So you are thinking of moving to the Philippines?
Today’s Guest Post is from Lloyd Cromer. Lloyd is a long time reader of the LiP Web Magazine, and has contributed this article about getting everything lined up for a move to the Philippines. Thank you for your contribution, Lloyd!
I do not have hard statistics, but I would guess that many that make the move to the Philippines abandon their idea and move back to their home country within a few years. Between Louis and Bob here on the LiP site, the consensus opinion is that 50 to 66% of foreigners who move to the Philippines end up going home within a relatively short time. There are many reasons, but I would guess the top 2 are: lack of income or funds, and not being able to adjust to the Philippine culture.
I have put together some of the important things to consider prior to making the move.
These may appear as common sense things to consider but in the excitement many people overlook the obvious.
1. Are you ready to make the move?
• Are loose ends all tended to and all potential problems solved prior to your move?
• Do you have a firm grasp on what living in the Philippines entails?
• Can you make the adjustments of living in the Philippines?
• Remember, a vacation in the Philippines is NOT the same as living there.
• Have you done your homework, and feel secure that you have all your important q uestions answered?
• Do you have the complete support of your family that you will leave behind in your native country.
• If you are having a difficult time living in your native country, don’t expect living in the Philippines to be any better.
2. Have a clear cut reason why you want to live in the Philippines.
• Saying “I want to retire in the Philippines” sounds great, but what does that really mean?
• Once the primary reason is determined, all your decisions should support that reason.
3. Have a plan, but don’t micro plan.
• You know the old saying, “People don’t plan to fail… they fail to plan.”
• Have an overall plan, a back-up plan, and finally an exit plan with a “threshold”
that will tell you when to abandon your thoughts of living in the Philippines.
• Do not get so involved in planning, that you have made decisions that cannot possibly be attained.
• You must be flexible. Things can and do change, you must be able to take it in stride.
4. It can’t be emphasized enough, Homework, Homework, Homework do it before you go anywhere.
• Read and research as much as you can. Take the time to learn. Be informed.
• Stop and learn why things are done the way they are.
• Don’t make decisions in haste.
• Remember “You can read everything written, but until you experience it, you will not fully understand.”
5. Income
• To live in the Philippines it requires money, do NOT ever think otherwise.
• Have a budget and be realistic. You will usually spend more than anticipated.
• Where will your income be derived? A secure, predictable income is a must.
• Have a large enough reserve for emergencies, and only use it for emergencies.
6. Medical issues
• If you do not have medical insurance, you must have adequate money to cover medical expenses.
• Only the major cities have hospitals capable of handling extreme emergencies.
• There is no such thing as 911 (emergency) in the out-lying areas.
7. Family issues
• If you have children, schooling is the #1 issue. Have this worked out prior to your move.
• Usually a filipina wife that has lived overseas will have a harder time re-adjusting to Philippine living.
8. Don’t start a business you know absolutely nothing about, and don’t pretend to be something you are not.
• Unless your visa allows you to work, it is illegal for you to own and run a business.
• If you are able to operate a business, don’t expect to make a living wage.
• If you plan to start a business, proceed slowly with your eyes wide open. Businesses are probably the number one reason for foreigners to lose most of their money.
9. Leave your western mentality at the departure gate on your way over.
• The Philippines is a different country with a different culture. Your way, may not be their way.
• If you insist on “doing it your way”, you soon will become very frustrated and disillusioned.
10. Don’t burn your bridges.
• You may need support eventually. Make contacts and friends to have a support network.
11. Once you have made the move, set goals, and assess those goals every few months.
• This can be therapeutic and prevent boredom. You must have a purpose for getting up each morning.
12. The Philippines is NOT the “Wild West”.
• The laws of the universe still apply here. You will be quite conspicuous and under greater scrutiny.
13. Learn the language. Much can be gained by actually knowing what is going on.
• When you get settled and have time, learn the language, it will be an education in itself.
14. Finally, we all have common sense. Don’t leave home without it.
• If you wouldn’t do something back home, then please don’t do it while in the Philippines.
I must credit Bob Martin for providing many of the above tips and considerations. Bob’s blog should be a daily read for those considering moving or even those already living in the Philippines. He doesn’t hold back on “telling it like it is”, and every article he writes is entertaining while being very informative.
I am sure every person that has made the move, successfully or not, has a story to tell. I invite you to share your experiences, good or bad, so that others may have a better insight on what it takes to move to the Philippines.
“If you do not have medical insurance, you must have adequate money to cover medical expenses.”
A question for Lloyd or anyone: Do any medical plans from foreign countries work in the Philippines? I was assuming (without any real knowledge) that they didn’t. I, for example, have Blue Cross Blue Shield from the federal government. – Peter
my wife even though she lives in the usa ,i made her keep her phil health ins, some day i might need to be added to her plan if we live there.
Great article. How does the Phil Health Insurance work?
Peter
The answer is that some do. I am retired military and have had good coverage through TriCare (military health), as long as I use approved facility or doctor. I also know some individuals that have policies that cover overseas medical expenses. I guess you would need to inquire about any policy if and what they would cover while overseas.
Lloyd: Excellent and very informative posts.
Mike: yes, it is also a good idea to have Phil Health insurance. It is cheap.
Senn and Peter: I have also a Federal insurance. BCBS ( Federal) insurance is honored by Makati Medical Center in Manila. However, if you get sick, you will have to pay cash first and will be reimburse by BCBS later after you submit all the paper work. So, you really need cash for your medical needs and emergencies. I think there is another hospital in the Manila area that accepts Federal insurance, but I am not sure. Call the overseas department of Federal Insurance Program for details.
Do you live in the Philippines Lloyd? I may have missed it but I didn’t see anything in your article saying where you lived or for how long. It would be helpful if you mentioned something so your readers can put your advice into perspective. Assuming you live in the Philippines, how well have these suggestions worked for you? Do you speak one of the Philippine dialects?
I’ve heard it said by a number of expats that finding a good doctor is a hit an miss proposition in the Philippines. I’m surpised more isn’t said by expats to discourage people with chronic illnesses requiring specialized treatment from coming to the Philippines. In addition to the insurance issues, getting the right treatment in a timely manner could be an issue.
David
My story started in 1976 when I first visited the Philippines courtesy of the US Navy. I met my future wife then, and petitioned her via a K-1 visa when I was ordered stateside. We were married in the USA in 1977. In 1978 we got orders to Subic Naval Base, and stayed until 1982.
I retired from the US Navy in 1993, and finally from all work in 2001 when we went to the Philippines for 1 year. We never intended to live there permanently. We own a house in Leyte, and have been back there every year since 2001. I wrote these suggestions, because I learned from experience, and probably more from the experience of others. I do try to adhere to these “rules” and many others.
I have attempted to learn Tagalog, and now that I visit Leyte, I am struggling and far from mastering Waray. I support learning the language by having 2 websites that promote just that.
http://waraylessons.netfirms.com/
http://waray.byethost12.com/forum/index.php
Also, since I am intrigued with building I have this forum:
http://www.rpbuilders.byethost13.com/forum/
I must admit that I like living in the USA better than the Philippines, but each place has benefits for me.
Hi Lloyd – I think I have given much thought on moving to the Philippines. Still it is something I want to do. Will I stand out? I am sure of it. Will I say something that will hurt someones feelings? Yes I will. Meriam thinks that I will be OK and enjoy my life there. The heat alone will help with my pain. My blood flows better in the heat of summer. I hate winter. I wait to move until all my contracts here in the finished. All I need is to get rid of my sports car. Sigh, not many people have jobs in this part of Michigan. So if I can break even on the car I will be happy. Then it is off to Tagum City, adjust as best as I can then, God willing, a move to Bukidnon. Then to serve God in whatever way He wants, blend in as best as I can. Will I return to the States? I don’t know how that could happen. Money would not be available to do so. The closest health care I could get if I keep my Medicare is Guam. Too far away. So when I make the move, I understand what it means. The Philippines will be my new home, until the end of my days. However many or few, those days are up to God. I am in His hands. Good place to be.
“Im surpised more isn’t said by expats to discourage people with chronic illnesses requiring specialized treatment from coming to the Philippines. In addition to the insurance issues, getting the right treatment in a timely manner could be an issue.” – David S
“There are many reasons, but I would guess the top 2 are: lack of income or funds, and not being able to adjust to the Philippine culture.” – Lloyd Cromer
Right on the money, David S and Lloyd Cromer. The health care issue is one of the two major obstacles why my wife and I may not be able to live in retirement in the Philippines.
I have been retired from the federal government since 2005, and we are still here in the state of Delaware (7 minutes from Ocean City, MD), trying to figure out where to “live happily ever after.” Our health insurance is Kaiser-Permanente, a carry-over from my 40 years of federal service at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (I say the above as a preamble to my “Hail to the Redskins!” greeting to two fellow Washingtonians – LiP staff writer, Louis Tamasini, from Frederick, MD, and a LiP reader who hails from College Park, MD). I also have Part A of Medicare coverage.
Our health insurance coverage with Kaiser Permanente extends only as far west as Hawaii. We would not be covered in the Philippines. While I would not consider it a terrible hardship if we were to pay on our own for routine medical services and dental, or certain medical procedures and a few emergencies from time to time, I don’t think I can say with absolute confidence that I would be comfortable living in the Philippines without the peace of mind of having a major medical insurance that is honored there. Can anyone offer any suggestion that could mitigate this obstacle to retire in the Philippines?
The second issue, not surprisingly, involves culture. Personally, I have no problem with it. Although completely Americanized, I can navigate in both western and Filipino culture easily and comfortably. I’m a dual citizen and speak Tagalog fluently. I am very familiar with the Filipino way of life as lived in the Philippines, and my taste buds remain oriented to Filipino cooking even as I left the country at the age of 15 and have lived in the States ever since. I’ve also kept up with Philippine current events, and this, combined with my knowledge of Philippine history and culture, has helped me immensely during my tenure as the area specialist for the Philippines at the Library of Congress from which I retired after 40 years.
My wife, however, has visited the country only 3 times and has developed an aversion to the living conditions in Manila and in the province. Try as I might, I am unable to convince her that it’s not all like “that” in certain parts of the country. “That” were the things she observed during the 3 two-week visits to the Philippines, and they included such things as, heat, humidity, pollution, traffic, crowded, brown-outs, lack of water pressure, ants on the dining table, and lizards on the wall. I offered to buy a house with western-style conveniences in cooler and less polluted Baguio, or in Mindanao to be closer to the Muslim culture (she is a Palestinian Muslim from the West Bank), but, so far, my wife remains unconvinced that living in the Philippines is an option for us.
While money is not a factor and never will be, the two major obstacles to overcome for us to live happily ever after in the Philippines seem to be these two: health care and culture (for my wife, that is).
Any suggestions?
To John Reyes:
Hi, John, I’m Peter from College Park. I’m also a federal librarian, having spent my career in the libraries of the National Gallery of Art and the US Department of Agriculture Law Library. Four more years to go before retirement. I’m also a Washington Nationals fan, as if rooting for the Redskins wasn’t hard enough. They say rooting for losing teams builds character. Well, my wife always says I’m a character.
Hi John,
We have the same problem, although I more than 20 years away from retirement I’m starting to subconsciously influence my wife into retiring in the Philippines. Just like you, my wife is also Palestinian but grew up here in California so she’s totally americanized. I can’t even convince her to visit so as soon as you get some good suggestions let me know. I still have 20 years of convincing/brainwashing left so maybe we’ll figure out something by then.
Hi Lloyd. Really enjoyed your detailed article. I have only been here with my Filipina wife since this mid-July, and let me tell you that you are absolutely correct with your remark:” Remember, a vacation in the Philippines is NOT the same as living there.”
Brother, that is the truth. If I could have turned around and gone back after being here just a week, I would have done it. After about a month here, my wife and I decided we were going to go back to the States because I just couldn’t deal with all the radical changes. The next morning our contractor came by to announce his crew was going to start work on our home renovation and add our new CR. So my wife and I decided to stick it out. It gets better day by day, but I know it will take some time. So yes, if you are thinking about living here, think long and hard about it. Thanks for the article.
Priceless bible of considerations Lloyd, exploring life, living worldly and discovering culture is something everyone should consider but it takes a higher thought process to be able to manage yourself in a foreign land and a foreign culture. I have discovered just because your wife has decided to invite you to her land, that doesn’t make it yours to change to the way you were taught and others just arent as excited about you being here. Thanks for coming on board here on LIP I think you will mke a great addition to the stable of writers Bob and Feyma have procured
Hi Lloyd,
It is nice hearing that you live in Tacloban. Juramie and I will be looking to retire around Baybay. I plan on talking to Juramie soon about the Phil Health Insurance. Is the coverage in Leyte and how much does it cost? If Juramie is covered and we keep the insurance, can I also be covered?
Thanks again for the article,
Jack
Bring your patience and your sense of humor.
Phil Health cost 1200 peso per year for the family (all children & spouse). Just pay and add their names.
Ive been visiting and living in Davao since 1999 and it is an adjustment living here versus the states. You can not change things as they are in the Philippines so just adjust if you move here.
From what I have seen I am one of the youngest expats (29 years old) living in the Philippines and have been living here since 2003. Although, I still work abroad. I spend all my free time in the Philippines and if things go as planned, I will be retiring in the Philippines within the next 5 years.
Living in the Central Visayas I have learned some of the local language and even a little Tagalog.
I kind of jumped in with both feet before testing the waters, but, unless unforeseen and totally uncontrollable circumstances should arise, I will never go back to living in the states.
Do to traveling all over the world I do have insurance that covers me in a majority of countries, on a reimbursable bases for most. The wifey also carries Philhealth for the family so I am covered at home as well as abroad. I probably should add to this winded comment, I have lived and worked on 5 different continents. Spending time in Australia, North America, Europe, Asia and Antarctica. I have also visited Russia . Maybe one day I will have the pleasure of working there for a while as well!