear the brunt of cost of development. This assuming you will be able to travel, which may be a problem getting to the Philippines in the first place.

[scott h]

On 4/1/2021 at 6:25 AM, Paul Hobbs said:

It's called Taltz

Paul, I went to our local nationwide drug store. They never heard of Taltz, is it know under another name?

[OnMyWay]

On 4/1/2021 at 4:27 PM, 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?

I read the other responses.  What I would do if I were you is contact a specialist (dermatology?) at one of the top hospitals in Manila, and ask them about it.  If they don't know the med or can't get it, I think you are out of luck.

Medical needs are an important consideration before moving to the Philippines.  You said "hope to move soon".  The medical establishment is a mess right now in the Philippines due to Covid, and in many areas, not very good all the time.  The Covid impacts will take at least another year to go away, maybe more.

[Snowy79]

2 hours ago, scott h said:

Paul, I went to our local nationwide drug store. They never heard of Taltz, is it know under another name?

I think this is the same. https://www.mims.com/philippines/drug/info/ixekizumab?mtype=generic

[Mike J]

9 hours ago, Snowy79 said:

I think this is the same. https://www.mims.com/philippines/drug/info/ixekizumab?mtype=generic

I don't believe it is currently available here.  Below is from Wikipedia.  And it has to be kept frozen so shipping is probably not an option.  

<snip>

Ixekizumab, sold under the brand name Taltz, is an injectable medication for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Chemically, it is a form of a humanized monoclonal antibody.[5] The substance acts by binding interleukin 17A and neutralizing it, reducing inflammation.[6][7]

The most common side effects include upper respiratory infections, injection site reactions and fungal (tinea) infections.[8]

The drug was developed by Eli Lilly and Co. and is approved for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in the European Union and the United States.[4][9]

<end snip>

[Jollygoodfellow]

On 4/1/2021 at 9:30 PM, Paul Hobbs said:

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.

Theres people here who suffer from psoriasis and groups here that have formed like on Facebook so must be some sort of medication available.  Maybe you could use a different medication but I would be more concerned that you probably have not been here before or if you did from what you say I doubt you had your medication with you.

The Philippines is not for everyone so planning on moving should start with visiting to see how you get along first.