Medical Costs in Philippines compared to U.S.A.

Timo62 Active member

Member since 28 June 2022

Timo62Active member11 July 2022 12:59:55

Am considering moving back to the U.S. but am concerned about the high costs of medical care there. In 2012 I blogged about costs in the Philippines at Have you done any research on this recently?

coach53 ViP

Member since 17 December 2020

coach53ViP11 July 2022 14:10:36

1564

I dont know the amounts but before covid:

/There were some medical and dental "tourists" going to Phils for costly such and total including travel and hotel the costs became significant lower than costs in USA.

/BECAUSE OF differences in medical costs in advantage of Phils,聽 few years ago a group including a Fil-Am had some plans to make a complex north of Bacolod for foreigners (Americans) to retire in, including having own doctors, nurses and caretakers in the complex, which serrvices could be added when become needed WITHOUT needing to move.聽聽 I dont know if its done.

And caretakers are MUCH cheaper in Phils.

So I suppouse much cheaper in Phils (except perhaps in expensive regions as Metro Manila and Cebu.)

pnwcyclist Philippines Expert

Member since 27 June 2017

pnwcyclistPhilippines Expert11 July 2022 14:12:57

1486

Billed costs are outrageous.. but my US Medicare Part C Advantage Plan always covers it fine, with minimal out of pocket. I was bit by a bat last year near my home in Arizona and the rabies shots were $10,000. Here its $200. But it did include immunoglobin, which is apparently expensive, and important for bat bites as high prevalence of rabies.聽 The good news was they had what I needed, it apparently worked, lol.. and my OOP was only around $300.

The key is you gotta have coverage. Mine is great and fully paid for by the standard Medicare payment. Here I just pay as I go, the only expensive cost was a knee MRI in 2015 from a mountain biking injury.. $240.

tpiro Serial expat

Member since 21 July 2021

tpiroSerial expat11 July 2022 17:07:40

274

Be prepared my friend.. whether you have straight Medicare A/B or a third-party like BC/BS or UHC, etc.聽聽The Healthcare will bend you over no matter what Insurance you might have.聽聽Good luck!

Lotus Eater ViP

Member since 26 June 2012

Lotus EaterViP12 July 2022 19:27:27

1886

When it comes to health care Stateside I often here the clich茅 'Don't grow old or get sick in America' Well if you're aged and wealthy I guess that rules you out.

As I understand looking at things from across the pond even if you have a comprehensive health insurance policy you are still liable for a % of the medical bill which often can be financially ruinous. Apparently the USA has one of the highest health expenditures as a % of GDP than just about any OECD nation.

Moreover because many Americans health care is tied to their job this can often inhibit the mobility of labour.

But is the grass greener here in the UK? Well everything apart from dental care (some of which is subsidised) is free BUT we now have some very long waiting times for surgery compounded by covid. A few Brits go private but it represents a small % of the population. Indeed many NHS (National Health Service) treatments are carried out in private hospitals.

Enzyte Bob ViP

Member since 26 October 2018

Enzyte BobViP12 July 2022 22:39:35

4089

When it comes to health care Stateside I often here the clich茅 'Don't grow old or get sick in America' Well if you're aged and wealthy I guess that rules you out.

As I understand looking at things from across the pond even if you have a comprehensive health insurance policy you are still liable for a % of the medical bill which often can be financially ruinous. Apparently the USA has one of the highest health expenditures as a % of GDP than just about any OECD nation.
Moreover because many Americans health care is tied to their job this can often inhibit the mobility of labour.
But is the grass greener here in the UK? Well everything apart from dental care (some of which is subsidised) is free BUT we now have some very long waiting times for surgery compounded by covid. A few Brits go private but it represents a small % of the population. Indeed many NHS (National Health Service) treatments are carried out in private hospitals.
- @Lotus Eater

Many people in the states have Medicare Advantage Plans where Medicare pays a monthly fee to the plan to take responsibility of all your medical needs. Most at no cost to you, many plans are available with different benefits, mine also had prescriptions.

Expat health insurance

Protect your health and get easy access to treatment for expats in the Philippines.

Enzyte Bob ViP

Member since 26 October 2018

Enzyte BobViP12 July 2022 23:59:06

4089

Am considering moving back to the U.S. but am concerned about the high costs of medical care there. In 2012 I blogged about costs in the Philippines at Have you done any research on this recently?
- @Timo62

What a timely post. Just an hour after reading this I caught a Youtube video by Old Dog New Tricks. . .labeled: Health Crisis in the Philippines.

The jist of the video is this Expat came to the Philippines got married and knocked up his much younger wife.

He had to return to the states and he got locked out returning to the Philippines because of Covid. So he finally gets here and three days later has a stroke. Then sometime afterwards he has a heart attack, then sometime later he has a massive stroke leaving him wheelchair bound and partially paralyzed.

He said if he had the stroke in the US he could have arrived at the hospital and received the medication that would have prevented the stroke damage.

There is a thought I want to say but not wanting to upset some of the Expats on this forum.

When you were younger in the states you probably thought more about birth control and the impact it would have on you. Then you get to the Philippines, get a girl friend or wife, 20, 30, 40 or more years younger. All family planning is thrown a side and you knock her up. You end up having a child maybe 50, 60 or 70 years younger than you. You will had passed on not witnessing them growing from a toddler to an adult. What will happen to your offspring? The prospects are not very good.

Now this guys wife who is just beyond the age of being a child herself, has to take care of the baby and be a caregiver to him.

See the video.