Health insurance in the Philippines.
The retiree visa asks for a medical certificate, not a policy. The new nomad visa does ask for cover. Here is what each visa needs, and how PhilHealth works for foreigners.
The rules
What Philippines asks of you.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Rules change, so the broker confirms them again before you apply.
- SRRV retiree visa: no policy required
The current SRRV options, Classic and Courtesy, ask for a medical certificate from the last 6 months, a police clearance and a deposit. Health insurance is not on the list.
Source: pra.gov.ph - SRRV Classic: from age 40
At 50 or older, the deposit is USD 15,000 with a pension of at least USD 800 a month (USD 1,000 with dependants), or USD 30,000 without. At 40 to 49, it is USD 25,000 or USD 50,000.
Source: pra.gov.ph - SRRV holders can join PhilHealth
Retirees with an SRRV and permanent residency can enrol in PhilHealth through the Philippine Retirement Authority, at a lower rate than other foreigners.
Source: philhealth.gov.ph - Digital nomad visa: cover for the whole visa
Executive Order 86 of April 2025 created the digital nomad visa. You need health insurance valid for the whole visa, proof of remote work and income earned outside the Philippines.
Source: lawphil.net - Nomad visa: only some nationalities
Your country must offer a nomad visa to Filipinos and have a Philippine embassy or consulate. The visa lasts up to 1 year and can be renewed. You can’t work for a Philippine employer.
Source: lawphil.net
Foreigners with an ACR I-Card, which includes visitors who stay past 59 days, can join PhilHealth. The 2017 rules set the premium at PHP 15,000 a year for PRA retirees and PHP 17,000 for other foreigners. It does not pay for care abroad.
Source: philhealth.gov.phLocal or international
We compare both. You keep the one that fits.
No Philippine visa asks for a local policy, so a local or an international plan both work. Retirees often pick an international plan, as it can renew for life and cover trips home.
- Local plans
Plans sold in Philippines. Often cheaper, sometimes required for your visa. Filed by a broker licensed in Philippines.
- International plans
Plans that cover you in Philippines and beyond, and stay with you if you move again. Filed by our international broker partner.
What it costs
Published prices in Philippines.
List prices from insurers and official schemes. Your quote depends on your age, health and the cover you pick.
- PhilHealth for SRRV retirees: PHP 15,000 a year
The rate PhilHealth set for PRA retirees in 2017. It can include a Filipino spouse and children under 21, or 1 foreign spouse or child under 21.
Source: philhealth.gov.ph - PhilHealth for other foreigners: PHP 17,000 a year
The 2017 rate for ACR I-Card holders who live or work in the Philippines. Foreigners whose employer shares the premium are on the employed scheme instead.
Source: philhealth.gov.ph
What to look for
Choosing a plan in Philippines.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Cover for the whole visa
For the nomad visa, the policy must last as long as the visa. Check the end date before you apply.
- PhilHealth is a base, not full cover
PhilHealth pays set amounts per case. A private plan fills the gap at private hospitals. Check the yearly limit.
- Age limits at renewal
The SRRV starts at 40, and many retirees join at 60 or later. Check the plan still renews at 75, 80 and beyond.
- Evacuation
On smaller islands, serious cases often move to Manila, Cebu or abroad. Check the plan pays for medical evacuation.
Step by step
Getting covered in Philippines.
- 01Get your ACR I-Card. The Bureau of Immigration issues it to foreigners who stay past 59 days, visitors included. PhilHealth needs it, or your SRRV, to sign you up.
- 02File the PhilHealth form for foreign nationals. Submit the Member Registration Form at the nearest PhilHealth local office. SRRV retirees file it at the PRA head office instead.
- 03Pick how often you pay. Premiums can be paid every quarter, every 6 months or once a year.
- 04Pay 3 months before you need a hospital. To use PhilHealth for a hospital stay, you need at least 3 months of premiums paid in the 6 months before you are admitted.
- 05Check a private plan for the gaps. Foreign members can’t use the Z Benefit package for costly illnesses, and get nothing back for care abroad. Look for a plan that covers both.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Skipping private cover because the SRRV does not ask for it. You pay the hospital bills yourself.
- 02Expecting PhilHealth to pay when you are treated abroad. Foreign members can’t claim for care outside the Philippines.
- 03Buying a nomad visa policy that ends before the visa does.
Real published prices, and the 6 things that move yours.
Questions
People also ask.
Do I need health insurance for the SRRV retirement visa?+
No. The current SRRV options ask for a medical certificate, a police clearance and a deposit, but no health policy. Private cover is still wise.
Does the Philippines digital nomad visa need health insurance?+
Yes. Executive Order 86 says you need health insurance valid for the whole visa. The visa lasts up to 1 year and can be renewed.
Can foreigners get PhilHealth?+
Yes, if you hold an ACR I-Card or an SRRV with permanent residency. SRRV holders sign up through the Philippine Retirement Authority at a lower rate.
Who can apply for the Philippines digital nomad visa?+
People 18 or older who work remotely for clients or employers outside the Philippines, and whose country offers a nomad visa to Filipinos. Check with your nearest Philippine embassy.
Other countries
Going somewhere else?
Most UK visas don’t ask for private insurance. You pay a yearly surcharge instead, and it opens the NHS. Here is what the surcharge buys, and what you still pay for.
02AustraliaMost visitors can’t use Medicare, and many visas carry condition 8501. Here is what each visa asks for, who gets Medicare, and what to check.
03Dubai and the UAEIn Dubai, no insurance means no visa. Your employer covers you, but not always your family. Here are the rules, and what the basic plan leaves out.
05NetherlandsIf you live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch basic insurance is the law. A few people are exempt. Here is who must sign up, by when, and what it costs in 2026.
06CanadaEach province runs its own health plan, and some make you wait. The super visa has strict insurance rules. Here is how Ontario and BC differ, and what the super visa needs.
07Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, no insurance means no iqama. Your employer pays for you and your family, and visitors need a policy too. Here is who pays, and what each policy covers.
08JapanIf you live in Japan, joining public insurance is the law. A private plan can only sit on top. Digital nomads are the exception.
09GermanyEveryone in Germany must be insured, and a residence permit needs cover equal to the public system. Here is how to choose, and what gets rejected.
10SingaporeThe national plan is for citizens and PRs. Hospital bills for foreigners are high, and families are often left out. Here is what to check.
11ThailandRetirement visas have hard minimums, the DTV has none, and public care is not free for foreigners. Here are the rules, and what to check.
12SpainSpain has the strictest visa insurance rules in Europe: a Spanish-authorised insurer, no co-pays, no waiting periods. Here is what passes.
13MalaysiaPublic hospitals charge foreigners full price, and work schemes only cover injuries at work. Here is what each pass asks for, and what to check.
14QatarMost visitors need a QAR 50 a month policy before Qatar issues a visa. The law covers expats too, but that part is still rolling out. Here are the rules.
15FranceThe public system is open to residents, but not on day 1 if you don’t work, and it only pays part of each bill. Here is how to cover the gaps.
16PortugalThe visa asks for travel medical cover. The public system opens once you are a resident. In between, and after, here is what to check.
17MexicoNo visa asks for it, so many expats skip it. Then a private hospital asks for payment first. Here is how cover really works in Mexico.
18ItalyWorkers join the public system for free. Retirees and nomads need private cover for the visa, then pay at least €2,000 a year to join. Here are the rules.
19South KoreaStay more than 6 months and you must join the national plan. Before that, and for your share of each bill, you need your own cover.
20VietnamOnly long local contracts come with public cover, and most expats use private hospitals anyway. Here is what the rules say, and what to check.
21Bali and IndonesiaMost Indonesian visas don’t ask for insurance. But hospitals ask for payment first, and serious cases fly to Singapore. Here is what to check.
22GreeceThe consulate takes travel cover for the visa. The residence permit then asks for full health cover. If you don’t work for a Greek employer, that means a private plan.
23ColombiaNomads and retirees need a private policy with exact wording. Residents who work must join the public EPS system. Here are the rules.
24Costa RicaResidents must pay into the Caja, whatever private plan they have. Nomads need their own cover for the visa. Here is how it fits together.
25USAThe US has no public plan you can simply join. Some visas set minimum cover. Others leave it to you. Here is what a J-1 needs, who can use the Marketplace, and what plans cost.
26SwitzerlandBasic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. You have 3 months to sign up. Here is how it works, and what to check.
27IrelandNon-EEA students must hold private medical insurance. Everyone else gets public care once they count as living in Ireland for 1 year. Here is what to check.
28Dominican RepublicThe residence visas for retirees and rentistas ask for a medical certificate, not an insurance policy. Public care is limited. Private care is good but costly.
29New ZealandStudent visas require insurance. A work visa of 2 years or more may open public health care. ACC covers accident injuries. Here is what to check.
30IsraelIn Israel, the public system is for residents. If your life is centred there, you join a health fund (kupat holim). If not, you need private cover.
31Hong KongPublic hospitals in Hong Kong are cheap for eligible persons. Many foreigners are not on that list. Here is who is, what the rest pay, and what to check in a plan.
32ChinaIf you work in China on an employment permit, your employer must enrol you in social insurance. That includes basic medical cover. Here is how it works, and what to check on top.
33ArgentinaEmergency care is open to everyone. For other care at national hospitals, foreigners without permanent residence must show insurance or pay first. The rules are new, so check them.
34IndiaWe found no official rule that ties health insurance to an Indian work visa. We also could not confirm a public scheme for foreign residents. So the plan is yours to choose. Here is what to check.
35TurkeyA residence permit application needs valid health insurance for the whole permit. Most new expats buy a private policy. The public SGK system opens later, after 1 year of residence.
36BrazilThe digital nomad visa needs health insurance valid in Brazil. The public system is open to migrants by law. Many expats add a private plan for speed.
37PanamaThe Pensionado visa asks for a health certificate, not an insurance policy. The public system is tied to the Caja. Private care is the main option for most expats.
38South AfricaStudy and exchange visas ask for proof of cover from a registered medical scheme. Public clinics offer free primary care. Here is what to check.
39KenyaKenya’s public fund is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA). A foreigner who lives in Kenya for more than 12 months pays into it. Shorter stays need travel health insurance instead.
40TaiwanTaiwan has one national health insurance. Foreigners with a residence certificate can join. If you have a job, you join through your employer. If not, there is a wait.