Healthcare Insurance in Phils.

[Northerner]

So how much is full coverage in the phils? I'm talking NHS style coverage..

[JimOttley]

So how much is full coverage in the phils? I'm talking NHS style coverage..

That will likely be expensive, I bought Ana insurance through Blue Cross after James was born, that cost around 30,000 peso per annum at the time.

Pregnancy was not covered in the first 12 months.

Ana does not understand insurance and she did not want it, she always says 'I am strong, I trust in God' in later years we let it lapse because of other pressures on our resources.

Problem is you will never be able to insure everyone in the family that might need it. Hospital bills vary a lot in Manila and there is always the suspicion that they charge more if a westerner is known to involved.

The charges are a lot lower than you might think, a consultation with a specialist at a hospital has usually cost me 400 peso.

When I looked at care for myself back when I was stupidly optimistic about life it was going to cost around 1000 quid a year just for me, so that was a non starter.

Very first time I went over for Christmas I seriously injured my ankle (went over on it) while I was packing my things just literally 15 hours or so before I was due to fly. I live on my own and I was literally dragging myself around the house trying to finish packing, I tell you I dragged myself through Glasgow Dubai and NAIA nothing was going to stop me getting there I really could barely walk

When I got there eventually we went to the doc who bandaged me up and charged 400 peso.

You pay for all your own drugs too.

Good health insurance is just horribly expensive, we just don't know how lucky we are in this country!


Jim