Expat Health Insurance: My Thoughts – Philippines

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Author: Reekay V.

Since 2012 I’ve been traveling through various islands of the Philippines as a full-time Expat and spent 1999 living in Vietnam.

Share with me my ongoing adventures of life in the Philippines. Hopefully you find my observations helpful in your own adventures.
— Reekay

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27 comments

  1. LINKS:
    Q&A Video with Insurance Agent.. https://youtu.be/EKQwsK3GO6g
    Contact Agent Michael Onstad.. https://www.facebook.com/groups/974207416765198
    Message Michael Onstad directly at his FB page.. https://www.facebook.com/monstad1
    Global Health Insurance for remote workers and nomads covers Covid-19: https://bit.ly/3kJOret
    Health Insurance: covers pre-existing conditions, cancer and Covid-19: – http://bit.ly/3fSZEaL

    My New Late Night Podcast Channel.. https://www.youtube.com/c/LATENIGHTWithReekay
    My Free Crypto Daily Investor’s Group.. http://www.facebook.com/groups/cryptodaily.withreekay
    My FB group for Expats abroad.. https://www.facebook.com/groups/expats.on.lockdown
    View My Videos by Category here.. http://bit.ly/reekays-video-playlists
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  3. I have a question about this? How about Tricare Overseas coverage. This is insurance that covers military retired while overseas and even covers where Medicare does not. For 2022 it cost me $152 for the year with a deductible $150 and 25% copay

  4. My new Medicare Advantage plan reimburses me for any Healthcare Cost while traveling in a Foreign Country, even though I will have to pay for the initial cost upfront. Fyi

  6. We have no problem with a health insurance requirement. We think the philippines is missing a tremendous opportunity to insure foreigners and strengthen their own Phil health system. Why not simplify the whole tourist process and have the philippine government provide health insurance for tourists and lower costs for everyone at the same time?

  8. The insurance makes no sense because we will be required to pay upfront at the hospital or they will not let you leave even though technically it’s illegal. And no Philippine hospital except for the one in Clark at the medical city will file any of your insurance paperwork (I.e. direct billing). If they were accepting your insurance at the hospital and filing the bill on your behalf with you making a copay then I can see them requiring insurance. But truth be told they will have nothing to do with reimbursement of your insurance company other than giving you a copy of your receipt and maybe the doctors notes with the hope that your insurance company accepts that for reimbursement months down the road. So really they should be looking to see if you have a budget set aside for getting sick or credit cards to use if they’re wanting to look at anything. Not unless they are using this is a way of having foreigners buy some of their insurance plans but I don’t see that.

  10. Agreed. I’m healthy. But I woke up Sunday with atrial fibrillation. Turned out low potassium. Three days in hospital. 750 dollars. It can happen anytime

  11. The issue for expats is we already have insurance but they it is a general blanket insurance that covers you. No amount is put on a retirement insurance plan and immigaration in Thailand on PI want to see a specific amount. If they don’t then you don’t have insurance and it is not acceptable. Also, in Thailand if you have your own retirement insurnce they want your insurance to complete an immigration Thai form that states you have X amount for in patient and out patient and want is signed by two directors and stamped by your retirement or private insurance. Most, Military Retiree’s and private Retiree with government insurance will not do the above. They just provide a general letter saying your are covered from your retirement date or plan start date and will continue because you are a retiree. So, Expats have to pay for an insurance plan that really if you read the fine print and look at the exclusions is shit insurance. Also, the older you are the more expense this shit insurance is. $900 to $1,500 per year or more they want you to pay when you already have insurance from your home country that is good world wide. So, expat who do not want to participate in this Bull Shit will go some where else. Also, in Thailand the Insurance companies are refusing to pay out to the hospitals so the expat is stuck with the bill. The Thai Govnernment is forcing the insurance company to pay but they a threating bankrupcty. AXA I hear a lot about. I sent emails back and forth to confirm the exclusion. Shit Insurance. Also, you are not covered until after a month of having this insurance. So, you have to buy it then wait a month. But the find print says they do not cover cardio diseases – so what is covid? They have but in escape classes.

  13. Rekey,
    Great video. Question. Insurance companies only provide a maximum of 90 days policy. What will happen after 90 days ?

  14. Hi Reeky! Good Idea to publish „my question“ and „your very good answer to it“ as a seperate Video, great! 😀 Thank you for your very good thoughts..

  15. Mr Reekay my thought is this. The Visa on arrival is good only for 30 days, so maybe expat needs insurance for only up to there initial stay of less then 30 days the expat can get travel inurance. Altough I am with you on this, health insurance is a good idea just in case. Last I chekced was with Pacific Cross, I am 65 years old they wanted like 65K a year for there premium health insurance.

  17. I arrived in Cebu February 10 2022. I was not asked for any travel insurance documents. All they required was my vaccination certificate and proof of negative Covid test 48 hours prior to arrival All uploaded to the Philippines one health pass which sent me a QR code. I showed my screen shot QR code and my Passport and was allowed entry with no further questions.

  18. I have my own insurance. USA says it not recommended for us to go so the insurance had doubled

  19. $1,200 USD a year is money well spent for the peace of mind…and a financial lifesaver if you do have the misfortune of a serious hospital stay.

  20. Hi Reekay, after watching your video with Michael Onstad, I contacted him for the travel insurance and for full health insurance when I travel and live permanently in the Philippines.. Thank you.

  21. Thanks the insurance policy information. One question I have is the vaccine card, what is a good vaccine card look like. The vaccine I have had was in June of 2021. Is that card still good??

  22. i heard already reports but i have
    no proof ,that bi office dont ask for proof of insurance only the $$ n passport needed , gio going soon bi office for his renewal n said he let us know…

  23. Hello Reekay and Miss Viekay , my opinion on the Insurance ,, fully vaccinated citizens of countries entitled to stay “( visa-free )”for not more than 30 days under Executive Order 408, S. 1960. 30 days is the duration of the stay ,,, because they require a RETURN ticket ,,, once you file for a visa ” (extention ) ” the rules go back to the original Order 408 s ,,,,,, that doesn`t require insurance , this is just my opinion and have no documents to back it up , but it makes sense because they can not keep track of everyone

  25. That’s a good point only those that are traveling there now need health insurance what about the experts that are there already what’s the difference That’s a great point let’s see what happens

  26. The problem arises with older expats and the cost of the insurance. I am personally going to investigate this further Reekay and thank you. Being an older expat.(70+), I have made the decision that when my time comes, it comes and I do not want to burden my loved ones with excessive costs. Everyone has to decide this for themselves.

  27. Great to year from you again. They gonna remove it eventually since it us useless. Peoplevtezvrl by money why should pay for health insurance? If they get covid they pay anyways. And beside even ifbyou have indurance still hospitals charge you 100% and later they say go back your country claim it

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