Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In todayâs video, Iâm sharing a complete, transparent breakdown of my hospital visit in the Philippines. Dealing with Bursitis can be painful, but how much does the treatment actually cost?
Whether you are an expat living in the Philippines, a digital nomad, or just curious about healthcare costs abroad, Iâm detailing every expense from my recent clinic visit.
Video Chapters
⢠00:00 Dealing with "water on the elbow" (Bursitis)
⢠01:44 Breakfast at Jollibee: The "No Pancake" mystery
⢠04:29 Visiting the public hospital in Camiling
⢠05:10 Back home: Breaking down the diagnosis and treatment
⢠07:55 Public Hospital Experience: Consultation and 1940s X-rays
⢠10:14 Cost Comparison: Public Hospital vs. Private Hospital
⢠11:01 Pharmacy Run: Mercury Drug vs. Hospital Pharmacy
⢠12:27 Prescription Price Breakdown: Steroids and Spray
⢠13:15 Future Healthcare Plans: PhilHealth and Expat Insurance
⢠14:02 Final thoughts and Jollibee "No Stock" rant
Key Takeaways
⢠Hospital Comparison: Interestingly, you found the private hospital to be cheaper and better equipped (modern X-ray machines) than the public one, though the difference was only a few hundred pesos [10:34].
⢠No-Insurance Reality: As an expat without private insurance, you pay out-of-pocket, but the costs remain relatively low (under $40 USD for an ER visit and treatment) [12:53].
⢠PhilHealth: You're in the process of being added as a dependent to your wife's PhilHealth coverage, which is the baseline government insurance in the Philippines [13:32].
⢠Diagnosis: After your hard work with landscaping and concrete, your elbow developed a swelling the size of a golf ball [06:45]. The doctor opted for a conservative treatment of oral steroids and a topical spray rather than draining the fluid [09:46].
⢠The Jollibee Paradox: You were told Jollibee was "no stock" on pancakes, yet they were able to serve you pancake sandwiches using the exact same pancakes [03:21].
If you found this breakdown helpful, please LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE for more updates on life and costs in the Philippines!
#PhilippinesHealthcare #MedicalTourism #ExpatLife #Bursitis #HospitalCosts #LivingInThePhilippines #HealthcareCosts
In todayâs video, Iâm sharing a complete, transparent breakdown of my hospital visit in the Philippines. Dealing with Bursitis can be painful, but how much does the treatment actually cost?
Whether you are an expat living in the Philippines, a digital nomad, or just curious about healthcare costs abroad, Iâm detailing every expense from my recent clinic visit.
Video Chapters
⢠00:00 Dealing with "water on the elbow" (Bursitis)
⢠01:44 Breakfast at Jollibee: The "No Pancake" mystery
⢠04:29 Visiting the public hospital in Camiling
⢠05:10 Back home: Breaking down the diagnosis and treatment
⢠07:55 Public Hospital Experience: Consultation and 1940s X-rays
⢠10:14 Cost Comparison: Public Hospital vs. Private Hospital
⢠11:01 Pharmacy Run: Mercury Drug vs. Hospital Pharmacy
⢠12:27 Prescription Price Breakdown: Steroids and Spray
⢠13:15 Future Healthcare Plans: PhilHealth and Expat Insurance
⢠14:02 Final thoughts and Jollibee "No Stock" rant
Key Takeaways
⢠Hospital Comparison: Interestingly, you found the private hospital to be cheaper and better equipped (modern X-ray machines) than the public one, though the difference was only a few hundred pesos [10:34].
⢠No-Insurance Reality: As an expat without private insurance, you pay out-of-pocket, but the costs remain relatively low (under $40 USD for an ER visit and treatment) [12:53].
⢠PhilHealth: You're in the process of being added as a dependent to your wife's PhilHealth coverage, which is the baseline government insurance in the Philippines [13:32].
⢠Diagnosis: After your hard work with landscaping and concrete, your elbow developed a swelling the size of a golf ball [06:45]. The doctor opted for a conservative treatment of oral steroids and a topical spray rather than draining the fluid [09:46].
⢠The Jollibee Paradox: You were told Jollibee was "no stock" on pancakes, yet they were able to serve you pancake sandwiches using the exact same pancakes [03:21].
If you found this breakdown helpful, please LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE for more updates on life and costs in the Philippines!
#PhilippinesHealthcare #MedicalTourism #ExpatLife #Bursitis #HospitalCosts #LivingInThePhilippines #HealthcareCosts
