The Philippines has a universal healthcare system that would cover all Filipino citizens. They would strive to provide quality healthcare services to the people and help people reduce their medical expenses without going broke in the process.
Is the healthcare system of the Philippines trustworthy?
Generally, the idea for the healthcare system of the country is of good quality. With the signing of the Universal Healthcare Act, the government aims to make quality healthcare available to Filipinos.
However, since the act has only just been signed, there is a long way for the healthcare system in the country to go before we can have one that is truly comparable to those in first-world countries.
In theory, there is a healthcare system that is in place to make sure that no Filipino family won’t have to go broke just to stay healthy. However, there are many Filipinos that do not see healthcare coverage as a priority. They would have the notion that PhilHealth would offer enough coverage in case they would need it. However, how much coverage does the government’s healthcare package provide?
Although PhilHealth is improving, it is not yet enough to cover all of the medical needs of people. This is especially true if a patient would be hospitalized. The average cost for a hospital stay for a day would be around 500 pesos. This would already include medicines, the IV that is inserted into the patient, and the charge for the accommodation in the hospital.
The average amount that is saved in the PhilHealth coverage plan per month is only around 200 pesos. That is less than half of what is needed per day when a person is confined. You do the math and say if you can rely solely on PhilHealth for medical coverage.
What you can do
Since the improvements are slowly being made to PhilHealth, we can expect great things in the future. But for now, it would be a good idea to invest in healthcare coverage with a private health insurance company. This extra insurance will make all the difference when you would need funds for a medical issue.
Private healthcare insurance would provide the deficit amount that is needed in case you would need to be confined. This type of coverage can also include the costs for medicines for outpatients, although in some cases, you would need to buy the medicines first, present the receipts and have the monetary amounts reimbursed later. Some insurance companies may also provide an allotment of vitamins for the insured person that is good for each month.
Why you need private healthcare coverage
Your PhilHealth coverage will only go so far. The coverage provided by the government’s healthcare system is improving, but it is still quite limited. Many things are missing from the healthcare system in our country, although there have already been many improvements that have been made.
In a nutshell, we can be hopeful that in the years to come, the healthcare system in the Philippines will improve and grow into something that all Filipinos will be proud of.
The future will hold better opportunities for all Filipino families to stay healthy and free from sickness, without compromising their budgets. However, all of that is for later. As of the moment, the public healthcare system is not yet completely stable. This is why we would still need to have coverage from a private provider.
If you do not have any coverage yet from a private health insurance company, it is time you consider getting a plan for yourself and your family. Kaiser more than just a regular HMO company.
A policy with Kaiser will make sure that you and your family do not go broke just trying to stay healthy. They would offer customizable healthcare options depending on what you and your family would need. Talk to a Kaiser representative today to get covered.
