Healthcare in the Philippines

Public healthcare in the Philippines is available to citizens, permanent residents and expats who meet specific residency and employment criteria. Once enrolled, you can access a range of services, including preventative care, inpatient care, home visits, primary care and pharmaceuticals. The system also covers some dental and optical care, which differs from many other countries. However, this care is basic at best, and those with recurring dental or optical issues may prefer a private plan to help with costs.

Depending on where you live, care can be very basic. Levels of care can vary greatly within public facilities, and long waits, staff shortages and dated equipment are to be expected; however, in areas like Manila, the improvement in facility quality, availability of staff, and services is clearly noticeable.

Healthcare costs in the public system work through PhilHealth, the national insurance scheme for the Philippines. It pays a fixed rate per condition, regardless of the actual cost of the treatment. Under PhilHealth’s “no balance billing” rule, eligible members treated in the basic wards of public hospitals cannot be charged beyond that fixed rate, so basic care can carry very little out-of-pocket expense. If private facilities or higher-level care is preferred, the gap between what PhilHealth covers and the remaining balance can be significant, which is why many turn to HMO or international insurance to bridge it. We’ll cover those further down the page.

To register for the public system as an expat, you’ll need to be employed by a Philippine company. This will automatically enrol you. If you are self-employed, you can register voluntarily at any PhilHealth office. When it comes to registering with a GP, there is no UK-style gatekeeper GP to sign up with. Instead, PhilHealth members can register with their choice of primary care provider under the YAKAP (formerly Konsulta) programme for check-ups, basic diagnostics and essential medicines. As mentioned earlier, the public system is limited; whilst decent care is available, it really depends on your location. The country is reported to have around 8 doctors per 10,000 people nationwide, and in some areas, this can drop to as low as 2 doctors for every 10,000 people. In Metro Manila, this figure increases dramatically, with claims there are as many as 29 doctors per 10,000 people.

Expats may also notice overcrowding in public facilities, a lack of English-speaking staff, especially in remote areas, and long wait times. Whilst many services are covered under PhilHealth, cosmetic surgery and medical evacuations are not, and treatment costs are only covered at accredited facilities within the Philippines.ents.

Private healthcare in the Philippines can be the preferred option for many expats. Standards are generally higher than those found in public facilities, waiting times can be considerably shorter and multilingual staff are more common. Additionally, enhanced comfort, a broader range of services and private rooms provide extra reassurance during a potentially stressful and worrying time.

The costs of private healthcare vary depending on the treatment and where you are. A consultation may cost as much as 2,500 PHP, whereas surgery could be more than 1,000,000 PHP. One cost that can catch expats out is evacuation. Due to the Philippines’ geography, it is not unusual for patients to be sent to Singapore or Bangkok for treatment. Figures vary, but costs can be higher than those for the treatment itself. These are further reasons people consider a private health insurance plan to help cover costs and gain access to a broader range of facilities.

Private hospitals are notable throughout the country. The Asian Hospital, St Luke’s Medical Center and Makati Medical Center are just some that provide excellent levels of care, modern facilities and multilingual staff.

Health insurance in the Philippines is essentially mandatory. Employed Filipinos and their dependents are automatically enrolled in PhilHealth, while expats either sign up through employment or make voluntary contributions. However, due to the potential gap between what PhilHealth pays and treatment fees, many expats and Filipino residents consider two other options.

An HMO, or Health Maintenance Organisation, is the most common private insurance option in the Philippines.

You’ll pay a yearly premium, based on age, coverage level and plan tier, and choose a primary care physician who coordinates your healthcare and provides referrals to specialists when needed. Some HMO plans will, however, let you go straight to an accredited specialist without a gatekeeping GP. This should be checked before committing to a plan.

HMOs do come with limitations. You are tied to a hospital network, and pre-existing conditions tend to be excluded. Furthermore, retired expats may find an HMO hard to join, as many policies do not accept new applicants aged 65 or over.

International health insurance plans can offer broader cover and wider hospital choice than HMO plans depending on the policy.

Some policies include evacuation, and for expats living in the Philippines, this can prove valuable, especially when based in remote or rural areas.

Costs for private health insurance in the Philippines will vary depending on whether you choose an HMO or an international policy.HMO plans typically cost from around 8,000 to 45,000 PHP a year, depending on the provider and level of cover, with a comprehensive international plan costing much more.

Hospital quality in the Philippines is varied. Whilst there are some excellent public facilities, there are also some of low quality. That said, within the private sector, some hold the prestigious JCI accreditation. These include the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City, Makati Medical Center in Metro Manila and St Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City. In these facilities, you will find highly trained specialists and excellent patient care combined with treatments that follow modern clinical protocols.

English is widely spoken in the Philippines and is one of the country’s official languages; however, in rural areas and localised communities, fluency can be lower. Private hospitals may have many English-speaking staff, and for non-English-speaking expats, it may be possible to request an interpreter.

Metro Manila is where you’ll find many of the best hospitals in the Philippines; however, other areas in the country are also home to excellent facilities. In the latest Newsweek rankings, St Luke’s in Taguig, The Medical City in Pasig, Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa and Makati Medical Center in Makati all ranked highly among the nation’s hospitals.

Hospitals in the Philippines offer a wide range of services in both the public and private sector. These include emergency care, specialist treatment, maternity care, diagnostic testing and surgery, among others.

Some hospitals focus on a single specialism, with the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City being the country’s national referral centre for cardiovascular disease and the Lung Center of the Philippines, also in Quezon City, specialising in respiratory treatments.

The hospital admission process in the Philippines may be considered a little different to many other places. It is largely family-led. Once a doctor issues an admission order, a relative files it at the admissions desk with the patient’s ID and chooses a room.

If you have company or HMO cover, you present a Letter of Authorisation and are billed to that account. Without one, you are treated as a private-paying patient and asked for a deposit before a bed is assigned. Just ensure you declare what cover you have at admission, not when you are discharged.

PhilHealth will apply its fixed case rate to the bill first, then your HMO covers the balance up to its Maximum Benefit Limit. Anything outstanding after this is your responsibility to cover.

For emergencies, walk-ins are accepted, but in private facilities, a deposit or a Letter of Authorisation is usually required before a bed is assigned.

Healthcare costs in Philippine hospitals vary depending on whether you use a public or private facility. Public hospitals are the cheaper option, and for eligible PhilHealth members, some care can be close to free. Private hospitals, especially in Manila, cost considerably more. A GP consultation may cost up to 2,500 PHP, and emergency surgery could easily exceed 100,000 PHP.

Because PhilHealth has fixed case rates, opting for private care can see huge gaps between what is covered and what you must pay yourself. The PhilHealth fixed case rate typically only covers a fraction of a private hospital bill, so a stay that costs well over 150,000 PHP privately may leave a large balance for you to cover.

Private hospitals in the Philippines offer a far higher level of care than public ones. Rooms can be private or semi-private, and suites often feel more like hotel rooms thanks to their size and privacy. Public facilities, on the other hand, are much more basic and can often feel overcrowded. With shared wards, staff shortages and the potential for long waits, many prefer the private route for enhanced service.

Most private hospitals accept HMO and international health insurance. Some operate on a cashless, direct billing basis. Ensure you provide your HMO cards or a Letter of Authorisation so charges can be billed straight to the insurer.

For policies purchased abroad, upfront payment may be required; it can then be claimed back afterwards. Because procedures vary between hospitals and insurers, always check the payment process in advance to avoid unexpected costs.

Before travelling to the Philippines, travellers are advised to ensure all routine vaccinations, such as MMR and DTP, are up to date. In addition, hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are recommended for most people relocating to the Philippines. UK Government advice also states that Chikungunya, Cholera, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles, Rabies and Tuberculosis vaccinations may be necessary for some people. The live page on the site explains who may need them.

Visit your local GP around 8 weeks before travel to check the latest requirements and ensure your vaccination records are up to date.

Expats may be exposed to some health risks in the Philippines. Malaria is deemed low risk in rural areas below 600m and on Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro and Palawan, and there is no risk in urban areas. Even so, it’s worth being aware of the risk and avoiding mosquito bites.

Other health risks expats should remain aware of include tick bites, Seasonal Influenza, Schistosomiasis and Zika virus.

Staying up to date with vaccinations is the first step, but using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing and monitoring your exposure to extreme weather conditions can all help you avoid falling ill..

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For informational purposes only

The content in this guide is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or medical advice.

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