Should we get medical insurance in the Philippines?
Because of this benefit, we haven't really looked into any health insurance in the Philippines. I remember when I was still working in the Philippines, there was I think Medicare which later became PhilHealth. Employees automatically become members of PhilHealth as mandated by the law. Employees and employer share 50/50 in the premium monthly contribution. The unemployed, self-employed and including OFWs can become members of PhilHealth, too, by making voluntary contributions (P300 per quarter). Seniors can apply for a lifetime membership when they reach age 65.
The benefit of having PhilHealth membership is the deductible amount or discount you and your dependents get in case one incurs any inpatient or outpatient medical bills. I believe some get as much as 20%. But this still does not cover everything. So if your total bill is a big amount, what you would have to pay would still be a lot.
I didn't continue paying for my PhilHealth membership when I went abroad. Maybe, when we get back to the Philippines, we need to reapply or maybe continue paying our old membership accounts (if that is possible). Then maybe we could check-out some sort of Medigap plans as a safety net in case we get into any serious medical expense.
In the US, they have Medicare, similar to (probably better than) our PhilHealth but it also doesn't cover every medical bill and expense. So, there are many private insurance companies offering Medicare Supplement plans or Medicare supplemental insurance. When looking for this type of product, I would consider looking for the following quality factors before deciding to get one:
The benefit of having PhilHealth membership is the deductible amount or discount you and your dependents get in case one incurs any inpatient or outpatient medical bills. I believe some get as much as 20%. But this still does not cover everything. So if your total bill is a big amount, what you would have to pay would still be a lot.
I didn't continue paying for my PhilHealth membership when I went abroad. Maybe, when we get back to the Philippines, we need to reapply or maybe continue paying our old membership accounts (if that is possible). Then maybe we could check-out some sort of Medigap plans as a safety net in case we get into any serious medical expense.
In the US, they have Medicare, similar to (probably better than) our PhilHealth but it also doesn't cover every medical bill and expense. So, there are many private insurance companies offering Medicare Supplement plans or Medicare supplemental insurance. When looking for this type of product, I would consider looking for the following quality factors before deciding to get one:
- Affordability - The premium contribution should be affordable enough.
- Flexibility - The coverage needs vary from person to person - from seniors to frequent travelers. One provider of Medicare Supplement I saw online (from the US) allows potential clients to compare plans, so they can choose which one best suits their needs. By the way, for seniors here's a site with more info for seniors.
- Medical exam waiver - This provider I saw also guarantees policy approval even without a medical exam under certain conditions. This is advantageous for those who have some health issues before and those who are no longer getting any younger.
- Customer satisfaction - Of course, the company should have a good track record and trustworthiness when it comes to its customer service.
11 Comments
You're right Philhealth is not enough to cover medical expenses, you need to get other health insurance or health cards from other private insurance companies.
You can inquire from Caritas Health Shield, Inc. or Sun Life for an assessment based on your preferences.
I have blogged on the different quotations Sun Life and Caritas have offered to me. Just click on my link.
I hope this can help.
Have a blessed day!
Now, there aren't any more insurance companies I know of that do not impose any restrictions on pre-existing health conditions.
@ Krizza, I agree with you that PhilHealth is "better than nothing" option. But what can the poor do about it? Private health insurance is good if you can afford it.
@ Teecup, didn't know about Kainos. I guess one better get a health card while still in good health. That's sad for those with health issues.
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it aims to squeeze the public dry in service of the public or private hospitals’ revenues...
did you know that there are reports
that Philhealth's disbursements have largely gone to private hospitals and not to public hospitals, kawawa ang mga mahihirap na ang option ay public hospitals
and lastly limited din naman ang benefits from Philhealth, its members still spend from their own pockets for their medical needs...
if you have the money go for private health insurance na lang wala tayong maaasahan sa gobyerno lalo't it is firm in its policy for budget cut in health and other social service
@ Reese, thanks for the additional insight about this topic. I guess we can strongly consider getting a private health card.
anyway chin, thanks for joining in the week 12 of the weekly giveaways. Sorry for the late visit too.
Regards and good luck! :)
PS. you might want to read my latest post (the one with a video), wink!
Re insurances, does that mean insurance companies are really making big money?