PhilHealth is good to have, but let me offer a bit of first-hand advice.....If you go into the hospital, do NOT leave until you are well!! Because if you return in a few days time, they will not pay again for the same issue. My husband went into the hospital with pneumonia for a couple of days, decided he wanted to go home (against everyone's wishes). PhilHealth paid that bill (100% to my recollection), about 10,000php. He voluntarily went back, not improved, 2 days later. He ended up in ICU on a ventilator (2 weeks), and ultimately passed. This bill was 100's of 1000's php, and PhilHealth denied every bit of it since he went back before the required wait time between incidents. Read their rules and understand them. But, again, it is good to have in case of hospitalization.
Also, if you are delinquent you don't have coverage until the next quarter "officially" so hope someone has mercy on the foreigner!
There are alternatives to paying at Western. The Post office in the next booth accepts payment as well as LBC the mall. Western Union is usually a long wait, The other downside is while you wait beside all the nicely dressed young scammers, that many other expats are looking in the windows wondering who you have scammed. Those that are now sending you money because you posted some sexy female pictures on your fake scamming Facebook account "Filipina Filly... ready to play if your are ready to pay" lol I was told by PH in Robinsons that you will have to go to the PhilHealth Daro Office above Mercury Pharmacy to pay when the new rate plan for Expats comes into effect in July. No more payment at other locations.
I prepaid for 2017 at Philhealth in January [ 2400]. I understand that that policy will not be in effect after June 30, 2017 due to the new rates. I do NOT expect to get a rebate for the last half of the year. It might be possible but I am sure not worth the effort that will be required !! haha
Just been down to Philhealth to renew wifes account (24000, enquired if I need to pay anything extra so I can use wifes account if sick or accident. This is what she said to me....Because you are a foreign national I had to pay 17,000 for my own account or I could stay on my wife's account at know extra cost, and avail philhealth care. Am I missing something here?
It's like I'm given a choice....Have my own account and pay 17,000 OR stay on wife's account and pay nothing. It's a no brainer.
Has anyone had any experience with Cigna? They have three tiers of coverage. The top-tiered Platinum is $311 US per month, and appears to cover just about everything, with no deductible. I would like to know if there are any companies out there that offer the same or better.
