What is a Watcher and Why are They So Important to Expats !!! And More !!!
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- A brief talk on Watchers and what is their function for sick expats and why they are important and be should planned out before hospital visits.
after 10 years of watching videos about philippines,,,this is the first time i ever heard about a watcher ! thx Steve !
It’s important to have a few friends who can help each other out when you’re living in a foreign place.
Steven your the man! Most of us would never do what you are doing!
Great advice.
Mother Mary pray for us 🙏
Thank you Steve,you go above and beyond what other volggers do congrats in my opinion you are the best 😊
Thanks 👍
When I was in Tagbilaran Hospital recently for a week I was able to ask my doctor for a "watcher" referral. She set me up with a male nurse that was on-call for me. He was very helpful in running out for prescription medications which needed to be filled for my care and which were not available at the hospital pharmacy. He was also available to purchase water and snacks which were not available in the amounts that I desired. Great video Steve!
Your a good friend Steve
I would hope that even a stranger would step in these cases. Unfortunately the world needs some work on that kinda love.
Sometimes,,,,,,,,,,it comes down to the kindnest of Strangers @@MrSteven5975
Thank God I have my wife and kids + family to be watchers.
Yes sir , very lucky .
great info, never knew about a watcher. thanks man
This is the good health care here in the Philippines you are always talking about.. It's one of the main reasons we're going back to the States in 3 years when i turn 67..If you had to stay in a hospital for any length of time here, you're in for some trouble..Plus most of the food sucks in these hospitals. When our friend was in the hospital, his wife had to stay just to take care of him. forget the nurses..that's not their job. We had to bring him food every day because he could not eat that crap they were trying to give him.. life in the third. They say its more fun in the Philippines.. All you have to do is Stay healthy to do it..
Great blog , a watcher is critical , prefer someone you trust to get into where you hide your money or extra credit cards. Getting food for you is a life saver. I have been a watcher several times now. Many expats think you can just pay with a credit card , most hospitals don't accept credit cards , with many wanting advancements. Three times now i have had to make advance cash payments .
I had the unfortunate experience last April while visiting the Philippines of being hospitalized for 10 days at Chung Hua North Cebu. I had my Wife and nephew as my Watchers they would take turns. like shift work. So in the Philippines, it's much different than in the States, for me my watcher would get me shakes and food. But most importantly my watcher would have to go down to the pharmacy to pay for my prescription of meds. You pay as you go, if you don't have money then you don't get medical care. Upon checkout you must settle any payments that are owed to the doctors. Watch riding motorcycles in the provinces you never know what will run out on the road. Thanks Steve love your advice.
Wow. Great video. You are a very nice kind person Steve. I like you. Keep up the good content videos 👍 🇨🇦
Best wishes to your friend in hospital for a speedy recovery Steve.
Good info Steve. I was not aware this was a thing there. good to know. Thanks
Glad to help
Thanks Steve, you are a good guy for sure.
You are Angel the mist .....God bless .
Good stuff Steve! You should also have your watcher referred to on your policy to enable them to deal on your behalf in the event you are incapacitated.
Great video your the first I have seen by anyone on the watcher. I had 2 when I was in the hospital they really not needed because my wife was there every day and she put down money in advance for the hospital stay. I never really want anyone around when I am sick or for just a short time. The way the Hospitals work in th Philippines is quite different than in the USA.
Great tips Steven❤
Glad it was helpful!
Yeah Steve is so right because my girlfriend had to have surgery and I’m in Michigan so her sister and mom were the watchers. When I was in Manila 5 years ago I had terrible food poisoning and the hospital was very clean and modern ( maybe even new) and my girlfriend was by my side to the point I had to tell her many times don’t come in the CR as I’m very private and I didn’t need her help but yeah she went to the pharmacy in the hospital to pick up my medication. They ran blood tests stool test and so on and it only cost about $100 US ….The doctor was very pretty and kind to me and I was impressed with the whole experience. Oh and they didn’t ask me to pay anything up front but if they did I had plenty of money…..but yeah nice video very informative 😊
I wouldn't want someone there with me 24/7 in the hospital. That would drive me nuts.
I have heard of a "watcher" its a part of Filipino culture to have someone with you at the hospital to run errands, buy medicines etc. as well as assist you should you need to visit the new CR if you cannot help yourself. It takes about 3 to 6 months or even longer for Philhealth to kick in after you decide to join, at least that's my experience. But ok it's a good idea especially if you're in a foreign land.
I never heard of watchers before. Thanks Steve!
Great points Steven as I often wonder about this when I think of my future. It's great that I can always go to your channel to find out the necessary information I would need in order to thrive and live in the Philippines! Keep up the great work!
Howdy Steve, dang it ! another one I never knew squat about nor any knowledge of. This is some seriously good information that you keep providing on and in a timely fashion.
Great video. Good to go!
Thanks!
Good man, Steve good man
always good to pay it back if you are available volunteer like Steve do good work and help others
Hi Steve
In sydney Australia you can leave anytime. So they dont cut your foot off when you have a broken arm. Hospitals can be dangerous down under.
I get the impression, it's very important you might should check on that cough
I've been in the USA my whole life right and I don't have anyone here I could even ask to be a watcher here if I kick the bucket they probably wouldn't find me for months in my own house that's how many people care here in the USA I know that doesn't fit everybody's agenda but it fits mine because that is the reality I didn't know it was going to end up this way😮
I have a lot of relatives there who would be a watcher if needed.
40 years ago I had to go in hospital and a girl friend was sleeping under my bed ! 🤣 where I go to stay there is no hospital, so no problem! 😉
Great idea Watcher😇💛🙏
As we get older Healthcare is one of the most important things, you can't beat the west.
Well if your talking about the US , they are actually beat. The United States ranks 11th for health care.
And with a pension part B can be over $400 per month!
My dad is 70 and barely ever had to use a hospital. Always taking his health seriously since younger years. Definitely far better quality in the west for healthcare. Unless you're in the Manila area in Philippines the healthcare is quite a joke. Life expectancy here is very low not surprising
A fantastic plan - this - "watcher" idea. --- Something I can do --&-- I have to offer -- as I will need it as well. A terrific way to go & perhaps have a local home helper / assistant lined up for some home care temporarily 'if needed' ? ---- Terrific Steve. ❤🙏👍
God Bless, it's why l shy from going to Philippines, I have to have insurance in America, I have to have insurance there . I have learned one thing in this life, it's never ending.
Good to know. Thanks
Thanks!
Thanks for that bit of information.
Any time!
👍
Good info Steve
Thanks Sir.
Most welcome
Yes I would like to know if anyone has had experience with that
A watcher is required here in 🇧🇷 as well both family members and paid watchers are commonly used.
My nephew did his doctors interm there.
I think the hospital should provide all services which include completely taking care of the patient. The patient shouldn't have to worry about finding a watcher. Maybe the hospitals should have qualified watchers available. People in the Philippines definitely need jobs.
How many watchers would you hire? Would it be a full time job? would they still get paid if they had no one to watch. This of course would increase costs.
Point is, as strange as it is, This is the way it is (regardless of what we think) ..
Good information, Steve! Maybe this summer, after I return in June (or sooner?🤞), and there’s another meetup, if Michael or Miles is there, I can talk to them about Pacific Cross?
Thanks again for yesterday’s meetup! 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Get your Pacific Cross in advance while you are in the states because there is a one year waiting period for pre existing conditions…on most reasonable PC plans
Hanging out in hospitals is exhausting.
Love your channel. Please link some of your contacts for professional services (attorneys, insurance brokers, etc.). Thanks
Email me for them at Steven5975@yahoo.com
Good info Steve!! I can go and set also if anyone is in our area. As a relief or full time
He goes home tomorrow
Thanks
Is Justin ok?
Watcher in Tagalog is called “Bantay”
I have a condo unit right across that hospital.
You’re near the Starbucks then….
@@stankroll8167 SMDC Green2 Residences
I know you have put the Phil health rep name out there. But I humbly ask if he covers the Cebu Metro area. And can I have the info for contact..thanks...I'm a healthy 68 retired military veteran..here.
Best wishes to all there...Smitty
Yes he does
Im a nurse from America and i will not go in a hospitals here in Philippines. They dont have equipment and training that I trust. Ive been involved with family who was ill and went to the hospital. It was not a good experience for her. her care was not good at all. I couldn't believe what i saw. She died. I will not go to sa hospital here in Bago. My opinion. God bless
Well in the Philippines just because the building has the word HOSPITAL on it does not
make it one. And yes the only real Hospitals are in the larger cities....zero in the provinces!
@@davidjames5727 You are 100% correct, many hospitals have no labs. If they are figuring out what's wrong with you , they sent your blood work out and usually get it back in a few days. My 8 year old nephew went into hospital with a fever , hospital ran the blood work , he died 3 days later , still had not received the blood work back.
If you live there, yes, you would go to a hospital, esp in an Emerg.. (What else would you do) .. I'm a RN, and what your saying Completely Leaves out "Not All Hospitals are the same" (Buyer Beware) .. It varies widely (I get that) .. Phil Heart Ctr, St Lukes, Makati Med Ctr have Great Reps, for example ..
@enzos711 you just named Hospitals all around Manila, a major city proving my point
My reply was to "the nurse" who said they won't go to a hospital "in the Philippines" .. @@davidjames5727
What about the available of Philhealth for expats. Can we use it , how much is it ? Especially those who can't afford the other companies you mentioned. Like once you hit 70 the insurance companies are not even affordable and won't cover as much . Is that an option ?
Yes
Thanks..I will try to find the contact info.
Have you ever heard of a us citizen fly to Guam for using Medicare insurance Steve? Successfully?
There is definitely Medicare coverage there in Guam and it would be interesting to hear if any expat flew there for treatment …
Yes
I'd be curious if this is something the hospital or nurses will provide if your willing to pay? There has to be a lot of the staffs relatives/friends that would jump at the opportunity to be a watcher for a good wage. If a guy were to ask your GF to staff his room at 1k or 1.5k a day/ night shift would it take more than 30 minutes to have a "staff"? I mean 3k a day for 2, 12hr shifts for a few days probably isn't too big a deal for most expats but probably a good opportunity for a lot of Filipinos? This is something I have thought about but I figured emergency funds would take care of the problem fairly easy, no?
I am a retired federal worker. Does Bluecross blueshield Federal use Pacific cross networks? ...
A watcher? Never heard of that. They will probably use you for co signer when the bill comes. I use fitness and nutrition as my primary insurance, if that fails I have pacific cross and maxicare.
It sounds like you’re saying, hospitals in the Philippines are “understaffed”, and “that’s” why, we’ll need “watchers.”
No, it’s just a prerequisite in most hospitals
Last march I was in dumaguete and had to go into suliman university hospital and my wife was with me but this time I’m coming to the Philippines by myself without a watcher how can I protect myself and my finances if I get sick
What happens if you or the patient just leaves ?
So how do we hire a "watcher"? I've never heard that before. It sounds like you are saying that even if I have insurance to get into a hospital, I still would be screwed since I won't have a watcher if I get into the hospital. I've heard about people hiring a nurse to help them out but nothing about hiring a watcher. It's shocking that the hospital would require someone else to "fetch" medication that the doctors at a hospital prescribed and the patient has to do without it until he gets a watcher.
What about Thailand? Do they have the same thing? Maybe Thailand would be a better place for retirement.
Not really because what ever you may need you won’t be able to understand what they are saying or it will get lost in translation.
Watchers are there to run and pay bills or get water or snacks, etc
Just a visa or mastercard with a $25k limit should be fine
No joke.. anyone 50-70 yrz old should be able to manage a credit limit of $15-25k.. payments on that $200-$300 a month maybe. $500 usd if you pay 20% interest 😂
@@kevinnashskitchen3517 Good idea , many hospitals want payment in advance. When in the hospital they will not let you out to go get money from your house or condo. Then the last there are more hospitals that don't accept credit cards then those that will. Last little inquiry, do you live here ?
I've only been to 2 hospitals since I've been 1st was saint.lucks in QC in 2019 i thought I had a appendix issue luckily I just Literally full of poop they gave me some strong that night was fine they did fecal and urine testa cat or mri scan and after 7 hours In hospital bills was 26000 pesos sent it to my bcbs and they reimbursed me 80% in about 30 days
2nd i went to hospital ÿhere in imus I went to south imus specialist hospital
Whith chest pains and shortness of breaths when laying done I waited 24 hours ti finally go witn mo sleep they took me right did ask me $$ holed ekg than gave me nitro stop heart attack if i'm having one all blood work and ekg came negative I Apparently pulled chest whe I would out a few days earliest
The worst was the nitro massive headaches for hours hospital grave was great never asked for payment till finished and u was 6k pesos and I ti lazy ti sent it to insurance for mabe 10$ back ver nce
my only concern is the doctor looked very young
Where is that hospital? Manila?
Dasmarinas
What happens if the patient doesn't pay ,do they hold you too? And what about accidents
Yes, it’s illegal though
@@MrSteven5975 l read an article that said illegal was a sick bird
I thought healthcare was free there, or maybe it's free for citizens and not for expat? idk...
Pump the brakes. In a VA hospital you need a caregiver that makes sure that they operate on the bad part and not the good part. Never be left alone
They can give you meds that belong to another patient.
Attend a good Christian church and be active .
U should pray to that woman who is in the back of your video.
Personal assistant
I assume Michael is your insurance agent. What's his contact info?
Michael Onstad on Messenger
Just hire a college student studying nursing or a young caregiver. They’ll take better care of you than if your wife was bedside with you.