Medicare in the Philippines

Tsmslf wrote:

To those of you who may know this, my apologies but, for those expat seniors who didn't know it, St. Luke's Hospital in Manila TAKES MEDICARE AND SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE!!  I just discovered this on St. Luke's site.

You need an Advantage Medicare plan which is what I have and my supplemental is with United Healthcare/AARP.

This was wonderful news to me as it changes my life's plan to be able to have that coverage in the RP.  I can suffer Manila for that. Also, with pre-arranged ambulance transport, you could go North to Subic or South to Tagaytay and still use St. Luke's for heavy duty care.

Obviously, one needs to check his provider but I'd willingly change my provider to get medicare and supplemental coverage in the RP.

And I do not sell insurance. I'm a lawyer in California, at least I am now.

I have visited their site for Global city and Quezon city and did not find the information. Can you supply a link?

FYI.  The Philippines has an Insurance provider that goes by the name Medicare Plus Inc. , could that be what you are referring to? 

Looking forward to your reply.

Regards

The documents I printed are at my office so tomorrow I post what I have. I think the name you wrote is involved somehow.  They specify "advantage" plans which is my Medicare plan plus they take supplemental insurance and mine is United Healthcare through AARP.  I need to find out if my providers are in their group.  It should be easy to find as I asked Google for Medicare outside of the US and St.Luke's came up. I knew of it so followed it and here we are.

Tsmslf wrote:

The documents I printed are at my office so tomorrow I post what I have. I think the name you wrote is involved somehow.  They specify "advantage" plans which is my Medicare plan plus they take supplemental insurance and mine is United Healthcare through AARP.  I need to find out if my providers are in their group.  It should be easy to find as I asked Google for Medicare outside of the US and St.Luke's came up. I knew of it so followed it and here we are.

Good news if true. I'll look further.

Thanks

St. Luke's does not accept U.S. Medicare insurance for payments, though they suggest checking with your supplement provider (if you have one) to see if they cover medical expenses in the Philippines.

This is from the St.Luke's website:

St. Luke's Hospital participates with several Medicare Advantage plans and we accept all forms of Medicare supplemental insurance.

There is some opportunity here for an expat to figure out how to take advantage (no pun intended) of this.

I'm in California so the details are of no personal interest but it makes the Phils more appealing than before.

Tsmslf wrote:

This is from the St.Luke's website:

St. Luke's Hospital participates with several Medicare Advantage plans and we accept all forms of Medicare supplemental insurance.

There is some opportunity here for an expat to figure out how to take advantage (no pun intended) of this.

I'm in California so the details are of no personal interest but it makes the Phils more appealing than before.

In the Philippines they are called St. Luke's Medical Center which operates 2 hospitals in the NCR area and can be quite confusing.

I found that exact quote for St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri:
https://www.stlukes-stl.com/medicare/index.html

The Philippines' groups website is https://www.stlukes.com.ph/

To Hobbitt & fellow Members:

You are correct and I was wrong for which I apologize. I have no idea how a Missouri hospital came up in my search and i was so happy to read what I found that I went no further and immediately shared that good news with you all.

Again, I was dead wrong and I apologize for my error.

Personally, it affects my decision concerning whether or not to retire to the RP so I'm kicking myself as well.

No worries Tsmslf, I seem to remember making the same mistake when doing my own research. 

There is a Fil-Am group in the US pushing for it to happen, though I don't think it is going to happen soon, if at all.  If you are ex-military on the other hand, Tricare DOES cover here in the Philippines. 

There are several private insurance companies that do offer coverage in the Philippines also, Blue Cross/Blue Shield out of California I think is one.

Medicare in Guam

Guam Regional Medical City, a four year old hospital, accepts Medicare insurance.  The hospital has good reviews locally from a Guam resident I spoke with.   The hospital responded to my inquiry via their Facebook page, stating that they do accept Medicare for non residents, specifically, me.

Guam Memorial (the old hospital), also accepts Medicare, though their accreditation by Medicare is currently under review for non compliance with some Medicare requirements.

Both hospitals can be found on the internet, with Guam Regional also having a Facebook page.

It was suggested that for costs not covered by Medicare (co pay, etc.), that questions be sent to the Hospital in advance.  They responded to my request for information in 2 days. 

Regards.

A few years ago residents of Guam were able to receive treatment in the ph thru Medicare but only in cases where treatment not available in Guam and would have to be treated in Hawaii this was thru the work of a senator in Guam

Hobbit112,

Thanks for that information about Tricare.  I'm retired military and looking to retired, for good, in PI.  I will call Tricare and ask about there coverage there.  I had no idea that I could use Tricare in PI, thanks for mentioned it.

Do you have serious health concerns?  There is world class health care here and international insurance that will cover you for the much lower costs.  I have  $500k coverage (more than enough for Philippines) for a yearly premium of $1200 (I’m 54) and a $1000 deductible.  I also have PacificCross for $500 with direct access to hospital care with $30,000 coverage.  So for $1700 I’m very well covered.
You can PM me for details.

You only live once and being overly cautious may be more detrimental than actually living life.

Hi

Thank you for your informative post. Who is the Insurance Company that you pay the $1200 annual premium to? Do you have active Medicare and Medicare supplemental in the USA besides these 2 insurance policies in the Philippines?

Best Regards
Solivec

The plan is from Aplus International out of Hong Kong.  I used Pacific Prime as the broker.

https://aplusii.com/

I don’t qualify for Medicare as I’m only 53.  When that time comes I may possibly enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan using a US address there and will only get a Medical Evacuation plan.  I would keep my Philippines PacificCross plan till I’m 70 which is the oldest age they cover.  But obviously a lot can happen between now and then.

Yes broke my hand in Thailand and MyHumana Medicate Advantage paid with some deductions which I will list!
1. The Exchange rate they use is very low because they are not an ATM.
2.  There was high co-pay above the USA.
3.  There was a transaction fee.
Humana will reimburse for any foreign hospital not just Saint Luke’s. However generic drugs are free with Humana in the USA but not traveling.

Yes most Medicare Advantage nowadays reimburse  medical expenses while traveling.  Part A and B can be kept active for US care if you relocate permanently to another country.  Medicare Advantage and part D require you to be in the US after six months. 

“If you get a Medicare Advantage plan, then your plan doesn't always cover medical services while traveling outside of the United States. ... One thing is certain that if you travel outside of a Medicare Advantage plan's service are for more than six months, you will likely be disenrolled.”

Hi! I cannot find anything on St Lukes site about Medicare Advantage... Can you send me the link to the page at *** ?

    I live in Baguio but have an American ex-pat friend in Thailand that needs a hip replacement and no hospitals in Thailand take Medicare...

                Thank you!  Sincerely, David T Pike  USAF 1974-78

That was a misunderstanding based on a St Luke’s Hospital in the US.  There are no hospitals in the Philippines that accept Medicare of any kind.  Your best bet would be Guam.

nabashalam wrote:

Hi! I cannot find anything on St Lukes site about Medicare Advantage... Can you send me the link to the page at *** ?

    I live in Baguio but have an American ex-pat friend in Thailand that needs a hip replacement and no hospitals in Thailand take Medicare...

                Thank you!  Sincerely, David T Pike  USAF 1974-78

St Lukes in the Philippines does NOT take Medicare insurance. The rumor about St Lukes started with another expat. Unfortunately he did not look close enough to see that the St. Lukes Hospital he was referring to was in Chesterfield Missouri serving the St. Louis area.

Regards.

Hobbit112 wrote:

No worries Tsmslf, I seem to remember making the same mistake when doing my own research. 

There is a Fil-Am group in the US pushing for it to happen, though I don't think it is going to happen soon, if at all.  If you are ex-military on the other hand, Tricare DOES cover here in the Philippines. 

There are several private insurance companies that do offer coverage in the Philippines also, Blue Cross/Blue Shield out of California I think is one.

Thanks for the info. I´m also retired US military...

robal wrote:

Hobbit112 wrote:

No worries Tsmslf, I seem to remember making the same mistake when doing my own research. 

There is a Fil-Am group in the US pushing for it to happen, though I don't think it is going to happen soon, if at all.  If you are ex-military on the other hand, Tricare DOES cover here in the Philippines. 

There are several private insurance companies that do offer coverage in the Philippines also, Blue Cross/Blue Shield out of California I think is one.

Thanks for the info. I´m also retired US military...

Tricare is available here, I think both in Cebu and Manila.

@MinimalistJourneyman

I need more info please.  Thank you.

Advantage isnt really Medicare tho. It is the supplemental insurance by private medical insurance companies that they so desperately try to sell you. I do not and will not get any advantage plan, since they are notorious for declining coverage and payment. It doesn't surpries me that they say they will cover you overeseas, until you try to use it. Maybe you got lucky, but I have read about so many that arent, and that's just in the US. Good luck!

Just FYI, just because you may see your insurance like bluecross/anthem etc on the hospital wall stating they will accept doesnt mean its true. i seen this at TMC and actually went to billing and took out my card and asked if they accept, and despite being advertised as one they accept, the told me i would have to pay upfront and be reimbursed by insurance afterwards. They could not give me any explanation as to why but just that it was so...

@TeeJay4103 The Guam hospital reviews I read were not good at all and someone told me that even though you have Medicare  hospital will still require full payment at discharge and you are the one who waits for reimbursement. I have Medicare Advantage plan with Worldwide Emergency room and Emergency Hospital coverage but yet St.Luke's would not accept it

Personally there is no hospital in the Philippines that I would have any major surgery, I had a friend of mine pass away 3 months ago, he had open heart surgery at what was supposed to be one of the best hospital in the Philippines, I tried to talk him in going home to get the surgery but he refused, after 1.5 million up front he lasted three months, for a $1000 he could have went home and maybe survived, minor things ok, but not anything major

jimsyfert said. . . . I have Medicare Advantage plan with Worldwide Emergency room and Emergency Hospital coverage but yet St.Luke's would not accept it 

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Of course  St. Luke's would not accept it, you're living in the Philippines as per your bio. In another post you said you are married and have a 3 yo toddler.

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It's not like you just got off the plane on vacation and got poisoned eating Pag Pag.   

   Okieboy said. . . . Personally there is no hospital in the Philippines that I would have any major surgery, I had a friend of mine pass away 3 months ago, he had open heart surgery at what was supposed to be one of the best hospital in the Philippines, I tried to talk him in going home to get the surgery but he refused, after 1.5 million up front he lasted three months, for a $1000 he could have went home and maybe survived, minor things ok, but not anything major

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So he spent $26,785 USD vs. $200,000 in the US. You said "he could have went home and maybe survived".

Or rephrasing that "maybe" he could have survived and saved$173,215.

(1) How old was he?

(2) Did he have any other medical problems?

(3) Did he have $200,000?
   

   

@Okieboy

Sorry to hear about the loss. Personally, for me I have enrolled in PhilHealth for ma and Family at 17 K per year. I have put aside a sum for the unfortunate event that we all hope would never happen, but it will it's just a matter of time.

Additionally, already purchase burial land for the family, also the complete burial service with ST Peter, I am trying to avoid any financial burden on the ones I leave behind, also made it clear that no local tradition of having the body in the house for a week and people come around mostly for the free food but suppose to make a financial contribution.

    @Okieboy
Sorry to hear about the loss. Personally, for me I have enrolled in PhilHealth for ma and Family at 17 K per year. I have put aside a sum for the unfortunate event that we all hope would never happen, but it will it's just a matter of time.

Additionally, already purchase burial land for the family, also the complete burial service with ST Peter, I am trying to avoid any financial burden on the ones I leave behind, also made it clear that no local tradition of having the body in the house for a week and people come around mostly for the free food but suppose to make a financial contribution.   

We have been Phil Health members for 5 years. We finally needed to make a claim where the hospital bill totalled 300k. We were lucky because we happened to inform Phil Health of the hospital stay within 24 hours. After 24 hours they will not cover you! Also you need to be able to show receipts of coverage for the past X amount of years. So, after all that with a 300k bill at a private hospital, Phil Health reimbursed us 10,000 php. I thought they might cover around 20% but it was nowhere near that. At 15000 per person annual cost for 5 years (SRRV rates)  my payback was 10K php. We will not be renewing Phil Health next year. For the price and reduced coverage foreigners receive, all we are doing is subsidizing their nearly bankrupt system and we will not take part in that anymore.

@danfinn

Wow thanks for sharing and quite a wakeup call, I will have to revisit my participation, maybe keep the family on PhilHealth as they are Filipina and for me like the car insurance just set aside some money for the unfortunate event.

@Enzyte Bobyes he has money and covered 100% by insurance in his home country, why take a chance in the Philippines, doesn't make sense, the level of medical care in the Philippines is third world, I go to a local doctor educated in the USA for minor things, he told me the level of medical education in the Philippines is low, my daughter who hires nurses in a hospital said Filipino with nursing degrees qualify for nurse aid, they must return to school to become an RN, it is a simple fact just not worth the risk, and no you can't sue if they make a mistake

    @Enzyte Bobyes he has money and covered 100% by insurance in his home country, why take a chance in the Philippines, doesn't make sense, the level of medical care in the Philippines is third world, I go to a local doctor educated in the USA for minor things, he told me the level of medical education in the Philippines is low, my daughter who hires nurses in a hospital said Filipino with nursing degrees qualify for nurse aid, they must return to school to become an RN, it is a simple fact just not worth the risk, and no you can't sue if they make a mistake
   

    -@Okieboy

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My  Filipino stepson was a nurse at St. Lukes and now is a nurse in the UK, Nurses  aid? hardly.

While in the states my Cardiologist was a Filipino his name is still listed with St. Lukes.

@Enzyte Bob maybe in UK but not USA, and when the vice President and other Government officials go to Singapore for healthcare that should tell you something about the medical care in the Philippines

         I know of two doctors a few years ago who passed the exams for rn and went to the USA as nurses.  Said they could earn more as nurses in the USA than they could as doctors in the Philippines.

mugteck said . . . . I know of two doctors a few years ago who passed the exams for rn and went to the USA as nurses.  Said they could earn more as nurses in the USA than they could as doctors in the Philippines.
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I had a plumber come out in the states. He charged me $100 just for the service call. I said even my Doctor doesn't charge me that much.

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He said I know, I use to be a Doctor.

Charming comment. I only said St. Lukes dont accept Medicare because someone on here claimed they did. I seen later that he corrected that statement. Good day

You are right about medicare advantage policy didnt cover your care in 2019 it was not passed until 2022 and now they do cover some of the Medicare advantage plans as i too have AARP United Healthcare Advantage plan and most if not all the hospitals cover my policy since 2022 when it was passed to cover because there are so many retired Philippinos and American coming back to live in the Philippines like myself.

@Tsmslf( For the record your right it became that way in the year 2022 thats why the other man didnt know because he post that he checked in the year 2019 and at that time he was correct but changed in 2022 because several 100000 couldnt afford the hospital here without using there medicare that they have to pay anyway. At this point in time its about 170.00 a month anyway thats what i pay each month. I guess the most important thing now is to chose which hospital is the best to go to. I was planing on going to guam for medical treatment a four hour flight from manila but so much better to stay here in the philippines and not have to fly 25 hours going to houston tx with lay overs.)