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I am thinking I saw the same video.  Is this the one where he compared the Philippines health care quality to Western standards 30 years ago?  That is not to say it is bad, that is to say they can do good treatment for most things but the latest greatest cutting edge is not available.  EG, if you went to a hospital in the USA with a heart attack in 1995 you got good treatment but not all the bells and whistles you may get today.  I thought this was a great way to explain it.

I will look into the insurance in the future but at the moment I am leaning towards self insured with funds always available for an emergency.  I am curious what others think, and what experiences others have had.

Cheers,

In the states if you had a stroke, you would call 911 and within an hour you would be saved.

In the Philippines you would be dead waiting for help.

I suppose Bob it depends on where you live/are in the US with regards to your response times.

If you have a stroke or heart attack in your sleep or alone the recovery odds drop dramatically.

My ambulance for me is my better half who has advanced first aid training for years working in aged care in Australia and well aware how to deal with oldies like us, also a set of wheels (the ambulance) and a 30 minute drive to a great private hospital, also our caretaker to help bundle me into the car.

If I was single/alone I would still be living in Oz and not here, and calling 000 or your 911 I could be waiting more than an hour for an ambulance as the closest is 20 minutes from our old farm and Oz has a problem with ramping,,,,,,,, ambulances waiting at the hospitals to offload the patient because of staffing and bed shortages.

When out and about I avoid getting hit by a bus.

Cheers, Steve.

I self insure due to the compatibly low cost of healthcare here. Wife is dual citizen so she can avail the free hospital if required. I do get a complete blood screen done every 6 months to make sure nothing is getting out of control. Roughly 2000 peso’s

Myself and friends are generally in better shape than when in our home countries. I have lost 40 lbs, blood pressure meds cut in 1/2 mainly due to less stress, diet not using prepackaged foods and a better climate

I honestly don’t think I know anyone who has Philippine issued health insurance.

As per bigpearl’s reply 911 ambulance service , my wife can drive me to the hospital in 15 minutes,  I have seen 911 respond to calls here in the subdivision not sure of response time

@AlbertaDonuts

Morning Don.

I and many have posted plenty on this topic over the years and perhaps off the OP's topic but aligned simply comes back to personal choice/research and the financial situation.

For Ben and I living and working in Oz were paying AU 10K+ per year for Medicare (tax based) and private health insurance to feed the maggots.

When we moved here over 6 years ago we decided to self insure, we stuck AU 50K into an investment account as a medical fund earning 5% then now 4.6% and regardless one needs to do the math on any investment but reality is that 50K is now worth 60K+ and never touched.

My PhilHealth is P17K, Ben 6K and our caretaker also 6K so P29K per year or 2,400 odd per month that we allow in our monthly/yearly living costs,,,,,, chicken sh1t.

My hospital bill in 6+years, P40K and our worker recently P17K, again chicken sh1t and in the mean time the emergency fund is sitting there and growing and we are not paying private health insurance for over 6 years thus saving a further AU 40/50K and the emergency fund sitting there........ As my long departed dad (30 years tomorrow) taught us wisely if you look after the pennies the dollars take care of themselves, works for me.

People need to research and do it well then do it again no matter medical but all life's choices.

Cheers, Steve.

In the states if you had a stroke, you would call 911 and within an hour you would be saved.
In the Philippines you would be dead waiting for help. - @Enzyte Bob

How many expats with a dicky heart die prematurely worried about the response times if they do  have a heart attack?

In the states if you had a stroke, you would call 911 and within an hour you would be saved.
In the Philippines you would be dead waiting for help. - @Enzyte Bob
How many expats with a dicky heart die prematurely worried about the response times if they do have a heart attack? - @Lotus Eater

One of the things that surprised me in the video was that the guy being interviewed said that the local Barangay Captain had an ambulance and fire truck at his disposal. Probably quicker to phone him for an ambulance if needed than go the normal 911 route.

Lotus Eater said . . . . How many expats with a dicky heart die prematurely worried about the response times if they do have a heart attack?

****

Probably Expats and others who are sleeping don't worry about heart attacks.

But I'm talking about Strokes which require immediate medical attention.

With immediate medical attention, substantial number of deaths and debilitating long term problems can be prevented.

@bigpearl

I agree with all you said here and we have had private discussions about this beyond the forums.  The one thing the video did make mention of was the access this insurance provider could get to move a person to the head of the line.  Is that true or just a claim, I don't know.  Food for thought and an interesting video.

That being said, I am currently and my plan remains to be self insured.  Wishing us all continued health and a good plan for when things go bad.  We are getting older things will go bad.

Keep on breathing.

Donald

@AlbertaDonuts

I have no idea with the pushed to the front of the cue with a private insurer, my only experience here has been fantastic simply having PhilHealth and paying he bill before I walk out the door,,,, well Ben pays the bills and I walk out with him.

I feel major surgery would be treated the same and the care seems to be the same whether a westerner or local. Very happy with the system and self insuring.

Cheers, Steve.

Some more thoughts when it comes to heart attacks or a major stroke, a critical car accident etc.

Does it matter what country one chooses to live in? It 100% depends on the circumstances at the time, living alone having a major incident I doubt you'll be able to pick up a phone to call for help, in your sleep? A bad car accident in a remote area, the list goes on and I've always had the philosophy "when your numbers up that's it".

Even if you do make it to a hospital there is no guarantee of survival in a major incident.

Stay healthy and enjoy life every day.

Cheers, Steve.

In the States you can purchase medical devices mainly used by the disabled or seniors living alone.

It's a device that is worn and when activated notifies an emergency response center of your location. They notify the first responders.

American Expats do you remember the commercial "I've fallen and I can't get up"?

My favorite commercials:

(1) Mamma Mia, What a spicy meatball.

(2) Where's the beef?

(3) I've fallen and I can't get up.

My favorite commercials:(1) Mamma Mia, What a spicy meatball.(2) Where's the beef?(3) I've fallen and I can't get up. - @Enzyte Bob

My all time favourite commercial in the Philippines was the 'Salon De Manila' (An upmarket ladies hairdressing salon in Makati) commercial played on Manila's top jazz radio station at the time Crossover 105.8 FM. The ad was created by the US ad agency Leo Burnett.

The laugh is a couple of years ago I was staying at the Seda hotel in Makati next to the Makati Medical hospital ( I figured Bob that if I had a stroke I'd be in good hands)

Anyway I did not take my breakfast there but took a leisurely 15 minute morning walk to my favourite breakfast haunt on Legazpi St;  an Aussie - New Zealand co production, the Antipodean (link below.)  Imported Javanese coffee from Indonesia and a great fry up.

One morning I took a different route and happened to look up and there it was Salon De Manila. Classy outfit. So I thought I would just introduce myself and compliment the staff on a great commercial. Bottom line: They had never heard it.

My favorite commercials:
(1) Mamma Mia, What a spicy meatball.
(2) Where's the beef?
(3) I've fallen and I can't get up. - @Enzyte Bob

My favourite British TV commercials were the PG Tips ones back in the day with the Chimps. I also like the Aussie commercial by BushBarbie for condoms.

My favorite commercials:(1) Mamma Mia, What a spicy meatball.(2) Where's the beef?(3) I've fallen and I can't get up. - @Enzyte Bob My favourite British TV commercials were the PG Tips ones back in the day with the Chimps. I also like the Aussie commercial by BushBarbie for condoms. - @Cherryann01

Let me guess CA. You're worst ad was this one - the 'Shake n vac'  🤣

My favorite commercials:(1) Mamma Mia, What a spicy meatball.(2) Where's the beef?(3) I've fallen and I can't get up. - @Enzyte Bob My favourite British TV commercials were the PG Tips ones back in the day with the Chimps. I also like the Aussie commercial by BushBarbie for condoms. - @Cherryann01Let me guess CA. You're worst ad was this one - the 'Shake n vac' 🤣 - @Lotus Eater

Close but I hate the Fairy Liquid ad with the kid waiting for the bottle to be empty to make his rocket and the old Fudge Bar advert with the terrible singing. (A finger of fudge is just enough).

Off topic but one of my favourite adds.

Cheers, Steve.