Health care in the Philippines

[freeheeler]

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I'm not sure if this in the correct section or if it should be in the general section, but here goes.

What happens in the Philippines if you fall ill or you get injured in the street by a car or if you have a heart attack or some other illness?

I only ask as a friend of mine who is married and living in the Philippines has had to pay bills of 400,000+ pesos recently as his mother in law had a stroke, this includes dialysis and physical therapy

So, what happens if they could not have afforded to pay the bills, do they still treat you?

What if you come from a poor family and you get knocked down and break a leg or something similar and you do not have the money, will they still treat you?

I know America has a greedy and expensive medical system whereas Europe, or most of it has what is known as "socialised medicine" where you can get treated (it may take time if it is not urgent) even if you are not from the country

Can you take out private medical insurance in the Philippines? Do they have general hospitals and private hospitals? Britian has both general hospitals where anyone can get treated but if you need something like a hip replacement it could take up to a year. But if you have the money you can go privately and have it done straight away. That's why a lot of British people go to France or other places for treatment. Dentistry is also the same. I know of people that come to the Philippines because of the high standard and price to get their teeth looked at

Just looking for information

Thank you

[dyosa]

that is one of the leading problems here in our country. it is the lack of budget that's causing this.

[chad_tukes]

i don't think there is a concrete Health Insurance system in the Philippines that people even with the lowest income could afford. there is too much flaw in the system that it creates injustice to those who deserve appropriate medical help.

is there a law in our country that states ANYONE WITH OR WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE have the right to EMERGENCY medical attention in situations that is LIFE THREATENING?

[krstnal]

im a nurse and i have worked in public hospitals...its really sad that most patients worry about their finances more than their health...

in fairness public regional hospitals are better choices to go to if you lack funds as compared to private hospitals. i have patients with renal failure and undergoes dialysis for months...she told me that the used to go to a private hospital after 2 months there they decided to transfer because of the tremendous debt they are in because of their pay in that hospital...imagine, what they have to pay in private hospitals is only half of what they can pay in a public one..

health care system generally in the philippines is flawed. true because the funds are not readily available and it is not like the military wherein it is the priority for budgeting...plus the nurses and doctors are underpaid...its like doing charity work...

i highly admire those nurses who work for both public and private hospitals because they have low pay and so much work....

patients do still get to be treated if emergency situation...

in vicente sotto they have social workers who give discounts...

one sad story i can relate in this topic is this woman who came to the director of the hospital to ask for help because she cant pay her daughter's bill..the secretary told the woman to go to the social worker to have a discount. the woman said that she already did and she still can't pay the amount...so i was thinking that maybe the amount is so big...and then the secretary asked how much is the remaining balance the woman said 1 thousand pesos!?!?! i really can't believe it...1 thousand pesos! the woman said that she only has 500 and she's asking for a waiver...

as you can see even with the discount some people still could not afford to pay. in such instances they can approach charitable institutions to help them out....

hopefully the next time politicians decide to make the budget for health care they will make more consideration to people who are really poor and can't afford and not on their hidden agendas.

[Dorothea]

Kung wala ka'y kuarta, unya masakit ka, aw patay kang bata ka.

[nyam]

i think the best HMO is medicard or maxicare..

[rockart9]

even people with HMO still get screwed by insurance providers! I was hospitalized a month ago because my doctor suspected a case of deep vein thrombosis. So I checked into a hospital but after the testing and etc. my HMO, Kainos said they wouldn't cover it because the doctor who treated me was not an accredited doctor! And that for my case to be covered I had to go to their clinic and be diagnosed there. i was soo pissed! Can you imagine that? I've never trusted any of their doctors. One even said to an officemate of mine that her symptoms was all "in her head" but she went to an EENT and found out that her parotid glands were indeed swollen due to an infection! If I went to their clinics they would probably have diagnosed my case as a sprain or something else. That would mean that I would be walking around with a potentially serious condition and i wouldn't be able to get the proper help until i passed out and died!

You know, Health Insurance wasn't as screwed up as it is today. IMO HMOs are greedy and quite frankly don't even cover the important stuff. So I wouldn't trust my health with that. i'd rather save up my money in a bank for emergencies rather than get an HMO esp. my current one.

[holaysan]

insurance companies are all for business.
Ok lang is you are paying them and not making any claims pero if you start making claims daghan kaayo samok.

It so sad that we work and save our wholelife and if we get sick hurot tanan kwarta and puro utang pa.

I would really puch for a socialize health care system

try watching Michael Moore Movies title Sicko
It would really open your mind on this

[chad_tukes]

insurance companies are all for business.
Ok lang is you are paying them and not making any claims pero if you start making claims daghan kaayo samok.

It so sad that we work and save our wholelife and if we get sick hurot tanan kwarta and puro utang pa.

I would really puch for a socialize health care system

try watching Michael Moore Movies title Sicko
It would really open your mind on this

it's better having health insurace than having NONE at all.

especially if we talk about HEALTH---yes i agree it's business---and expensive at that.

if you say socialize health care system, do you mean universal?

[krstnal]

kasagaran sa akong ma-encounter nga mga tao ba kay mga wla man guy insurance nya wla pa jud kwarta so worst case scenario kaayo diba? mayo na lang gani naay mga Chu Chi Foundation na makatabang ug mga social worker nga makahatag ug discout.

CCMC guys grabeh maka-discount jud ka. Half mil amo gasto first operations sa akong manghod didto sa velez. Second operation kay among gbayad sa ccmc kay mga 7thou mn tngli to pro wla pa na apil ang mga gamit. Pero bisan na dako ghapon ang difference. Nya Im happy to report na mas na-successful pa ang second operations kaysa first! Amazing noh?