The main emergency number in the Philippines is 911, which has replaced 117, and is referred to as the Emergency Network. Every citizen has the right to free healthcare under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Subsidies from both local and central authorities, along with the state health insurer, are provided to all citizens.
For expats living in the Philippines or those preparing to move to the Philippines, choosing health insurance is crucial. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) guarantees that patients admitted in hospitals’ emergency rooms and tents within the hospital are covered by the insurance. Hospitals cannot refuse treatment for not being able to pay, and they will work with you through social workers on staff and other resources.
Public hospital emergency rooms typically charge starting prices of ₱300 and above, offering essential medical care but often with higher patient volumes. Medical evacuation from the Philippines can cost $10,000 and up, depending on your location and medical condition. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) ensures that patients with serious medical problems are treated regardless of whether they have insurance.
In summary, the Philippine healthcare system offers free healthcare to all citizens, including expats, with the option to choose health insurance plans.
📹 Can Philippine Hospitals Hold you Hostage if you can’t pay ?
We talk and discuss the Philippine laws on hospitals holding people Hostage and how not to get into this situation to become a …
Do you have to pay for public hospitals in the Philippines?
The public healthcare system in the Philippines provides a range of basic healthcare services to the general public, either free of charge or at a subsidized cost, at various facilities, including community health centers, district hospitals, and regional hospitals. The essential primary services provided by the public healthcare system in the Philippines include vaccinations, routine check-ups, and basic medical treatment.
Do you need health insurance in the Philippines?
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) requires all expats to sign up for public insurance, which has six major membership categories based on work status, income, and age. These categories include formal sector workers, Indigents, sponsored members, lifetime members, senior citizens, and the informal economy. The insurance program covers workers employed by public and private companies, low-income individuals subsidized by the national government, sponsored members, retirees and pensioners, senior citizens, and self-employed individuals. The insurance program ensures that expats are adequately covered in case of illness or injury.
How much does it cost to be hospitalized in the Philippines?
The cost of healthcare in the Philippines is considerable, with private hospitals charging an average of 2, 500 Philippine pesos per night for hospital stays and 30, 000 Philippine pesos per night for ICU stays. This encompasses the fees charged by medical practitioners, the costs associated with laboratory tests, the price of pharmaceuticals, and other miscellaneous expenses. The cost of a health insurance plan in the Philippines is approximately 1, 000 Philippine pesos per year.
What qualifies as a medical emergency?
A significant illness, injury, symptom, or condition that necessitates prompt attention to avert substantial harm.
What happens if you can’t pay a hospital bill in the Philippines?
Patients who are partially or fully recovered and cannot pay their hospital bills or medical expenses are allowed to leave the hospital or medical clinic. They will be issued a medical certificate and other documents upon the execution of a promissory note covering the unpaid obligations. The promissory note must be secured by a mortgage or a co-maker’s guarantee, who will be jointly and severally liable for the unpaid obligations.
For a deceased patient, surviving relatives will be issued the death certificate and other documents for interment purposes only. For other purposes, documents will only be issued upon the execution of a promissory note. The hospital may require the execution of an assignment of proceeds up to the extent of the hospital bills or medical expenses.
If surviving relatives refuse to execute a promissory note, they can claim the cadaver and demand the issuance of the death certificate and other documents for interment purposes. Documents for other purposes will only be released after the execution of a promissory note.
How much is the doctors fee in a private hospital in the Philippines?
The fees for a medical consultation range from 500 to 1, 500 pesos, while the cost of an executive medical examination in a premier hospital falls within the 10, 000 to 50, 000 peso range. It is advisable to obtain a medical/health insurance card in order to obtain more comprehensive coverage.
How much is a hospital check up in the Philippines?
The executive check-up price in the Philippines ranges from Php3, 000 to Php15, 000, with different packages involving different procedures. Investing in preventive care can lead to financial gains in the long run, as it reduces the risk of future treatment costs, helps detect life-threatening conditions early, and manages existing conditions. By taking a proactive approach to physical well-being, individuals can maintain their financial health. To find the best executive check-up price, compare price lists of different Philippine health centers and choose services that suit your budget.
Is free healthcare possible in the Philippines?
The Philippine government signed the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law in 2019, allowing all Filipinos, including Overseas Filipino Workers, to access healthcare services under the government’s health insurance program (PhilHealth). The law mandates all Filipinos to be automatically enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, granting eligibility to health benefits packages. The Philippine healthcare system continues to grow as private equities invest, acquire smaller hospitals, and upgrade infrastructure.
Most hospitals are located in the Calabarzon region, followed by Central Luzon’s Region 3 and the National Capital Region. In 2022, the top three causes of death in the Philippines were ischemic heart diseases (18. 4), neoplasms (10. 2), and cerebrovascular diseases (10. 2).
Is hospital treatment free in the Philippines?
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, or PhilHealth, provides free healthcare to all Filipino citizens, funded by government subsidies and company payroll deductions. It covers emergency, urgent care, inpatient care, and non-emergency surgeries, but does not cover all medical treatments and costs. In 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Universal Healthcare Bill, which aimed to include all citizens, not just those in the workplace.
PhilHealth now has two categories: those who can pay premiums and those who cannot, primarily the unemployed and the elderly. The government will sponsor their insurance coverage for those who cannot pay. Both categories receive the same basic level of services, while those paying higher premiums receive more benefits.
How much is the ER fee in the Philippines?
Public hospital emergency rooms in the Philippines offer essential medical care at starting prices of ₱300 and above, with higher patient volumes. Private hospitals charge higher rates, ranging from ₱1, 500 to ₱15, 000. These fees cover immediate care, consultations, first aid, and ER facility use. Public hospitals offer cheaper rates but may be busier with fewer resources, while private hospitals charge more for faster service and better facilities. These options cater to the needs and budgets of people across the country. Popular hospitals and labs that provide emergency rooms in the Philippines include Rizal Drive cor. 32nd St. and 5th Ave.
Can you go to the ER if you’re broke?
It is the responsibility of hospitals to provide treatment for serious medical conditions, regardless of the insurance status of the patient. Access to the aforementioned service has been restricted as a consequence of the occurrence of HTTP response code 503. In the event that you believe you have been blocked, you are encouraged to contact the site owner for assistance. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges, kindly enter your email address and click “Send” to regain access.
📹 Healthcare in The Philippines (Insurance, Prices, Hospitals)
The last thing you want on your mind in the Philippines is worrying about the healthcare here. So in today’s video, we cover the …
Thanks Steve – you are the BEST American / Philippines vlogger out there – you care for us! Listening to you, I think the emergency fund should be ‘doubled’ as their is lots of extra risk, mostly girl related haha, maybe ‘$50,000 especially for foreigner’…seems best to just have your own money, most in USA and some in Philippines as you suggest, but also ‘protect’ that money from invaders – best way is to act poor but not confrontative but have money in the background. While not pleasant, you can ‘buy’ your way out of most trouble in the Philippines. Be prepared upfront, you are SUPERB at that!
Agree totaly with what you said, you never know what will happen. Im 59 yo, never had more then a common cold before. Went to Thailand on vacation. on the plane there i torn a ligament in both knees and ruptured three menisks. Spent one month in hospital there with operation. Would have cost close to 100 000 us, but luckely i had travel insurence that paid everything.
You go to the hospital for treatment then you have to pay. Either by cash or by taking out an insurance. Even in countries where they say medical treatment is free it is not free. It’s paid for by taxes and contributions. And the more generous the social system is the more taxes and contributions are needed to cover. But one thing is valid, you take a sevice you pay. If you can’t pay dont take the service. In my insurance you pay more when you are overweight, and still more when you smoke. And right so. Lots of people could affort an insurance but they choose to use the money for other things.
Two important questions please: How do you get to the hospital in a life-threatening situation where you are unconscious? And secondly, what’s the best hospital to go if you have a serious illness? I’m sure that depends upon where you’re staying. But can you transfer to a hospital in a major metro area where you would have the confidence in your critical care? Thank you very much. Great topic. A medical emergency could happen to anyone anywhere! Merry Christmas!
My mom had a fainting episode in 2014 we thought was a stroke, an ambulance through gridlock traffic took her to a public hospital in Manila and she had an MRI and waited for a doctor’s evaluation, fortunately she didn’t have to pay any amount after being sent home. This was a one-off exception because you may not make it to a public emergency room where you are.
Sir my good friend had a emergency in the Philippines she was pregnant and the ambulance took her to public hospital they checked her out and refused her treatment because the babys heartrate was lower then normal she needed a emergency c- section and the public hospital denied her admission because they didnt have no nicu bed available for baby, so she was transported to a private hospital and the mom was taken for emergency surgery to deliver baby and baby was taken to nicu, mom was able to pay her bill to be released it was a little under $1000 but her baby remained in the nicu as she was still recovering now shes been ready to come home for 2 weeks now and the hospital will not let the baby leave! Her bill is $7000 she got a letter from the mayer for $1000 and social welfare gave her $400 but thats it she has tried to raise funds and hasnt gotten anywhere 😢
Interesting the gf is going to Alabang for gallbladder surgery and the only allow the surgery if she stays in a private room, they say it should be between 60,000 to 80,000 php so this must be the way they are gonna ensure that they get their money by detaining. It’s not a problem as we have the money but good to know the reason why and they want 40,000 in advance. I had to run to the atm once bcoz La Salle wanted the money but didn’t have debit and credit card machines are never working.
My fiancée’s brother in law got bit my a snake and I had to pay the hospital bill . They would not admit him until I coughed up $300 to start with, now mind you he is in a coma and so he will die if I don’t do something. Side note both hospitals had no anti- venom the second hospital in Dumaguete was a nice private hospital but all they could do is give him very powerful antibiotics which we had to purchased ourselves. Well God heard our prayers because he came out of the coma after a few days in ICU and the Doctors could not believe he survived! I whthink it cost me $1,600 or so and I only met him once when I went to the province. Now I got food poisoning in Manila and I took a taxi to the hospital and I got the best care even better than in the US and they ran all these test and my bill was only $100 .In the US it would cost 3 to 4 thousand without insurance.
Michael Feehily 29 minutes ago @The Philippine Info website if you knew the head of police there id think you would be ab;e to get off or out haha I got these types of connection due to my Cousin being famous ect but Yes some funds must be upfront anyways to make these type of pay outs there….from what my friends tell me there that live there that did this before haha.. 5,000 pesos to 10,000 pesos they will let you leave if you have a valid # of a police there haha cause the hospital will be afraid of fines or jail themselves ect. 1
Everything you say is common sense or should be to anyone who has a passport and travels outside of their home country. Sadly, this is not the reality of life, hence, the need for your articles to remind or educate those who are either too lazy or too careless to take care of themselves. I hesitate to use the words ‘Too stupid’ in my last sentence but that is what it boils down to. People, should look after themselves not expect others to do it for them.
It is a scary thought to be out of your main country and a serious medical issues. Then have to deal with things like this. And I know insurance rates jump after 60. Are you paying for medicare back in the usa also. I know at 65 it’s mandatory. If u don’t and come back for healthcare u get a huge penalty if not signed up
For context, as a FIlipino who avails of both private and public sector health services, I would like to say that the public sector services offered at public hospitals are quite adequate, and public doctors are highly skilled. Often, the best surgeons and specialists who have private clinics and private sector services, also perform medical services at public hospitals.
Self-insured means that you have financial reserves to cover medical expenses. Most expenses are reasonable in PI, and doing this is a reasonable plan for most situations. You need to be able to prove ability to pay to receive services and to pay off your bill to be discharged. You can carry a medical pre-paid card which proves to hospitals that you can cover expenses to the limit on the card. $1k USD may be enough for most things, and $5k will be better. However, some procedures are costly. I read that a Coronary Bypass is $18k, and Serious Stroke is $36k. Travel insurance is cheaper than most private insurance, and should cover these expenses. But travel insurance is a reimbursement program so you will need to be able to pay these upfront. Your budget and medical history will dictate what you do to prepare for such emergencies. Most expats will say you should connect with a good primary doctor, any specialists you anticipate needing. I would also try to connect with the billing department at your choice hospital to see what they would accept for payment for services, or proof of insurance. Carrying a balance at a PI bank or other arrangement may be sufficient. I would add that if you are in Manila or Cebu look up the ambulance services, and which hospitals they will take you to. Ambulances are just taxi services, and many do not have the equipment nor staff to provide life saving interventions while in transit. Their sirens do not part traffic so they are not great. But it’s the best you have access to in an emergency.
So thanks for speaking on this even though it’s a very in depth study when it comes to healthcare abroad. My retiree health insurance Tricare is accepted at several hospitals there but all of them require you pay cash or credit card up front and then it’s on you to request reimbursement through your insurance company. And of course I didn’t go to college for medical billing and coding. I say this because of how much paperwork and the correct form of paperwork that needs to be filed with the reimbursement. It usually can take 3-6 months to get reimbursed. I wish the Philippines healthcare and government was more will to do direct billing with each international insurance plan to help the foreign retiree there. I did however find one hospital in Clark that does direct billing, the medical city at Clark. This is driving my decision to live in pampanga area just because of this..and not to mention it’s a preferred provider hospital with my insurance company. I didn’t realize Phil health so expensive for foreigners. Glad I won’t be using it as it only covers like 20% of the hospital bill whereas in the states it’s the opposite…like the insurance covering 80%…either way I am glad I found a hospital otherwise I wouldn’t retire in the Philippines.
Good info. Definitely healthcare insurance is very important to have when abroad. Many expats don’t think about it or consider it until it’s to late. I am glad I have a global health insurance company. My monthly fee might be slightly higher than regular coverage in the US. But I don’t have to worry if I am covered when outside of the USA.
I think some of the Phil-health costs for foreigners that is mentioned here is $360 annually not Monthly. FYI- Phil-health is on average a 25% off discount plan for Expats and Filipinos using Private Hospitals and not the same as medical insurance- However It does cover all costs in Public Hospitals I believe- Good Vid though- Keep up the good work!
Thank you Evan for this very valuable medical insurance and hospital information! This sort of critical and yet hard to come by advice is what makes your Philippines website unique and stand-out. Can you discuss the medical clinic situation, in the Philippines, for regular on-going care? Maybe discuss Pharmacies as well? Thank you, young man! 🙏👏
I think you should include more local only options since many expat retirees might not travel as often to need or want global health insurance plans and with the quality of the private healthcare in the PI, most US expats will probably take a trip stateside to use their Medicare to take care of anything that couldn’t actually be taken care of in the PI. You should mention HMOs and health insurance and the difference between the two. HMOs like Maxicare and Medicard typically cover most outpatient and preventative care by using up annual coverage limits. Health Insurance is more for long term and serious inpatient care that usually works via reimbursement after the insured intially pays. Also since alot of expat retirees are senior citizens… they should know many HMOs do not cover past the age of 65 and many insurance plans only cover those up to 75.
Greetings: Thanks for a article that really tells the story about health care as it really is. I have done many medical missions in Marinduque Island Province. We did many clinic screenings for blood pressure, eye sight and blood sugar. You would not believe the high blood pressures and high blood sugars that we uncovered. We gave out reading glasses by the gross. Dental care is on about the same level. Blessings and please keep.up the honest and frequent articles.
Health insurance is very important. Last year out of the blue, I had appendicitis. The total hospital bill costed me around $4k USD. It showed me on the bill that if I didn’t had insurance, I would have paid $100k+ in hospital bills. Health insurance is a must. No matter how healthy you think you are, something like appendicitis can just happen randomly. Health insurance prevents you from incurring insane amount of medical and hospital bills when something happens.
Thank you so much Evan. I am leaving the US for CEBU on the 12th of May. I have travel insurance, but NOT expat health coverage, and I know my BC/BS and Empire Plan from the US will not be taken there. Since I will be there are least 6 months, I will take a look at Allianz and maybe CIgna. Health care is something that worries me AND my partner for the time I’m there. Thank you again. Blessed be.
the ALLIANZ plans . . . those prices are per year (???? as you stated . . . ) or per month? Assuming you stated that correctly, and I see what is on the screen too, how is this so cheap? Do you need other insurance along with this? Let me ask you this way, at 77 years old, is there a reasonable plan I could use in Philly that is around $200 a month? Any kind of travel health insurance, like VISITOR’S COVERAGE ? (company name)
The alliance insurance for 60 years old was 109 thousand pesos. That’s for a year? That seems cheap. Can you buy for a quarter? The price I’m seeing for instance is $500 -700 per month. Who should I use for visiting the Philippines for 3-6 months at a time. Fully insured. Any thoughts. Oh, I’m thinking about Pangalo Bohol, so Tagbilaran hospitals maybe and I have a couple conditions I would have to allow for up front to the carrier? Like previous ish stroke and AFib.
since your family is from the usa, you probably have a better handle on this than most. what is the best way to interact with moving money around in the philippines. do you guys have local bank accounts? do you leave all of your money in international Banks and just use an ATM or an international credit or debit card? if you were going to buy a vehicle, and we’re going to pay cash to a private owner, how would you move a large sum of money from wherever you store it into the Philippines for that transaction?
I know that the article may be too long if you tried to cover all the insurers, but what can you say about Pacific Cross? Also, some expats were “divorce raped” or had other issues before moving so that, while income is OK for Philippines, being able to find $10000 for an emergency may be hard or impossible for them. So can you do a article discussing the insurers that cover this type of person by offering up front agreed payment to approved hospitals as opposed to those covering after the event through reimbursement. (Asking as I had a friend go through a lengthy law suit after receiving life saving treatment that he then could not afford to pay the bill. He was covered by insurance, but … well the scenario I already described. It seems, at least in some places, the first thought is “stuff your insurance policy, we want the money now!”
Hi Savvy, as I’m moving from the U.K. this June I’m thinking Cigna or Allianz more premium insurance which is the one that takes your age into consideration. Could you please provide those links? Also, my partner who is a Filipino is going to be treated by PGH for her Stage 4 cancer thanks to Dr. Jorge Ignacio. Do you have any idea or experience about PGH and cancer patients? Thank you.
I’ll be in mindanao and will need cardiac follow up as well as pacemaker. Davao is the nearest medical treatment facilities. Can you let me know which facility is the best for outpatient and inpatient if needed. I have blue cross/blue shield insurance which covers me in Philippines but I think there are forms for reimbursement
I plan to retire in either Clark, Panpamga or Davao City when i turn 70 yrs old 3 yrs later. I am checking out the different insurance plans. Do you have any information on Pacific Rim? Do retirees still need to pay for PhilHealth if they opt for private insurance? The $300 per month premium is even higher than the avg monthly Medicare premium in the US.
I wish a Veteran living in Philippines would do a article about the V.A. hospital in Manila. I am an Army Veteran and my health care is awesome here in Florida. I literally live 30 minutes from one of the best V.A. hospitals in the planet. If I move to the Philippines I would have to start going to the one in Manila. Will a Veteran who goes to this V.A. in Manila please comment in the comment section and give a brief assessment of this hospital for us veterans on the fence about living there. .
Just subscribed to your website and saw some of your articles. If you can would love if you can do more articles on health care insurance. I will be retiring in Taguig in another 2 years and will be 70 years old. I am finding thru my research that all the plans I looked at don’t cover pre-exiting conditions. Since I do take medication for Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cholesterol what options do I have to get health insurance that would cover a person in my position. I am worried that the insurance won’t cover anything if I need it because they may come back that my illness is related to one of my pre existing conditions
Is there any health insurance provider that doesn’t require out of pocket payment in full before covering costs? All the international travel insurance companies you referenced require payment up front prior to providing coverage when needed. In the U.S. (and in most developed countries) we may have co-pay to be concerned with but full payment up front is definitely the exception to the rule.
I’d like to know about local insurance, since I’ll be living in Sagada and will probably use a Baguio hospital. I’m 88 and won’t be travelling worldwide, making the plans you listed not appropriate for me. Thanks for all your information! It has made my move to the Philippines much easier than it would otherwise have been.
My dude, health care & benefits are so underrated & most people don’t talk about it or consider it & it’s a necessary safety net that all humans must address. Thank you for touching on this subject. I just lost my state job here in the USA & my benefits along with it. Do you know of any health care that you recommend here in the USA? I will be travelling in about another 9 months or so & I will be needing travel insurance myself bc I do have 2 health issues that I can not ignore & one just never knows when one will need it. Anyway, please let me know if you know of any health care programs here in america? Thank you ahead of time.
Since I am a Filipino American, hopefully if I ever get to receiving dual citizenship of both the Philippines and the United States, when I go visit my relatives in the Philippines, I can pay just $72.00 a month for health coverage while in the Philippines as you said in the article. To me that is a great deal!
Hi Evan, I wish you would have covered ambulance/emergency services and any type of 911 like service. Do you call a hospital and say I need an ambulance or are ambulances dispatched automatically in case of say an accident? Do you have to pay an ambulance or show proof of insurance before they will transport you? What if you are unconscious and can’t provide proof of means, what happens then? Thank you.
When there’s little income tax payers and the efficiency to collect is poor…what can you do? And the social programs for the lower middle class and poor and poverty is too much… You can’t help people who can’t help themselves… All related to over population. People enjoyed their people power, freedom and human rights past 36 years… Now we care about human rights more than human wrongs.
Sorry to disabuse you. The Philippines is not at western standards in health care. Foremost reason is ethics. It is ridiculously easy to sell expensive useless treatments and to generally profit from the inequality of knowledge between doctors and patients. Asian ethics are not western ethics ( gasp). Clutch pearls ! As a doctor I see tricks and frauds perpetrated against patients routinely Moreover Western docs are selected from a tiny percentage of the best graduates. Parental influence and wealth play no part in med school entry. Now, you will say it’s same in Philippines. I don’t believe you. Every aspect of Phil life is tainted with corrupt behaviour. Why would health be different?