Senior Citizen Discounts  

Senior Citizens Discounts

Senior Citizen Discounts

I am an expat permanent resident of the Philippines. Do I qualify for a senior citizen's ID card so that I may receive discounts? NO.

As Filipino citizen of the Philippines, you are eligible to obtain a Senior Citizen ID. Here are the key details you need to know: Age Requirement: To qualify, you must be 60 years old or above. This age criterion is based on the Republic Act 9994, commonly known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 20101.

Entitlements and Privileges: 20% Discount: Senior citizens enjoy a 20% discount on certain goods and services. VAT Exemption: They are also exempted from the value-added tax (VAT). These benefits apply to applicable goods and services, and you can pay using either cash or credit card.

Health and Medical Benefits: PhilHealth Coverage: Republic Act No. 10645 mandates mandatory PhilHealth coverage for anyone aged 60 and above. This coverage is provided in addition to the 20% discount and VAT exemption.

In private hospitals, the 20% discount and VAT exemption are deducted first from the medical bill before the PhilHealth benefit is applied. In public hospitals, the No Balance Billing Policy ensures that senior patients no longer need to pay for their hospital bills. Treatments can be availed using the senior citizen ID or any government ID.

How to Obtain a Senior Citizen ID: The Office for Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) issues the Senior Citizen ID. To avail of the benefits, you’ll need to present a valid passport as proof of age.

Remember, it’s essential to equip yourself with this information so you can provide proper care for your senior relatives and help them assert their rights under the law. And who knows, when you reach your golden years, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy these privileges too!

For Fiipino Citizens

Comments by aliens on a video about this subject:

1. "EVERY PUBLIC OFFICE HONORS ALL SENIOR CITIZENS...THE MALLS - AND ALL LEGALLY REQUIRED EVENTS - LTO - IMMIGRATION - MALLS ..."

2. "when I come to the Philippines, I see they have a senior line at the airport and foreigners regularly use it.

same as in the stores. I guess the store can decide to let anyone use the senior line but what about the airport? I asked one of the guys using it and he wasn't married to a Filipina just on a tourist visa."

3. "Many claims that seniors are better treated in the Philippines than in Europe. In my case at least this is NOT TRUE. I have a German disability card granting me many rights in all of Europe though I am citizen of a non-EU country. I am now living in the Philippines and feel treated much worse here than in any EU country as people with senior citizen card, who are younger, in better shape and probably much better health. than me bypass me only because I am not a Filipino. In Europe I was treated much better as a senior. This is an undeniable fact."

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about Senior Discount ID Cards. Uploaded February 5, 2024.

Medical Costs Philippines

Compare medical costs in Philippines

Compare Medical Costs in Philippines

On occasion all members of our family have consulted with doctors at clinics, hospitals or private offices. Some of us have spent time as patients in Hospitals in the Philippines.

We have experienced stays in wards, semi-private rooms, private rooms and even private suites at Makati Medical Center and at other medical facilities. We have been satisfied with the level of service and professionalism of doctors and staff.

Medical Price Lists

We have had xrays, ultrasound, MRI, minor outpatient surgery, emergency room visits, obstetrics and delivery room birthing. Prices and fees vary from facility to facility and from doctor to doctor.

You may find hospitals near you by referring to the 

National Health Facility Registry

Check out Health Insurance in the Philippines.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about compare medical costs in the Philippines. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Having a Baby In Philippines

Having a Baby in the Philippines

Having A Baby in The Philippines

Makati Medical Center (MMC) in Manila - Delivery of a baby at MMC compared to USA.

A few years ago, my wife chose Dr. Marinette Sto Domingo, to be her OBGYN. She has a clinic at Makati Medical Center, in Manila. She proved to be a very personable and competent doctor. She always returned our calls and advised us well. We are now the proud parents of a happy and healthy little girl. The total cost for hospital and doctors' bills for a c-section was about $3,000 US (including 9 months of doctor visits, room, tests, 2 ultrasounds, emergency visits, consultations with nutritionist and medications). Compare that to cost in the USA of between $6,000 US and $20,000 US for a normal delivery and up to $38,000 US for a Cesarean (not including doctors' visits, tests and medications).

If a baby is premature and needs intensive care for 90 days it can set you back about one million Pesos in the Philippines (or about $23,719 US at the exchange rate on July 1, 2012). The same services in the USA can set you back about $7,000 to $10,000 per day. At that rate 90 days in intensive care could cost you $600,000 or more. Most preterm babies do not require 90 days so in 2005 the average additional cost of a preterm baby was $51,600 US.

A Cesarean birth, including doctors' visits, a few emergency room visits and about 4 days in a private hospital room at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, FL, in March 2015, was billed at $60,500 US.  If it were not for health insurance that cost would be enough to break most families. 

See what a new mother wrote at her blog in October 2011. Her total cost of delivery and hospital stay at MMC.

Find out about hospitals in the Philippines, including MMC.

If you have had experiences at Philippine hospitals, clinics or birthing centers, good or bad, please share with us by making comments below.

Filipina guide to compute maternity benefits. 

Filipina - Information about 5 hospitals in Metro Manila.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about having a baby and maternity in the Philippines. Last updated June 3, 2022.

Retire in the Philippines

Retire in the Philippines!

There are about 300,000 Americans living full-time in the Philippines. Many, if not most, of them are retired. About 30,000 live in and around Angeles City on the island of Luzon.

The cost of living is much lower than in the USA. For example, the cost of a visit to a doctor or a dentist will be about $10 to $20. Medical and dental services are much cheaper.  In fact such services will cost from 5% to 10% of the price for the same services in the US.

We visited the Philippine Retirement Authority in Manila in 2019.

 

Rental rates:  We paid $70 a month rent for a

2 bedroom 1 bath apartment which had private parking with a gate in front of our first-floor unit. In the US the average cost of rent for a similar unit would be $1,205 a month (as of this date June 12, 2015.)

Cable TV and Internet service will cost about $20 a month each.

The cost of auto repair is significantly lower than in the US.

One can live comfortably on Social Security income of $800 or less a month. A family of 2 or 4 can live well on about $1,200 to $1,500 US a month. Of course it depends on where you live. If you live in a big city, like Manila, you can expect to pay considerably more for rent. But even there, a taxi will cost you only about $3.00 US to go about 5 or 10 miles. Living in more isolated places can lower your expenses considerably. I have read of families of 5 or more who live on $1,000 US a month or less.

There may be a way to engineer an extra, steady, income "by buying an immediate fixed annuity. According to ImmediateAnnuities.com, a 65 year old man who puts $100,000 into an immediate annuity today would collect about $500 a month throughout retirement."(from article 'Retire, Live Happily Ever After' in the Jan-Feb 2015 issue of Money magazine. Website: time.money.com)

If you are a Filipino you may want to check out e-PinoyGuide for information about Philippine Social Security benefits.

There are plenty of American fast food restaurant chains in the Philippines. Most are in the larger cities like Angeles City, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Manila and many more. You can find a good selection of American and European foods at grocery stores in the malls.

Shopping malls are world class! Visit a cinema in a mall and see first run movies for about $3.00 each. Get a haircut for a dollar or two. Your girlfriend or wife can get a manicure for a dollar or two.

Check out ladies of the Philippines. Many ladies are waiting for you. One good place to meet ladies is at food courts in the malls. Other places include beaches, churches, grocery stores, department stores, jeepneys, tricycles, buses and almost anywhere else.

It will  be a good idea to get travel insurance before you travel.

As for long term health insurance, there are many options, many health insurance providers in the Philippines.

Medicare will not cover you when you are abroad, but, 
I have heard that some Medicare insurance plans cover emergency medical care abroad. So be sure to check with your insurance agent.

You could fly back to the US if you should want to use  the services of the VA or use Medicare at other hospitals. There is a VA outpatient clinic in Manila and another on Guam. "Only Veterans who have a service connected disability of at least zero percent and registered with VA OPC are eligible for care and services (at the clinic in Manila.)"

Taken from the Manila VA outpatient website, "U.S. Veterans that live in another foreign country should coordinate their medical care and medication refills with the Foreign Medical Program (FMP.)"

As a foreigner you will not be permitted to work for remuneration in the Philippines unless you become a Permanent Resident and make application requesting to work there. You may not purchase a home unless you are married to a Filipino. You may, however, purchase a condo or lease a home.

Before you leave for the Philippines be sure you have a financial cushion. You will need to have money for deposits on cable, internet, water, electric, rental deposits, deposits before being admitted to hospitals, etc. and money for return flights to your home country. The more money you have in reserve the more comfortable you will be.

Oh, if you are a gambler there are a lot of casinos in the Philippines. It is possible to lose a lot of money. I have met Americans begging on the streets in Manila. The US Embassy will not give you money to fly back to the US and neither will the Philippine government. There are no free living quarters, no soup kitchens, so life could be extremely difficult if you lose your money.

You will need to extend your tourist visa regularly. Check with the US Embassy in Manila or with branch offices of the Embassy.  Don't overstay your visa, you could wind up detained by immigration. Be sure to extend your visa in a timely fashion each time it is required. Do not leave it to the last minute. Especially at holiday time. Immigration offices close for the holidays. I once had to book tickets online to leave the Philippines at the last minute, at a huge expense, because immigration was already closed when I had planned to go to renew. It was a good thing I managed to get that flight, immigration arrested about 20 foreigners, in the area where I had been living (Paranaque in Greater Manila), on or about Christmas day.

I spent 5 years living in the Philippines.

Check out US State Department site pages about travel to the Philippines.


What is the Philippine Retirement Authority?

 "The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) is a government owned and controlled corporation created by virtue of Executive Order No. 1037, signed by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos on 04 July 1985. On 31 August 2001, through Executive Order No. 26, the control and supervision of PRA was transferred to the Board of Investments (BOI) - Department of Trade and Industry from the Office of the President.

On 12 May 2009, Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as Tourism Act of 2009, PRA became an attached agency of the Department of Tourism and placed under the supervision  of the Secretary.

PRA is mandated to attract foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to invest, reside and retire in the Philippines with the end-view of accelerating the socio-economic development of the country, contributing to the foreign currency reserve of the economy and by providing them the best quality of life in the most attractive package."

Special Resident Retiree Visa Program

"The SRRV allows all its foreign retiree-members to retire and live in the Philippines for as long as they want.  An SRRV holder may come in and out of the country as often as he desires, and enjoy privileges such as exemption from securing the ACR I-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration Immigration Card) from the Bureau of Immigration; exemption from paying the travel tax at the Philippine Airports; and exemption from getting a Study Permit or Student’s Visa for their dependent-children who intends to pursue education in the Philippines.  PRA retiree-members may also use health cards issued abroad in Philippine hospitals/clinics accredited by selected health card companies.  They may also avail of the one time tax-free importation of household goods/personal effects; and many more."

Top 10 Places To Retire In The Philippines according to ZipMatch. 

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about retiring in the Philippines. Updated June 3 2022.

Useful Links

Links for Visitors and Filipinos

Flying to and from the Philippines.

Jet Lag

Taxis in the Philippines.

Hotels in the Philippines.

Flying in the Philippines.

Airports in the Philippines.

Ladies of the Philippines.

Food to avoid in the Philippines.

Drinking water in the Philippines.

Passports and Visas

Currency Converter or Money Changer

American food in the Philippines.

Etiquette or manners in the Philippines.

Cheapest transportation in the Philippines.

Cheap tricycle transportation in the Philippines.

Bus travel in the Philippines.

Hospitals, Clinics and Doctors in the Philippines.

Adventure in the Philippines.

Immigration offices in the Philippines.

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information and links for travel and living in the Philippines. Last updated June 3 2022.

Hospitals In Philippines

If you need to get to a hospital emergency room fast take a taxi, tricycle or hire an empty jeepney if you cannot find an ambulance.

Hospitals in the Philippines

Most jeepney drivers will let you pay a flat fare and then take you as a private passenger as if it were a taxi. 200 or 300 pesos would be a fair price to go about 3 to 5 miles (in my experience). However, if they know you need to go to a hospital they may charge more. 

Filipinos should be able to get free medical care at their local Barangay clinics (Barangay = Village, District or Ward).

There are many hospitals in the Philippines and many medical centers and clinics in the Philippines.
And, there are some differences between medical care in the Philippines and in the USA.
Hospitals and ambulance services are similar but with many differences.

The easiest doctors to find are those who maintain clinics in medical centers or hospitals.

It may be difficult to find local doctors via the internet. If one does not subscribe to a home phone line one does not receive a phone book. And, I have never seen a phone book in a hotel room.

Compare Medical Costs in Philippines

A hospital will usually require an initial deposit, from foreigners,  before they will admit a person. In 2008 Makati Medical Center (MMC) required a deposit of 15,000 pesos from us ($361 US as of current exchange rate Oct. 16, 2012). Some refer to this saying that hospitals and doctors require payment in advance of treatment.

And, after treatment, if a person does not pay the bill in full the hospital may refuse to discharge the patient until payment has been made. The bill continues to get larger each day. I've been told "That's just the way it is in the Philippines".

A deposit is not needed to visit the 24 hour emergency room at MMC. They accept major credit cards.

For those who cannot afford private hospitals there are government hospitals. Those provide free medical care. However, a patient must pay for necessary items like needles, medicines, etc. If a patient cannot afford those the patient will be discharged, so I have been told. So, free is not totally free.

For poor Filipinos getting treated at a hospital may be impossible. 

I read the case of a family who returned from Hong Kong to visit family in a remote village in the Philippines. Read about the gross negligence they encountered when they took their two sick young children to the nearest emergency room which was about an hour away from their relatives village. The article at EthicsInAction.asia depicted the poor who could not get medical care at a hospital.

Ambulance Service in the Philippines

As for ambulances with paramedics, there basically are not any in most cities of the Philippines.
Hospitals usually have one or two ambulances parked in front. But getting one when you need one would require  you to have already written down some ambulance and hospital phone numbers and calling them. As for response time, where we lived in a rural town it would have taken an ambulance about 40 minutes to come and pick us up and then return to the hospital.
As far as I know there are no paramedics in the ambulances. The small town of about 98,000 residents has a government hospital but there I was given a number of a private citizen who drives an "ambulance" van to take people to and from the hospital.

Lifeline Rescue ambulances serving Metro Manila

There is an ambulance company named Lifeline Rescue serving Metro Manila. They say they have fully equipped ambulances with paramedics. They even offer in-home doctor visits. You must pay a membership fee to join to avail of their services.

In Metro Manila there are other ambulance services also. I have not researched that yet. In Manila and in other crowded locales do not expect a fast trip to the hospital even if you are able to summon an ambulance. The traffic is terribly heavy and yields very slowly, if at all, to ambulances.

Sun Valley Ambulance in Paranaque City, Metro Manila

In Barangay Merville in Paranaque I have seen what serve for ambulances for many people.
If they are fortunate their Barangay may have a van which will be driven by a volunteer. In the Barangay of Merville I had the opportunity to ride in one while it was transporting my wife to a hospital. She was laying down on a foam mattress which was on a wooden table fastened to the inside wall if the van. The ride was not smooth, new shock absorbers were sorely needed. When the van hit bumps she bounced up off the mattress and down again, over and over. No strap to keep her on the mattress. At least we got to the hospital. If we had a car or had taken a taxi it would have been a smoother ride with no bouncing.

Ambulance & fire department rescue vehicle in Florida, USA.

This is in stark contrast to ambulance service in the US. In the Tampa Bay area of Florida ambulances are stationed at many locations around the entire area and respond to 911 emergency calls. Each has 2 paramedics. They are equipped with a lot of medical equipment and with radio equipment which can connect them to a doctor en route. They sit with their engines running and wait to be dispatched. Call and they will be at your door within about 4 minutes. This is true 24 hours a day. Equipped with good shock absorbers and suspension they provide a smooth ride.

I recently read online that the city of Davao, on Mindanao, has a 911 service and ambulances for the public. You will need to inquire as to whether there is a 911 system in Manila or other cities in the Philippines.

If you are going to be living in a city or rural area in the Philippines it would be a really good idea to locate a nearby ambulance service, get the phone number and inquire about arrangements in case you should be in need of an ambulance at a later date.

Check out Air Ambulance service in the Philippines. Get information and see membership plans. Here is another air ambulance service.

Doctors' Fees in the Philippines

As far as I can see, most doctors do not maintain private offices, they have clinics in hospitals or medical centers. Many have clinics in several different hospitals or medical centers. Some also see patients at clinics in shopping malls.

A typical visit to a doctor (MD) at a clinic cost about 500 pesos or about $12 US. (as of exchange rate on July 1, 2012).

An office visit at a clinic to see a specialists cost from about 800 pesos to 1,000 pesos ($19 to $24 US).

It is common practice in the Philippines to go directly to a specialist for any particular ailment.
In the USA it is common if not required to visit a general practitioner first. Then the general practitioner will refer one to a specialist.

Medical centers or facilities in the Philippines

I have been in hospitals which were not air conditioned, the windows were open and mosquitoes were flying in the halls. Considering that Dengue and Malaria are endemic in the Philippines open windows are probably unacceptable to most foreigners.

If you have any kind of medical condition I advise you to stay in hotels which are near hospitals.
If you will be staying for an extended time it would be best to get an apartment or home near a hospital.

Possibly the best care is to be found at the major medical centers in Manila, on the island of Luzon.

Some of the top medical centers are listed below. Click on their links to visit their web sites to learn more.

St. Luke's Medical Center

St. Luke's Medical Center, in Quezon City, near Manila. Supposed to be one of the best. We have never been there.

Makati Medical Center (MMC)

Makati Medical Center (MMC), in Manila.

Requires a deposit before admittance.

This medical center required a deposit of 15,000 pesos before they would admit a patient in 2008.
For comparison, Paranaque Doctor's Hospital in Paranaque City, Metro Manila required a deposit of 5,000 pesos in 2008. So, it is best to always carry your credit card when going to a hospital.

Birthing at Makati Medical Center in Manila, other hospitals and birthing centers.

Room Rates at Makati Medical Center in Manila compared to rates in USA

Small private rooms at MMC cost about $80 US per day. Compare that to a private room at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Florida. In 2008, when my wife was expecting, I asked someone in the US to check the rate there. She was told that a private room would cost over $800 US per day.

At Makati Medical Center we have utilized several types of rooms, from a bed in a ward to semi-private room to a small private room. The semi-private rooms are a very good deal; in fact they are small private rooms. The difference is that they share a bathroom with several other rooms. This was never a problem. And, they are maintained spotlessly.

Emergency Room Cost at Makati Medical Center compared to USA

On occasion I have had need of the 24 hour emergency room at MMC. Can you believe that the total cost of an emergency room visit there is about $40 US. Compare that to an emergency room visit in Florida, USA where one can easily spend $900 - $3,000 US or much more for each visit. It is imperative that one have health insurance in the US. Only 8 hospitals had an average charge under $1,000 US in years 2010 and 2011. South Miami Hospital (Baptist Health) had the highest average charge in Florida at $7,874 per ER visit (re: Consumer Health Ratings). This is probably one reason why many younger American retirees, who don't have health insurance or Medicare, retire to the Philippines.

In 2009, just out of curiosity, I called a helicopter service and inquired "How much would it cost to be taken by helicopter from Cavite to Makati Medical Center?" (a distance of about 25 miles or 40 km). The answer was "50,000 pesos. (or about $1,128.83 US)" So, air ambulance service is probably not an option for most people.

Hot water for hand washing at Makati Medical Center?
The MMC services and doctor's are among the best in the Philippines, but, do not expect to find hot water in the public bathrooms on the floors. When we were there, in 2008, hot water was only provided in the more expensive private rooms. I was always taught that it is best to wash one's hands with soap and hot water to kill germs. Possibly they now provide hot water for all hand washing. Why not call them before deciding which medical center to visit. I hear that MMC has undergone a major make over since we were there, there have been many improvements.

Compare cost of birthing at MMC to costs in Texas, USA

One day I was inside the US Embassy in Manila and chatted with an American who was there with his wife, their toddler and a newborn baby. He was from Texas. They had flown back to the Philippines for the birth of the baby. The first had been born in the Philippines while they were living there. But they flew back to save money on this delivery. He said that it saved them about $20,000 US.

Eateries near Makati Medical Center (MMC)

Across the street from the front entrance to MMC are McDonald's, KFC and Starbucks. At the cafeteria on the first floor of MMC you will find mostly Filipino foods. At certain hours delicious pasta is prepared to order for a very low cost, just ask when. I understand that there are more eateries in MMC now. Other restaurants can be found across from the rear entrance to the hospital and down the street.

Manila Doctors Hospital, in Manila.

We have never visited there but it has a very good reputation. 

Angeles University Foundation Medical Center

Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (AUF)

In Angeles City we have visited several doctors at AUF.

24 Hour Emergency Room services at AUF

No deposit is required to visit the emergency room. The staff is very helpful and are the nurses and doctors are among the best. Fees are very low compared to US. An emergency room visit may cost from about 800 pesos to maybe 1,500 pesos. They have always diagnosed us correctly, which led to prompt recovery.

A private doctor's office or medical clinic in Angeles City, Philippines

While in Angeles City we also visited Doctor Manalo, at her private clinic, the Merly M. Manalo Clinic, several times. It is a very small clinic located on Narsico Street about 50 feet from Fields Avenue in the Balibago section of Angeles City (not far from SM City Clark). She is what we call in the USA a General Practitioner. She has treated me, my wife, and our child. She is a very personable doctor and we never felt rushed. She prescribed the right medicines and our health improved quickly each time. Call the clinic at +63456256514 or +639178111089.

The clinic is easily accessible from most hotels in this main tourist section of Angeles City. Get there by jeepney or tricycle. Ask the driver if he knows where the clinic is. If he doesn't know then find one who does.

We were referred by her to a laboratory called Compuserve, on Don Juico Ave. for blood test. They can do all types of blood tests. We had asked at AUF and were told that they do many but not all tests.

Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Visit Asian Hospital's web site. I have heard several Filipinos say that Asian Hospital is the newest and probably the best hospital in Metro Manila. We have never been there. However, several of the doctors we visited at Makati Medical Center also have clinics at Asian Hospital and other hospitals.
We have never visited there.

Medical City, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, Metro Manila

Visit Medical City's web site.
We have never visited there. But, I hear it is a very good center. 

See 2013 Maternity Packages at hospitals in Manila area. Costs of normal delivery and Cesarean delivery.

Comparing health care in other countries to that in the Philippines

Read what an American, who has lived in the Netherlands, has to say about health care in other countries.
In the Netherlands he was handed needles and vaccines and told to inoculate his children himself.
In the Philippines the doctors or nurses administer the vaccines as they do in the USA.

One of the biggest scams in the Philippines is asking someone to help with medical or hospital bills. The best advice I have seen is, never send money to someone you have not met in person. Read about this and scammers and dating scams.

Please share your personal experiences with medical care in the Philippines with other readers by making comments below.

Be sure to read "10 ways to save on hospital bills" in the Philippines.

Find out about Health Insurance In The Philippines, International Health Insurance and Medical Evacuation Insurance.

If you do not pay your hospital bill in full you may be prevented from leaving the hospital.

I have heard of this happening to some Filipinos. If you get in that situation it will probably be a good idea to get in touch with an attorney.

You may get to a hospital by taxi, jeepney, train or tricycle. Or use a combination of these forms of transportation. Don't hesitate to ask the drivers or passengers for directions or where to meet connecting transportation. Most people speak English.

Will Medicare cover me in the Philippines? If you are a US citizen it will probably not cover you in the Philippines. Ask your insurance agent. It may cover you for emergencies while you are traveling. You may be covered in hospital in Guam or you may need to fly to hospital in Hawaii.

American doctors and hospitals scream and yell that Medicare reimbursement is not sufficient. For Philippine doctors and hospitals, the amount is like manna from heaven. Medical City, which includes over 1,000 physicians, decided to construct a $200 million hospital in Guam. By special arrangement, it will be staffed by Filipino doctors and nurses. Once construction is complete in about another year, you can fly to Guam for Medicare reimbursed hospitalization by doctors and nurses who could have attended to your needs in the Philippines. (confirm this before going there.)

Most medical treatment cost about 10% of what it cost in the USA.
Asia Bill writes in his blog about health care in the Philippines.
He has chosen to self-insure:
"HEALTH  INSURANCE  OPTIONS in the PHILIPPINES - When considering the monthly payments versus coverage included please be reminded that most health care in the Philippines is approximately only 10% to 20% the cost of any medical treatment in the USA.We have never had health insurance choosing to have enough cash savings for any family health emergency. My wife Lorna had two minor surgeries during her 40s and with her stay in a private room with Manila Bay view for several days each time in the nearby San Juan De Dios Hospital and additional blood and other tests, the first time it cost us only P10,000 ( at the time about U$350 ) and the second time several years later P20,000 ( at that time less than U$500 ). When we go to a specialist whther it be a urologist or an eye doctor or dermatogist the basic cost of the visit is only P400 to P500 ( basically U$10!!!! )"

Hospitals that provide Hemodialysis Blood Treatment in the Philippines.

Check out this list of hospitals that provide Hemodialysis treatment.

Medical Tourism in the Philippines

Many people travel to the Philippines to take advantage of lower medical costs of providers who provide Medical Tourism services.

Philippines Health Care System (PDF)

If you have had experiences at Philippine hospitals, clinics or Doctors, good or bad, please share with us by making comments below.

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about doctors, hospitals, clinics, air ambulances, medicare and medical care in the Philippines. Last updated June 18, 2022.