As readers know, last week I was hospitalized. I’d been sick for about five weeks, with infections in my arms and hands, very serious infections. I needed to go into the hospital so I could have intravenous antibiotics, as oral antibiotics were not strong enough to eliminate the infections.
Anytime you are hospitalized, of course, cost is always a concern. Health Care is much cheaper here in the Philippines than it is in the United States, but still how much will it cost is always in your mind. In this article, I’d like to talk about the cost that was involved in my hospitalization, and also about PhilHealth, the National Health Care Insurance in the Philippines.
Our family signed up for PhilHealth about two years ago. The premiums are very inexpensive, 2400 pesos per year for the entire family. However, you hear so many stories about PhilHealth, we just were not sure how much they would really pay. From the stories you hear, they may pay nothing, or they may pay as much as about half of your costs. For the cost of the premiums though, if they pay anything, you’re money ahead.
My doctor practices at three different hospitals in town. I got to choose between which of the three hospitals I wished to go to. I chose the least expensive of the three. I made this decision based on the fact that I was only going in for something very simple, needing to have an IV. I mean, if I had a heart attack or some other very serious condition I would have definitely made a different choice, and though I had a serious infection, it had been cleared to the point where I only needed intravenous antibiotics, something not difficult to administer. So, based on this, I chose to go to Davao Adventist Hospital.
At the hospital, I had a choice of different types of rooms. The best room available was a suite. Below that, they offered private rooms, semi private rooms, and a ward with many patients. I chose to have a private room. I had heard that PhilHealth will not pay anything on a private room, but given that the cost was low, it was not really a big concern for me. The private room was 1350 pesos per night. The room was quite nice, and large. I had no complaints about it.
Now, let’s talk about costs.
My stay in the hospital lasted for four days. My total hospital bill, which consists of room and board, admittance fee, laboratory, medication, and professional fees for two different doctors came to a total of 25,024 pesos, that is about $560. Four days in the hospital for $560? That’s already very cheap. There were some additional costs involved for medication. Some of the medication did not come through the hospital but we went and got it for an outside online pharmacy. So, of course, those costs were not included on hospital bill. The antibiotics that I was taking were very expensive. About 1300 pesos three times per day, so nearly $100 a day just in antibiotics. Some of those antibiotics were gotten from the hospital pharmacy, and were included on the hospital bill. However, at times the hospital pharmacy was out of stock, and we had to go to a different online pharmacy, for which costs were not shown on the bill.
What did PhilHealth Pay?
Of the costs, let me break down what PhilHealth paid in each category on a percentage basis.
- Room and board. Total cost for room and board was 5400 peso. PhilHealth paid 52% of this cost. I had always heard that PhilHealth would pay nothing on a private room, but this turned out to be untrue.
- Admittance Fee. This was only 300 pesos, of which PhilHealth payed nothing.
- Laboratory fees. This came to about 4000 pesos. PhilHealth paid 75% of the cost, 3000 pesos.
- Medicines. 4670 pesos at the hospital, PhilHealth paid 64% of this, 3000 pesos. PhilHealth also paid a large percentage on the medicines that we had to procure from outside the hospital.
- Professional fees for the doctors. Total was 10,708 pesos. PhilHealth paid nearly 4000 pesos, a little under 40%.
There were few other minor costs on different things which are not even worth getting into. The total, though, was 25,000 pesos more or less. Of this amount, PhilHealth paid 12,600 pesos. Our personal payment was 12,424 pesos, almost exactly 50% for each of us. Considering that our total premium is only 2400 pesos per year, and that covers the entire family, having them pay out over 12,000 pesos for a single event is very impressive in my view.
As I said earlier, I basically chose this hospital because it was the least expensive. However, I have to say the care was great. The people were wonderful, friendly, competent – just all around good. Based on my experience, I would definitely go back to Davao Adventist Hospital again, and even for more serious conditions than I had thought.
If you read online forums and other such things, you will see a lot of negative things about PhilHealth. To be honest though, I was very, very impressed with them. Another thing which was great, was that the amount was just deducted from our bill. I had been under the impression previously that it could take months to get reimbursed after paying out of pocket for the hospital bill. This was simply untrue. I would strongly advise that if you live in the Philippines, getting PhilHealth is a wise choice. It’s very inexpensive, my experience is that they pay about half of your bill, and it is handled very efficiently in my experience as well. I don’t see how you can possibly go wrong by purchasing PhilHealth.
Very good article Bob, I always pay out of pocket, did not know about Phil health,
I highly recommend that you get the PhilHealth, Rudolf, it is really great.
Thats good bob but you have to be married to get that i have been told i am living here on a tourist visa and i have been told i cant get it i am in my 70s
Hi John, the information you have been given is incorrect. It was accurate up until a couple years ago, but ends changed a couple years back. Under current PhilHealth rules you are eligible, even being single and on a tourist visa.
I am living here on a 9a tourist Visa and just arrived back from applying and being accepted for Philhealth and I am not married. After reading this I am really glad I have it now.
Hi Mike, yep, Philhealth is great to have and everybody is eligible!
I forgot what’s the retirement age in there Bob, but my mom was 73 and had Senior citizen’s discount of 10 (or 20%?) on top of what Philihealth covered when she was hospitalized. The discount extended to the dr’s fees even. It might be something that you can look into when you get older.:) Anyway, happy for you that you’re well now.
Foreigners do not qualify for Sr. Citizen discounts.
I always get senior citizen’s discount here, and I have no SS card. I just show my drivers licence, which has my date of birth on it. I also know a few foreigners here who do have SS cards!
For a foreigner to avail of a Senior Citizen Discount is a deportable offense. It is strictly written in the law that it is only for Philippine Citizens.
It is quite true that a foreigner may NOT avail of a Senior Citizen Card for discounts. However, that does not prevent vendors from offering a foreigner a discount, a different matter entirely.
Glad to hear that you’re on the mend!.
That ka, Ron. Yes, of course you are correct about the discount.
Let me get this straight. I’m an American here on a tourist Visa and I’m 64 years old. I can get their health care here for free and go to any government hospital in the Philippines just because I am a senior citizen?
You are correct, except about the cost. It is not free for you, it is P2400 per year, only about $50 for the entire year.
Hello, I am 43, from Germany and I live since 3 years here in the Philippines with Tourist Visa/ACR and of course want stay here. I have a long term lesee contract for a house. But I am no permanent resident (because tourist status). Is it possible to avail for PhilHealth? I heard from some sides yes and from other sides no, because no permanent resident. But I have a lesee contract for 2 years, autorenew.
Hello Sven. Tourists are eligible for PhilHealth. They changed that law a few years back. All you have to do is go register and pay your fee.
Good luck!
A lot of places do not give you a discount if you are not Philipino.
Senior Citizen discounts are not allowed for foreigners.
So Bob would not be able to get that.
I’m sorry Rudolp & Bob, if you don’t qualify, but your significant others may still qualify. I am not well versed of the requirements but it sure helped to have those discount when hospital bills pile up. Not many filipinos know or take advantage of this privilege.
Bob;
Even though I have TriCare, I’d never let go of PhilHealth, it is just that good of a deal. I agree with you that they pay quickly and so far it has been a bargain. (A bit of paperwork, but I’m not complaining.
Any foreigner (Married to a Filipina/o) should sign up the first week they are here, as you wait 90 days before you can use it. But after 6 years on the plan I’m still ahead of what they have paid vice what I have paid. Oh, and if you pay 3 years at a time it’s even cheaper. Hell I could write ad’s for them I like it that much..
I fully agree with you Paul.
Hello Paul,
I too have Tricare but I understand it don’t cover me if I live in the Philippines.
I plan to move there in a few months with my Filipina wife and health care is of great concern to me.
Can you tell me how Tricare works for you there?
Thanks in advance
Freddy
[email protected]
I’ll be using PhilHealth when I return later this year. Tricare for US military retirees and dependents is a huge waste of money unless you have a catastrophic illness and probably even then. I won’t even go into detail about the time it takes to get reimbursed for anything at all at an “approved” facility.
I’m glad it worked out for you and it just gives me confidence for if and when I need to check into a hospital myself.
RT
I’m in no way defending TriCare but what reimbursement are you waiting for? I just was treated for Hyper-Tension at an “APPROVED” hospital and after paying my yearly deductible and co-pay TriCare paid the rest, the hospital seemed happy about their relationship with TriCare so would you please explain what you mean?
Paul, you’re an exception to the rule. I had trouble with TriCare BEFORE I left the states. Perhaps they do things differently now, but I’m not one to test the waters.
How much is the deductible for an individual and how much for a family now? I spent less $1000 over the course of six years “out of pocket” in Olongapo. That didn’t include me or my wife because neither of us have been sick or injured enough to warrant a hospital visit – it was for nieces, nephews and childbirth for in-laws.
You can learn more than you want to know about problems with TRICARE in the Philippines at …
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TRICARE-Overseas-The-Wall-of-Shame/113467078703149
Hi RT, It was both easy to avail of and also very efficient, I recommend it highly.
I paid the Philhealth premiums for in-laws and I didn’t know I could use it myself until recently. It’s a good deal.
It was only a couple years ago that foreigners were allowed to join the system.
Not true. I moved here in 2006, married and was immediately included on my wife’ PhilHealth.
Many PhilHealth payments are dependent on how long you’ve been a paying member. My wife had a major operation at Doctors Hospital in Cebu City., just over one year ago. The total cost was over 150,000PHP. PhilHealth paid approximately 75% of that.
Some one mentioned that he knew foreigners with SSS cards….not possible unless they are dual citizens.
As many have agreed; Senior discounts are illegal to avail of but, a vendor can choose to give a discount gratuitously.
Yes, I have actually been on PhilHealth since 2000, but didn’t know it until a couple years ago. An accountant of one of our businesses signed us up without our knowledge.
What I was saying in the previous comment, though (which you said was untrue, but it is not) is that it was only a couple years ago that foreigners who do not have a Philippine spouse were allowed to sign up. That is an absolute fact.
Actually, Senior Discounts can be availed by foreigners in the Philippines. A qualified senior citizen is one that is determined eligible by the Office for Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA). The following are excerpts from the law and seem to be consistent with the same interpretation in our local office.
Republic Act 7432
AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
“Contributions of Senior Citizens to the Community. Any qualified senior
citizen as determined by the OSCA may render his/her services to the community, which shall consist of….” it goes on and lists the actual services rendered and then further goes on to say….
“In consideration of services rendered by the qualified elderly, the OSCA may award or grant benefits/privileges to the elderly, in addition to the other privileges provided for under Section 4 of the Act.”
The following except was taken from SECTION 2 of the Act:
“Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the term “senior citizen” shall mean ANY resident of the Philippines at least sixty (60) years old, including those who have retired from both government offices and private enterprises, and has an income of not more than Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) per annum subject to review by the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) every three (3) years.”
In addition and according to our local office, ALL residents (not tourists) of the Philippines can qualify. The big disqualifier for most foreigners is the income level requirement – not to exceed P60,000 per annum. I personally don’t know many expats that can live here below that income level, and am not sure you could even obtain an permanent resident Visa with that income level. So in a nutshell, it’s really a catch 22, but not illegal…nor is it a deportable offense, unless you obtained these priviledges fraudulently, then that’s a different topic altogether.
The wording of the law specifically says that “resident citizens” are the only only people eligible. Since foreigners are, by definition, non-citizens, they are not eligible. Enforcement and implementation varies from one locale to another, but under the law, foreigners are not eligible.
Randy, I don’t know how other ex pats live here, but my income is only just above 60,000, and I can live VERY well here. I live in a quiet exclusive subdivision in Metro Manila, and I eat and drink well. Even back in the UK, plenty of pensioners live on less than that.
But the information Randy posted was 60,000 pesos per YEAR. I doubt your income is less than that. That is only p5k per month.
Sorry Bob. I didn’t read it properly. Just a senior moment!
No problem, I figured you just mis-read it!
I can not tell
Important information. Thanks so much.
You are welcome, Peter.
I would love to hear similar stories about 100% disabled vets with the VA is other insurance needed etc.
I am not a Veteran, so I would not be able to write about that. Perhaps somebody else would.
I had heard that you had to be married to a Philippine citizen in order to qualify for PhilCare. Is this true or just some expat’s opinion? The person who told me this lives in the Philippines and is married.
Firstly, the name of the service is PhilHealth, not PhilCare. no, there is no requirement about being married to anybody, Filipino or not Filipino.
Have had Philhealth for a number of years and have never understood failure of some not to have . Only time i needed they paid about 25 % – 30% which also included private room and higher % when two kids had Dengue . It did come to my attention recently that coverage stops at age 70 which of course will affect many expat spouses if true .
I agree, Alan, I don’t understand those who don’t get it, the cost is so low, it’s a no-lose situation in my opinion.
Bob, that’s THE most useful article I’v read on here. I just didn’t know about it! However, can anyone confirm what Alan said, about the age limit. I’m already 71, but even then my wife is younger, so I will still get it for her.
I’m glad you found the article useful, John. There is no age limit on PhilHealth, as far as I am aware. I will have to look into that further.
Thanks for the info Bob, going to have Shirl sign up for her, the 3 kids and her mom next week. Glad to hear also that I can be included when I finally move there.
Thanks again my friend and I’m glad you’re ok now!
Hello Heinz – Probably they will need two policies to cover those who you listed. I am sure that Shirl must be over 21, and if so a different policy would be needed for her and her mother, but still we are talking about very little money.
Great article Bob I now feel good about signing up for Philhealth now I can see how they process claims. My wife Maricel had to spend a day and a half at the Philhealth office to sign up just that many people waiting in lines. Friends and family of Maricel gave us two private insurance companies but they are very strict underwrtiting and much more expensive than Philhealth,if over 50 you have to take a complete physical so they can exclude any conditions.
Glad you found the article helpful, Arnie.
Think you need to be a permanent resident here in the Philippines to be able to join PhilHealth.
Thank you Bob Philhealth it is! I have been on the fence about this you have helped with the decision.
Thank you! That explains a lot.
Hi Bob – thank you for a very important article for those considering moving to the Philippines. I always appreciate the information you and your other guest writers share with the rest of us readers. I am glad you are finally out of the hospital and feeling better.
Thank you, Richard. I’m glad that you visit my site and read the articles here.
Leon Andrews , My wife (Filipina) and I were there on a Balikbayan visa (not a permanent resident) and was able to get Phil-Health.
Mr. Budbrown….!! haha. been a long time. Im a a fan of yours in YOUTUBE 🙂
Thanks Bob…Very informative.
I surely will sign up for PhilHealth now. You and Paul sure made an good Add for them 😉
We ( read I) don’t think that much about health insurance, when my health is fine, but…you never know, so this made it clear to me: Get a health insurance.
I come from Demark and there’s all those things free, hospitals, medicine, doctors, so I am really not used to thinking about having health insurance. Change of habits takes time, but the time for that change has come now.
Hi Axel – Something like what I had, a bug bite, can strike anybody, even if you are healthy. So, it always pays to have some kind of coverage.
Great article Bob ,,, Philhealth sounds like a plan,, I will sus it out ,,, good to have you back on board ,,
Thank you Russell.
We buy Phil-Health for a brother-in-law and his family. I wish we could pay from Australia because the last money we sent they used it to buy into one of those rip off MLM ‘businesses’ and didn’t renew their Phil-Health. It is a good system, but ideally it should be like our Medicare in Australia but of course, few people there pay taxes to fund it and the odds are someone would pocket them anyway. Glad to here it all worked out and thanks for the article.
Yes, Leon, I am a permanent resident, so it worked out fine for me.
Hi Bob, You did not mention how long it took for them, PhilHealth, to repay you the 50% – that has been one of the complaints I have heard.
And another question, is not PhilHealth limited in the number of days per year that you can stay in hospital – I thought it was 20 days per year
Hi John, there is a reason I failed to mention that. It’s because PhilHealth does not operate on a re-pay system. When the hospital bill was handed to us, the deductions had already been made.
As far as I know there is not a limit on the number of days, but I don’t have solid information on that. I am sure you could check with their office.
Philhealth allows 45 days confinement per year for member and another 45 days per year to be shared by its dependents. 🙂
Hi Bob, great to see your better now my friend, when you say your family is covered, how many is that you had covered in the 2,400 peso a year?
The 2400 covers 5 of us, Craig.
that`s really good, ill be doing this when i get there in May
A family member just had a surgery done back in late Jan. of this year at Doctors Hospital there in Davao. I saw some pictures from the room and in the hospital, and was quite impressed with it. She was there for 5 nights in a private room with a separate bed for a family member to help care for her. The bill after PhilHealth was 200,000p . Her Dr. told her the price before being admitted, and I figured it would be a ballpark figure at best, but also figured it would be far more upon leaving the hospital. The total bill was exactly what they told her it would be, and that was all inclusive of everything. I was amazed, it would have cost many times that amount if done here in the US, and we would never have had any idea of what the total bill was until leaving the hospital, but then here we would have also had insurance to cover most of it. I was amazed that they give all inclusive prices for particular types of surgery there. It was close to $5,000.00 but even so, was quite a bargain price I thought, compared to US prices.
Thanks for sharing that, Bill. Good and interesting information. Davao Doctors is the best hospital in Mindanao.
I have Phil health and am not permanent resident..
Thanks Scott, that answers that question.
Yes Scott me neither my wife is a Philippine citizen , i am not yet perm resident currently 1 yr bb visa.I was able to be covered as spouse . The agent said no problem.
This is great news. I always intended to get it when I move there, but assumed it only paid a small amount and reimbursed you months later. Thanks Bob for the info.
That is good to know. That’ a lot for sharing Bob, appreciate it.
Thank you Cristina, glad you found it useful.
I really like the article and I will be getting PhilHealth when we move there next year.
Thank for the article Bob as always, great articles.
Thanks, Rich, I really appreciate your kindness.
That is what I thought too, Dave Weisbord.
Good article. When you got the policy, did it not show what it does or does not pay for? i will be looking in to getting some for my family when I get there.
Gary, you can find out about all that on the Philhealth website.
No, you really don’t get a policy like you would in the States.
Bob,
Glad you are doing better.
One concern I have about hospitals in the Phils, I am single and have no girl friend or close friends who I would want to bother to accompany me to the hospital. If the hospital does not have the medicines and I am unconscious, what would happen to me? For example, I ride a motorcycle and if I git hit, would I be ok unaccompanied in a hospital? I have good insurance through Vanbreda.
Hi Don, you really need to have somebody with you, it is standard practice here in the Philippines. The person is called a helper or a watcher and takes care of running errands, getting a nurse if needed, etc.
Single in the Philippines, and NO girlfriend?????????
I’ve had a couple of hospital stays in Cebu, one at Chung Hua and the other at Cebu Doc. The costs were minuscule compared to the costs in the US. I’m fortunate in that my company retirement includes a Medicare supplemental administered by Aetna that covers what Medicare doesn’t, including expenses abroad (which Medicare does not). PhilHealth is the best value for the money and my entire in-law family has it. It makes no sense to me not to considering it’s cost and coverage.
As to the question about not having family or friends when confined to hospital, one of the reasons for nursing students…always willing to run errands that are necessary in my experience..
Great idea about the nursing student, Ronald.
Is there an AETNA office here in Manila?; How did you make contact with them, please?
Robert,
My Medicare supplemental is offered by my company (Boeing) as one of the benefits of the Boeing Retirement Plan. It happens to be administered by Aetna, but they don’t sell it as one of their products. I can’t help feeling that similar plans must be offered by other companies.
Hi Bob;
Good to hear that your Hospital stay was satisfactory and that you’re now back home.
Yeah, there is a lot of nonsense banded around about Philhealth from time to time.
I think it’s important for people to remember that Philhealth has an annual ceiling on pay-outs per policy, it’s not a free for all.
Now that a foreign resident can avail of Philhealth in their own right, some may prefer to contribute individually even though they are married.
Hi Chas, I was just talking with my doctor yesterday about this. He told me that there is no longer a cap on annual payout. The catch is that you cannot enter the hospital over and over again with the same diagnosis. As long as your sicknesses are unrelated to each other, they will pay.
Thanks Bob, that’s good news to hear.
Hi Bob that’s a great article. I was wondering do you have to be married to a Filippina or can anyone apply for Philhealth? I definitely need to do this as I have been here over 6 months now on Canadian health insurance.
Mark
Hi Mark, in the past you had to be married to a Philippine citizen, but now it is open to foreigners living here, even if they are not married.
Thanks Bob, finding solid information about phil health on the Internet is hard.
This real story should be very useful to lots of ex pats who are already living in philippines or thinking about moving there. Thank you x
Ps good to see you are back with the living 🙂
Thank you, Martin Why.
Sounds like Phil health was as wise investment!
as always, this article is very informative and am sure a lot of readers will now view philhealth differently.
Thanks, Orman, I appreciate your input, Pare.
Lots of great need to know info, again thanks for all who post and keep us educated/
Hope to be living in Mindanao this year.
Fred
Thanks Fred! Good luck with your coming move!
Glad you have recovered Bob and many thanks for the info. Thanks to others for the other snippets as well.
I didn’t realise that I could get Phil Health as a non resident so I have just dispatched the brother-in-law to get the application forms!!
I had a fall the other night, tripped on a rug and smashed into the TV and heavy glass table, and I was wondering what I would have done in the event that I needed a doctor etc.
I wouldn’t mind getting the name of your Doctor Bob as occasionally I am in the need of a medical for work etc. and having heard some of the horror stories about made up conditions I have always gone to somewhere like Singapore for a check-up. My wife had a medical once and was told she had Leukaemia! Well 15 years after that medical she is still alive and kicking and the Leukaemia has miraculously disappeared.
Cheers
AJ UK
Sorry to hear of your fall, AJ, but glad to know that it was not serious enough to require a doctor. I will be sharing more about my doctor soon.
when i ARRIVED IM MAASIN, WITHOUT A FRIEND IN THE THE PHILIPPINES ,I
OPENED A BANK ACCOUNT AT ALLIED BANK AND GOT PHILHEALTH.
Good move, Joe!
Bob:
We’ve had it for a few years (Juanito and I were added to Rebecca) and made certain that all of Becky’s close family have it. I thought you needed to be married, but as you said not necessary, there is really no excuse for anyone living here not to have it. Also, Philhealth guarantees treatment if you lack immediate cash (They won’t let you die in the waiting room… otherwise you pay on the spot). For a couple thousand, no excuses.
You sure are correct, John. No reason not to get the coverage. The price is certainly right!
Hi Bob…Im so glad you are well now. Philhealth is indeed a lot of help. My husband got hospitalized too, about sometime ago here in Davao City at Davao Doctors’ Hospital.. Being married to a filipina like me he too is covered by Philhealth…He had gastritis and and stayed at the hospital for two days…Our doctor is my nephew so we were not charged of doctor’s fee..medicines were all taken from the hospital pharmacy and after all the computations, our bill is only more or less 300 pesos, almost nothing…he got huge discount from Philhealth and 12% again of the excess for being a senior citizen…i got him enrolled as senior citizen and enjoys 20% discount every time we purchase meds, travel tickets, even in restaurants (but he doesn’t like the idea of using his senior card when it comes to food LOL)…
Hi Coi – Wow, P300, you just can’t beat that!
Not everything in PH is the bargain it is cracked up to be but Philhealth is certainly one of the best bargains going. I am happy to learn from this article that it can be purchased by all residents including un attached foreigners. That really is a Plus ! For an individual policy here in the USA the premium is $12,000 USD per year. Most of mine is still employer paid and I pay about one third.
I am happy to read that your hospital stay was satisfactory Bob and now that you are home I hope you have recovered 100%, or will very soon.
Thank you, Bob. BTW, I found out that the Iligan Hospital where you went is owned by the same people as the hospital I was in! Good care all around!
Also be advised Not to sign up for Philhealth online did that two times no response . Finally got thru on the phone the agent said no good you have to sign up in person and pay the first quarter in person at a Philhealth office. I have been reading alot of horror stories about private insurers in the Philippines Maxicare Medicard deny alot of claims alot of exclusions. At least I know that Philhealth pays.
Hi Arnie, yes, my experience was that payment was immediate, no fuss, no hassle. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Bob,
Glad you are all back to normal with your health. I got signed up for Philhealth as soon as I arrived here. Even though I have not really used it, you sure can’t beat how cheap it is. I also have a private policy to cover what Philhealth does not, mainly for surgeries and long hospital stays.
Sounds like you have a good plan in place, PapaDuck.
Hi Bob..
Glad you are feeling much better. Stay healthy, my friend.
Thank you, my friend.
Hi Bob,
Just got Phil Health,(paid year in full also) easy process and I will say it was the fastest transaction ever done here. haha. I am hoping it is one investment I never use.
Glad to hear that it went so smoothly, Neal!
Philhealth generally pays somewhere around 50% from what I have seen. My wife and kids have used it a few times over the past 8 years and it has paid for itself many times over in that amount of time. I am also covered under it, but, knock on wood, have never been hospitalized…
Due to employment requirements I have had yearly physicals, or at a minimum every two years since the late 90’s…
Not to say that I haven’t had my share of visits to doctors and a couple ER visits… Most serious was shot in the leg. I was in and out of the ER so fast the pain didn’t even set in until I was already home in bed (obviously it wasn’t a serious injury).
Perhaps I should add that all of the ER visits were in the military days. Believe it or not, I actually had to wait longer in the ER for a broken foot than I did for being shot in the leg.
Broken foot: arrived 9PM released 7:30AM, There were higher risk patients being admitted, IE… kid with nausea, adult having asthma attack, patient experiencing dizziness, ER Doctors smoke break, ER Staff meeting (Yes in the military all of those reasons can actually keep a soldier with non life threatening conditions waiting in certain military hospitals).
With a bullet in my leg I was admitted, seen, treated and released with a huge stack of medications in a whopping 4 hours.
🙂
Gunshot? Yikes!
Great article Bob too many times all we hear about anything is the negative information, glad you took the time to put this in print, first thing when I arrive with my wife I will sign up for Phil Health defiantly worth it.
Thanks, James. I think that getting PhilHealth is a good thing to do! 🙂
Bob,
What is the process for enrolling. I’ve tried to get nanay and tatay enrolled, but I’ve been told multiple times by the sister that they aren’t eligible and can’t enroll. Is it because they live in the outskirts of Surigao City and officials don’t have the knowledge to help them?
Hi Brent – It is very simple, just go to the PhilHealth office and fill out the application. Everybody who lives in the Philippines is eligible.
She could mean that they don’t have any ID or their birth certificates. My wife’s aunt had that problem. She couldn’t register for PhilHealth because she didn’t have her birth certificate or any ID. She had to get the birth certificate issue remedied first.
Bob,
As a point of info to the readers here. Phil Health WILL repay for services they cover if you happen to use a hospital or clinic that is not on their pre approved list. HOWEVER, only after you show them the bills and only after they approve etc after checking the docs credentials etc. I suppose that there might be cases where they wont pay if it is not an affiliated ospital or clinic and they suspect something is hinky etc.
We found this out when our charge in the Philippines went to an unapproved clinic and paid cash. We got reimbursed for about 35% of the total and it took about 2 months while they audited everything we submitted. Still a good deal.
Now he only goes to Phil Health aligned clinics and Hospitals so its all as you said. EASY, and AFFORDABLE.
We also added his newborn baby to his plan and she has availed of it twice and the cost was ZERO for the post-Natel services that she recieved.
Hi Joe – Thanks for sharing. The good thing is that these days nearly all hospitals participate in PhilHealth!
wow..This is really good to know. Thank you for the break down.
I plan on moving to PI next year as a permanent. LOL..
I am glad you are recovering and lets hope this won’t happen again!!!..
I am in hopes that I will be able to meet you and your lovely wife at some point, altho my plans are pretty far north of you. I would hope that we can at least be in touch.
BTW..thank you for this site. I have learned much and I am in hopes I will be able to contribute in some small way..maybe with an insight or two once I get there..:)
I do like to wax on and talk..:)
Thanks again for the very good info..
Richard
Thank you for your kind words, Richard. I wish you the best on your move next year!
Appreciate if you could put image credit to my website. This is a photo of my Philhealth card http://www.sasaramosyap.com
Good to hear it from a foreigner. Some Filipinos cant even appreciate Philhealth. For the record, some countries don’t have state insurance, only HMO which are way expensive.
Thank you Uriel.
Hi again Bob
Just writing on the hospital topic to express my outrage at events that happened to us yesterday.
We had a lovely day at the Seagrass Resort on Samal island. Right at the end my wife’s neice fell of a swing and, judging by her reaction every time we tried to touch her arm, it was broken. So we headed home to get her to a hospital. As the nearest hospital is Brokenshire that was the obvious choice.
Now I did not go as that place has a reputation of doubling the price if they see a Westerner but my brother inlaw and sister inlaw took her. The first solution offered was Paracetomol and it will be ok in the morning! My bro-inlaw insisted on an X-ray to make sure which they eventually carried out.
Now comes the shocker…………… as they were leaving the hospital, a nurse said that they could come back for the results tomorrow but I wouldn’t bother as we don’t usually do anything with the kids!!! Really? They would not treat a broken arm for a child? My brother inlaw had to be restrained as he wanted to rip the nurses head off.
We will never use that hospital again for obvious reasons but is that a typical reaction to caring for children in hospitals?
I am waiting for the treatment to be finished today and then I shall be writing to the management of the hospital with what can be best described as a strongly worded message.
Hi AJ – I have never heard of that kind of treatment before – from Brokenshire or any other hospital.
One thing I can say for sure, based on my personal experience is that Brokenshire does not raise prices based on the nationality of a person. They have published fixed rates and these are followed. I would advise being careful about passing along things you “hear”. Do you have personal knowledge of that? If so, yes, pass it on, make sure it becomes known. But, if it is just something you heard, passing along those kinds of things can tend to take away credibility from other things you say.
If I were you, I would go to the hospital personally, and be calm. Talk to somebody with authority and verify if this is the way events occurred.
Actually have personal knowledge.
A friend who we helped had a Caesarian operation for 70,000PHP………..my sister-in-law who has a German husband, who was present at the birth, was charged 140,000 one year earlier.
So, you personally reviewed the bill for each one? You looked line by line and there were no additional services provided, extra medicine needed or anything like that? You know the situation better than I do, but I have a hard time believing this. No two births are identical.
It is the price quoted in advance of admission to the hospital for a CS birth of both cases.
All of the extras, medicines etc, were on top of those prices.
I have only seen one of the bills but I have no reason to doubt the integrity of my wife’s sister or her husband.
Maybe I might be wrong but wouldn’t this be another reason to be on Phil health plans? Not saying that any prices at the hospitals are being doubled or such. My experience is that I got the same rate of the last person who walked in spent 4 days in the hospital and only spent $700 us and that is with out Phil health. But If you are worried wouldn’t having Phil health at least keep that possibility of getting charged more then the published fixed rates?
I was thinking along the same line myself, James.
You about got me convince to get PhilHealth. How would I get started about that? Can I do it online or will I have to find a place and do it in person?
I’m glad your doing better Bob. I was a bit concerned about you for awhile there.
Asawa ko in Mactan just got it for herself, her mom and the 3 kids. Enrollment fee was first 3 months of premiums (P-1500) then P-500 ea month thereafter.
Great news, Heinz!
Thanks for your concern, John. It is easy to sign up for PhilHealth. There should be a PhilHealh office in your area, just go there and ask to apply, they will be glad to help you! You cannot do it online, only in person. There are offices in almost every city.
Bob, this is a very useful article> I like everyone else am very happy you finally got well, and almost got a gold mine too.
If you could clear a couple of things I would be grateful. Is it possible to buy Philhealth before arriving in country thus avoiding the waiting period? Is there a set amount or percentage that is paid? You went to a hospital that was not the highest priced, would the difference in the bill be only in the amount paid by you?
Hi Gerald – PhilHealth pays a set amount which is determined by your diagnosis. So, for example, if you were diagnosed with a certain condition there is a set amount they pay for that condition. They pay that amount regardless of the hospital, so if you go to a more expensive hospital, they still pay the same amount, you just have to pay the rest yourself.
You have to be present to sign up, as far as I know.
We took your advice Bob and signed up as of yesterday. Hopefully we never need it but you never know.
We have to pay extra for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law as they are not classified as our family but it is worth it. My BIL didn’t want it but, as I explained to him, I will end up paying if he is hospitalised. Anyway, after a couple of red horse beers, I convinced him that it is a good idea and that I will pay his subscriptions (the magic words LOL).
One thing I would recommend is that anyone who joins does so at the beginning of the month and not mid month as we did as we have lost two weeks on this years subscriptions already, not that it will make much difference.
Cheers
AJ UK
Hi AJ – I think it is the wise thing to do, especially given the low cost of the premium. Like you day, I hope it is never needed, but the odds are that sooner or later it will need to be used.
Philhealth has already a case rate. In my dad’s case, we stayed for about 8 days. Philhealth did not cover medicines except only for the debridement procedure. Sad to say this.
Hi Bob.
I intend to move to Davao next year, my big concern is Medical Cost, as I come from the UK where I don’t have any cost to worry about.
What do I need to bring with me when I go to enrol on Phil Health, also looking to take out private medical insurance at Blue Cross, Im just waiting for a price. Perhaps you know about Blue cross and what they are like.
Hope all is well with you.
Love to buy you a coffee should we bump into each other in Davao
Hi Gerry – Medical costs money, even in Britain, you just pay it through your taxes instead of through the doctor or hospital. 😉
All you will need to enroll in PhilHealth is an ID and some cash, if my memory serves me correctly, but it has been many years since we enrolled. I can’t think of anything else that you would need, though.
The private insurance companies like Blue Cross are quite expensive, but for an added feeling of security, in case anything happens that would be quite expensive, it would be good, I am sure.
Take care.
Hi Sir Bob! Thanks for this article. I know some may not be able to appreciate the programs and benefits PhilHealth offers unless they are in the situation of getting sick. But who wants to be sick, right? I would say that having PhilHealth is of great help if only people would come to realize the benefits they can get out of it plus having enough information about its services. Imagine paying 600 pesos every quarter or 2,400 per year for individually paying members is very cheap. For sponsored program or Indigent members, they pay nothing and subject to No Balance Billing for government hospitals. In addition, with the new program to Senior Citizens, they can already avail the benefits of PhilHealth even not being a member previously. PhilHealth is looking for ways to improve their programs and services to provide adequate, sustainable and accessible healthcare to all Filipinos. Hope a lot of people would come to realize it. 🙂
Thank you for commenting, Christine. I really consider PhilHealth to be a great program!
Philhealth is really such a good deal. Specially these days as the agency is getting better with how they operates. I remember when I gave birth back in 2005. I prepared 8000php for my delivery. I was confined in a government hospital for 5 days after the baby’s delivery. It was the most frustrating event in my life. I had infection in my wound, I was transfered at risk ward because I had pre eclampsia. The doctors had to manage my blood pressure and the worst part my baby had sepsis(blood infection on new born babies). I was so worried about my hospital bill.When I got my bill. It only cost me 3000 for hospitalization, 1500 for doctors fee and 700 for medications. But since I got philhealth I only payed 1200 php. It was a total shock to me. My husband suggested that my baby should be transfered in the private hospital. As she has to be isolated to prevent more infection and better care. We were there for 4 days. We took the suite type as it has the best amenities. Our bill was 25000 but we only payed 12500 because of philhealth. You will only know how important philhealth is once you get hospitalized. And the best part, I was payed full for 2 months salary by the company for maternity leave as directed by philippine law and 2 months same amount as my salary by sss maternity benefits. I’m in u.s right now, too bad u.s don’t have these benefits
I agree, the medical costs are so low here! And, if you shop around you can get some excellent care as well.
Hi Bob,
Thank you for your article.
Philhealth has been improving its services. For example, the number of hemodialysis sessions covered by Philhealth is now 90 per year.
It also covers major operations like kidney transplantation and coronary artery bypass on its “Z” benefits.
Hi Orlando – As far as I can see, PhilHealth is already one of the best deals on the planet! You get a lot of benefits for a very small premium cost. Seeing that they are making improvements in the benefits that they offer only pushes PhilHealth even higher in the value category! Thanks for the update.
Hi Bob,
I’m not an expat, I’m a Filipino and I’ve been reading your posts lately and I’ve become a fan. My wife and I have been planning trips around the country and I hope I can meet you in Davao.
Take care.
I would be happy to meet you, Orlando. Please let me know anytime you are in Davao.
From what I’m told lot of PhilHeath coverage ends at the age of 70. For instance, Prostate Cancer coverage is not available once you turn 70 and neither is a Kidney Transplant. Coronary Bypass surgery is also only covered up to the age of 70. I believe that maximum PhilHeath benefit would be about 600,000 Php for a Kidney Transplant, 550,000 for Bypass Surgery and 100,000 for Prostrate Cancer.
Personally, I think that posting “what we have been told” or what we “believe” is a dangerous practice. In the article I wrote everything from actual experience and discussion with my doctor and the cashier office at the hospital, so I know it to be factual. Some of the information in this comment does not exactly match with information that I have been told.
Hi Bob,
I plan to retire in June this year,I am not married to a Filipino will I qualify for philhealth? Where do I go to apply for this and how long does it take to be approved.I will be living in Pamapanga province.Hope you can help with this info.
Best Regards
Steve
Yes. You can get Philhealth. It does not matter if you are married or not
Sigh up at the PhilHealth office. Acceptance is quick. Coverage begins the quarter following your acceptance.
Thanks for this article, Bob. You only know how good your health insurance fund is when it’s time for them to actually come to the party. Van’s story is encouraging, too.
You’re welcome, James. Good luck.
What is the next best health insurance after PhilHealth, for a family of 5 and a senoir person moving to the Philippines?
There are many private healthcare insurance plans, but I’m not really here to endorse any of them.
Thanks for your very fast reply.
Sorry, I mean a Philippines family of 5 and a USA senior person
Hi bob,back again for advice,my wife and i have a 6 mo old son and her stepfathers daughter lives with us,we took her in when she was 8 ,she’s 13 now.she wasn’t being treated the best where she was and we consider her our daughter now. After your heart attack i decided we needed philhealth.my wife went to the office in naval biliran and they quoted us 2400php for family plan but the girl could not be included as she isn’t officially adopted etc and her policy alone would be 2400php also. This puzzels me why a family with 12 kids is same price as one 13 yo girl,but nonetheless i told my wife go ahead and get a year coverage for her too. She called me back and said they couldn’t give her a policy until she turns 15 !
is this true? Why if i am willing to pay the same amount as a family for her alone can we not get coverage?
How many millions of kids there live with ‘family’ not natural parents and there is no way a guardian can get health coverage on any of them?
And why 15 yo, why that magic number?
I hope you or one of your knowlegable guests can give me insight on this or an idea how to get her covered. Thanks!
Yes. P2400 covets the whole family whether the family is 1 person or 20. Why? That is the way they do it.
Just seems one young person should get coverage for less than a large family is all. Considering the costs and illnesses incurred with 12 people vs. One.
$50 for an entire year of coverage. It is so cheap what stress over it? Go get the girl a US health insurance policy and $50 won’t cover much more than a week.
Just a piece of advice, if you are planning to adopt her, it’s best if you apply first as her foster parent. Adoption process is long and so while you are in this process, apply for foster parenting in the DSWD. You just have to attend a seminar and complete some paperworks/documents and you can be considered as her foster parent. Once you become a foster parent, she will also be considered legally your dependent thus she will be covered in your Philhealth.
Maybe a loophole we can use?
What if you oay for her real father and his family? That would cover her too.
I have considered that but he lives in batangas with her mean stepmom and we are in biliran, if i just sent money it would be spent on nail polish and coconut wine. Thanks for fast response,just odd i cant just buy her a policy.
You should be able to just go pay at your local PhilHealth office, no? If not, is there nobody you can trust in Batangas?
I could do that,wouldn’t i need his i.d. or him to be there or something? Or i could just pay it and say its for him and his dependents? Then they would give ME the philhealth card to use if she gets ill or injured? Or send it up to him in batangas…?
You are really over thinking things. It is not rocket science. Go to the PhilHealth office, tell them what you want to do and ask of they can help you accomplish your goal.
I’m not stressing over $50,i’m in the U.S. working right now and asked my wife to go. She went yesterday and got our ‘family plan’ but they told her we could not buy a policy for the girl til she is 15. i just thought someone in here may have had an experience of buying a policy for a minor who was not legally adopted or who they took in to care for. Or if that was even true we can’t get her covered til she’s 15. i read everything i could google on my phone about philhealth dependents etc and didn’t see any mention of 15 yo age in anything. Dont forget i am well educated american trying to explain things to a philippina from the province who has little or no experience with bureaucracy. I dont know if you and your wife lived apart for any time or how good her english or education was when you met but sometimes i feel like pulling my hair out. I love her with all my heart,and i love my place in PI …but there are times my friend…
I’m assuming i would need to be in physical possession of her fathers card if god forbid i had to take her to the hospital for something. I don’t know if they would just make it out in his name let me list his dependents and hand it to me when i buy the policy.
Hello Bob…It’s a few years since we last’connected’ online… I bought your book of Money Making Ideas… when I was back in the US.
I just found your posting here … and I am thrilled at the info on PhilHealth… I have been living in Cebu for the past 3+ years and never knew about it. I shall enroll asap…however, I have eye surgery tomorrow…as usual, I’m late on everything …lol
Glad to hear that your healing now….
Kind Regards,
Ken
Philhealth pays more if it is a Public Hospital. If private it will be very small maybe 5%. With my Heart Attack in July 28th I almost died and they sent me to a hospital based on Doctors recommendation. I was too near Death to choose and my wife said yes, anywhere to save my life. The hospital normally requires 400,000 deposit but my Dr got them to give me life saving surgery anyway Public Hospitals here in Cebu are the Worst
Hi Alan – PhilHealth pays the exact same amount whether you go to a public or private hospital. Since the private hospital charges much more, on a percentage bases it is less, but it is the same amount of money.
ok ty
WOW!!! It sounds to good to be true!! I always heared that PHILHEALTH pays only 20% of the bill!! Well thanks for info!!!