[Inspector]

Not turning this into a political slugfest, but can I ask what exactly how this new plan is helping me?

It has JUST happened...HUGE and ridiculous increase in my insurance premiums!

I get a retiree insurance plan from my job. It is costing me 225 a month. I get full coverage all over the word with hospitals and in plan, the doctors are covered minus a deductible/office visit. It WAS 166 a month up to around five years ago, and then went to 225 where it was until now. In two months, it increases 325. Alright, I can accept that. It is a fair price and it all goes up at times, fairly!. However, after this increase happening next month, in the year 2112, it increases 10% a year..... forever? What the FeCK?! Now realize, this is a retiree plan, and when working we paid nada into the plan and got the benefits...not sure if this is still the same, but nada was nice. The retirees had to absorb part of this, although many retiree plans from large city unions still had a zero premium for their retirees.

Now, I have done the math. At my age, by the time I am able to get medicare, I will be paying 1,300 a month. WTF? 15 grand a year in just premiums? That's more then my social security payment would be at the time, and a good portion of a pension...too much. Crap, thats enough for a person to exist here like a king, or queen, depending on if you enjoy sucking ANYTHING. Any man sucking anything other then a candy makes you a wannabe in the closet fudge packer ...it does.

Of course I will be getting older, with more medical problems...so this is simply assinine. What exactly does the new Obama plan do now? I am being serious here, no debating on him please as that would be political, and need an answer...can anybody answer this? I THOUGHT we wouldbe getting FREE care, minus the taxes we had to pay.

That all said, I am SERIOUSLY thinking about saving and doing a pay as you go, in a third world country...with some world plan. I know there was a poster talking about world blue cross here in the PI...would this work for somebody NOT married, and just an expat that does not hold any cards as of yet...but just a visa with tourist on it? What other plans are there?

Also, how does being required to have coverage with the new Obama plan have an effect on those who would starve in the USA paying this type of silly, 1,300 dollar, premium? Jail or starving? Makes no sense to me.

[Inspector]

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835

Getting some answers here!

[Tom in Texas]

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:24 PM, said:

... I am being serious here, no debating on him please as that would be political, and need an answer...can anybody answer this? I THOUGHT we wouldbe getting FREE care, minus the taxes we had to pay.

Seriously? You would be getting FREE care, minus the tax costs, had the US gone with a single payer public option (read as Medicare from cradle to grave). However, since many preferred to keep thier private insurance carriers, such as yours, rather than have too much government interference in their lives, they got their wish... No public option... No decrease in premiums... No decrease in private carriers profits.

The thread you cite below does provide some good insight on how private insurance vs public health care works.

BTW... my Humana premiums for myself and my wife are already over $1,100 a month.

[Mik]

Save your money and pay as you go in a third world country. Forget about health insurance (and the AMA). Manage your own health care starting with prevention.

.

[Inspector]

Wow...put me down for socialism. I'm going to be DOA broke in 5 years if I keep this coverage, without even being sick. Not nice on a fixed income pension. And medicare...no good overseas anyway.

Time to entrust in the third world doctors...going to get exploratory open heart surgery in a public hospital here, to see what happens...sort of an undercover job.

Will report my findings later this week...if you don't hear from me ever again, put it down as not good, and two thumbs down.

[Fil/AmArt]

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:48 PM, said:

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835 Getting some answers here!

Glad you saw my post concerning medical insurance! Yeah, medical insurance is a sore subject with many a aging expats living here in the Philippines!
So what choices do we all have? Keep what you have and continue paying the ever increasing monthly premiums? There's goes your Social Security Pension just to pay for your expensive U.S. medical health plan! What's left of your income to live on? I know of a few expats and who are relatively healthy and were able to purchase a medical heath insurance plan in the Philippines with Blue Cross, which was cheaper then what they already have in the U.S.! Hope some one out there with Blue Cross can gives us their experiences with Blue Cross good or bad! If any one is going to permanently retire in the Philippines, it's your choice to keep what you have or get a local medical health insurance plan in the Philippines or just save up a tidy large nest egg to rely on for big emergencies!
In our situation, my wife and I have TRICARE with my military pension and we pay as we need medical health care and we don't pay any monthly premiums until I reach medicare age at 65 and then my monthly premium will only be around $120 a month! I used to have a group medical health insurance in the U.S. which cost me $500 a month, but I since suspended that when my military TRICARE went into effect saving me $500 a month in premiums! That $500 a month went back into my pocket as extra cash for future emergencies! So, we sort of don't have too much worries concerning our medical health care needs while living here in the Philippines! I just hope some of you retired expats are as fortunate as we are when it comes to medical health insurance for the future!

This post has been edited by Pinoy Art: 23 April 2010 - 10:33 PM

[Inspector]

Morey, on 23 April 2010 - 10:19 PM, said:

Save your money and pay as you go in a third world country. Forget about health insurance (and the AMA). Manage your own health care starting with prevention.

.

Well, living in a third world country sure is not a good start with the prevention part.

[Tom in Texas]

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 10:28 PM, said:

Morey, on 23 April 2010 - 10:19 PM, said:

Save your money and pay as you go in a third world country. Forget about health insurance (and the AMA). Manage your own health care starting with prevention.

.

Well, living in a third world country sure is not a good start with the prevention part.

I know thats right !!! I've already had immunizations for everything offered... but they didn't have a vaccination for parasites, the plague or out-of-control tricycles.

[Tom in Texas]

Pinoy Art, on 23 April 2010 - 10:27 PM, said:

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:48 PM, said:

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835 Getting some answers here!

Glad you saw my post concerning medical insurance! Yeah, medical insurance is a sore subject with many a aging expats living here in the Philippines!
So what choices do we all have? Keep what you have and continue paying the ever increasing monthly premiums? There's goes your Social Security Pension just to pay for your expensive U.S. medical health plan! What's left of your income to live on? I know of a few expats and who are relatively healthy and were able to purchase a medical heath insurance plan in the Philippines with Blue Cross, which was cheaper then what they already have in the U.S.! Hope some one out there with Blue Cross can gives us their experiences with Blue Cross good or bad! If any one is going to permanently retire in the Philippines, it's your choice to keep what you have or get a local medical health insurance plan in the Philippines or just save up a tidy large nest egg to rely on for big emergencies!
In our situation, my wife and I have TRICARE with my military pension and we pay as we need medical health care and we don't pay any monthly premiums until I reach medicare age at 65 and then my monthly premium will only be around $120 a month! I used to have a group medical health insurance in the U.S. which cost me $500 a month, but I since suspended that when my military TRICARE went into effect saving me $500 a month in premiums! That $500 a month went back into my pocket as extra cash for future emergencies! So, we sort of don't have too much worries concerning our medical health care needs while living here in the Philippines! I just hope some of you retired expats are as fortunate as we are when it comes to medical health insurance for the future!

You are absolutely right, Art. I wish I was in your shoes on this one. If I had a time machine, I'd go back, skip law school, and enlist in the military... well, let me re-think that... can I get in post Vietnam and out pre Kuwait? maybe pre Iraq?... anyway, Tricare would be nice at this point. Once true health care reform failed, if you are under 65 in the US, or non-military expat of any age... as Elmer Fudd would say, "yewr scwoood."

Thanks for the good posts concerning what you're aware of on PI insurance.

Tom in Texas

[Inspector]

Any thoughts on international health insurance plans?

Seems many expat forums from all over the globe suggest these.

Any suggestions?

Another way is Morey's post...saving for an emergency, provided you use third world countries. Seems Thailand is ranked 47 and the Philippines 60. Many in the USA have done medical tourism, with the cost of a bypass surgery costing 100 grand in the USA, and 15-25 in Thailand. I know of a guy who went to Thailand to get a knee replacement, said it was less then 1/5th the cost of getting it done in the USA/NY...had no insurance. This cost also included airfare.

[Mik]

I've lived in Cebu almost five years now. I haven't had any vaccinations since 1971 when in the military. No problem with parasites or heebie jeebies. I've lost 20 lbs since moving here and I feel healthier. Just stay away from doctors and pharmacies, eat a low-carb high-fat diet with lots of meat, eggs and butter and get some exercise everyday.


.

[Fil/AmArt]

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:48 PM, said:

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835

Getting some answers here!

Here you go, Blue Cross of the Philippines: http://www.bluecross....php?id=medical
All of their different medical health plans are here with their requirements and annual premiums!

[Gold Heart]

Pinoy Art, on 29 April 2010 - 10:43 AM, said:

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:48 PM, said:

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835

Getting some answers here!

Here you go, Blue Cross of the Philippines: http://www.bluecross....php?id=medical
All of their different medical health plans are here with their requirements and annual premiums!

I see if we were organized and had enough interested expats we could probably leverage buying power to get group rates.

[Tom in Texas]

Pinoy Art, on 29 April 2010 - 10:43 AM, said:

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:48 PM, said:

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835

Getting some answers here!

Here you go, Blue Cross of the Philippines: http://www.bluecross....php?id=medical
All of their different medical health plans are here with their requirements and annual premiums!

Looks like the Blue Royale Plan A core benefits with $2,500 ded would get premium for myself and wife down to about $150/mo, and might save one from financial disaster... If BC/BS pays the claim.

In the core benefits - "Room and Board" on plan A is says "$300" - is that per day? per year? -- seems high for per day in the PI, and ridiculously low for per year. Does anyone know the answer?

Thanks,

Tom in Texas

[Fil/AmArt]

Tom in Texas, on 29 April 2010 - 04:49 PM, said:

Pinoy Art, on 29 April 2010 - 10:43 AM, said:

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:48 PM, said:

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835

Getting some answers here!

Here you go, Blue Cross of the Philippines: http://www.bluecross....php?id=medical
All of their different medical health plans are here with their requirements and annual premiums!

Looks like the Blue Royale Plan A core benefits with $2,500 ded would get premium for myself and wife down to about $150/mo, and might save one from financial disaster... If BC/BS pays the claim.

In the core benefits - "Room and Board" on plan A is says "$300" - is that per day? per year? -- seems high for per day in the PI, and ridiculously low for per year. Does anyone know the answer?

Thanks,

Tom in Texas

I'm pretty sure Tom that's $300 per day! That's probably a private room too! Yeah, Blue Cross has some good coverage, but be ready to jump through some hoops in their procedures in applying for coverage, lots of questions and lengthy lab tests at your cost and probably the location of their choice, not yours. I'm sure there's a few members out there who has Blue Cross and can share their experiences of the process involved in applying for coverage.

[Fil/AmArt]

Gold Heart, on 29 April 2010 - 01:41 PM, said:

Pinoy Art, on 29 April 2010 - 10:43 AM, said:

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:48 PM, said:

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835

Getting some answers here!

Here you go, Blue Cross of the Philippines: http://www.bluecross....php?id=medical
All of their different medical health plans are here with their requirements and annual premiums!

I see if we were organized and had enough interested expats we could probably leverage buying power to get group rates.

I'm sure there's a lot of expats living in Cebu that would be interested in a group plan, it would save them money with a good reliable medical health plan! Just a matter of someone getting the ball rolling and be the focal point of the group! You have nothing to loose, but to gain an important service for all expats in Cebu. And some one could probably call a Blue Cross executive to work out the details! Blue Cross would probably be more than willing to assist!

This post has been edited by Pinoy Art: 29 April 2010 - 09:23 PM

[roy2cebu]

Anyone know much about Caritas Health Shield?

[UZI]

Pinoy Art, on 29 April 2010 - 07:52 PM, said:

Tom in Texas, on 29 April 2010 - 04:49 PM, said:

Pinoy Art, on 29 April 2010 - 10:43 AM, said:

Inspector, on 23 April 2010 - 07:48 PM, said:

http://www.philippin...?showtopic=3835

Getting some answers here!

Here you go, Blue Cross of the Philippines: http://www.bluecross....php?id=medical
All of their different medical health plans are here with their requirements and annual premiums!

Looks like the Blue Royale Plan A core benefits with $2,500 ded would get premium for myself and wife down to about $150/mo, and might save one from financial disaster... If BC/BS pays the claim.

In the core benefits - "Room and Board" on plan A is says "$300" - is that per day? per year? -- seems high for per day in the PI, and ridiculously low for per year. Does anyone know the answer?

Thanks,

Tom in Texas

I'm pretty sure Tom that's $300 per day! That's probably a private room too! Yeah, Blue Cross has some good coverage, but be ready to jump through some hoops in their procedures in applying for coverage, lots of questions and lengthy lab tests at your cost and probably the location of their choice, not yours. I'm sure there's a few members out there who has Blue Cross and can share their experiences of the process involved in applying for coverage.

Save your money paying premiums that exclude 'pre existing conditions' and go up after you make a claim.

$300 A DAY for a private hospital room............. Asian Hospital charges just Php3,400 a day, for a 'Superior Private' room to rival most hotels. Even Executive Private is only Php4,500

Have some money put aside in a bank or have a credit card with a decent credit limit. Self insurance is the way to go here IMHO.

Uzi.