This post is primarily intended to give idea to cancer patients like me as to where they can seek financial / medical assistance from different agencies. This post is based on my personal experience, opinion and through the help also of my family and co-patients who also shared their experiences during my Big C Battle. There maybe some changes in rules or additional requirements but atleast I can give some insights on where to go or what to prepare before you go to to these agencies.
Basically, you will have to prepare these requirements and bring them along with their photocopies.
- Medical Abstract / Medical Certificate
- Surgical Pathology / Biopsy Report
- Record of Operation
- Official Receipts (Hospital Bill/Professional Fees)
- Doctor's Medical Prescription of Chemo Meds with stated schedule of cycle
- Barangay Certificate / Certificate of Indigencies
- House Utility Bill (Meralco/Nawasa/Maynilad)
- Latest Payslip of employed family member
- Photocopy of atleast 2 valid ID's
- Forms to be accomplished in every agency you'll go
- Ballpen & Bond Papers - you will need to write letters to the head of agencies or to whoever you want to seek for financial/medical assistance
Now these are the agencies/institutions where you can turn to after being diagnosed with cancer.
Public Hospitals - "Mahirap, matagal at kailangan ng mahabang pasensya sa public hospitals" but If I had time I also want to have a second opinion in Philippine General Hospital (PGH). My highschool classmate suggested that most of the cancer specialists are there but my doctor said that my cancer is aggressive and it needs an urgent operation so my mother insisted that I should stay in my hospital where I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. My cousin also had a cervical center last year and was treated in Jose Reyes Memorial Center - most of her chemo meds are almost free, radiation, laboratories and brachytheraphy cost are way cheaper compared to other hospitals.
Philhealth - We all know that this agency is primarily responsible for our healthcare and hospitalization so my piece of advice - prioritize your Philhealth contribution. If you belong to indigent people you can seek for sponsorship in your municipality. If not you can pay for it immediately just like what I did when I was diagnosed with cancer last year. I was not able to use it on my surgical operation and on my 1st and 4th chemo confinement (misunderstanding and shortcomings of philhealth and admin staffs of the hospital) but I was able to use its inpatient benefits on my 5th & 6th onco confinement. I was able to get 7k+ reimbursement too few months after I gathered enough strength to file it in their office. But what I have learned about Philhealth through their website is that there are certain types of cancer under their Z benefits program like breast, colon, cervical and prostate cancer where they give 100% coverage though I'm not sure how it can be availed.
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Quezon City- Four sets of chemo meds which costs around P73,200 (P18,300/set) were granted to me by PCSO and If I had a patience and endurance to bear the pain after the operation for three days I would have had at least 50% discount on my operation/hospital bill. "Sa PCSO, kelangan tyaga talaga, 3am ang alis namin sa bahay dahil 5am pa lang mahaba na ang pila pero worth it naman ang kapalit na halaga nito." So if you plan to seek for medical and financial assistance just make sure you have the requirements I listed. "Malaki laking amount ang binibigay nila through guarantee letter sa mga hospital bills and chemo meds."
Social Security System (SSS) - The benefits I had in this agency gave me financial peace of mind after my chemo."Kahit papano nakapagbalik ako ng konting pera sa kapatid ko, nakapagbayad ng konting utang at nagkaron ako ngayon ng panggastos sa mga gamot, pagkain at konting supplements araw araw". Though my application was decline when I first filed for it, I was granted with both sickness benefit of P33k and disability benefit of P4,750/month for more than a year on my second application in another branch. Just be sure to bring hospital records (medical abstract, record of operation and surgical pathology/biopsy report) when filing for sickness and disability claim.
(Medical) Social Welfare Services - My father was diagnosed with heart aneurysm last month and was confined in an emergency room and the laboratories and hospital confinement bill went up to P38,500 (one day lang yan). We were given 50% discount so the bill went down to P18,750 but since we only had P3,000 I went back to the social worker and asked for an additional discount and they were very considerate and gave me another discount. The bill went down to P1,500 only. Grabe, sobrang thankful kay God that day not only because of the discount that we had but with the good news that my father does not need to undergo on a bypass operation.
After a week, I also went in our hospital (Taguig Pateros District Hospital) for check up and laboratories. As part of my monitoring CT scan, blood chem and xray are required but they are quite expensive so I opted to to go public hospital where medical social service is present. I was given a C3 rank on a card which is equivalent to 75% discount. So from 16,300 the bill went down to P3,260 (less PWD and Social Service discount).
Persons with Disability ID - This ID is a big help to cancer patients. It has a lot of privileges and discounts on foods, medicines, hospital bills, laboratories etc. and it's easy to apply - just go to PDAO (Persons with Disabilty Affairs Office) in your barangay or city hall and present your medical abstract, barangay certificate and Id picture.
Medical Assistance from DSWD & in City Hall - I also went in City Hall office for financial/medical assistance but they explain to me that they only give guarantee letter in chosen hospitals unfortunately the hospital where I was confined is not included in their list. I've talked to a social worker in our place and they told me that DSWD gives financial assistance to cancer patients. Plus our city government here in Taguig also gives free healthcare services & treatment to breast cancer patients too.
Executive, Legislative, LGU and other government offices - some of my patients I know went to the Office of the Vice President, DOH office, Office of Senators, Mayor or Vice Mayors office to ask for financial help. Guarantee letter in particular were given to them. "Tyagaan at lakasan ng loob tlaga, sabi nila." kaya warriors and fighters talaga yung mga nakilala kong kapwa pasyente.
Having this kind of illness is really hard. It can drain you physically, emotionally, mentally and financially as well but I guess God has its own way of teaching me a lesson. "Naubos man ang savings ko, naturuan naman ako kung saan at paano makakahingi ng tulong sa ahensya at institusyon ng gobyerno at ang pinaka amazing na ginawa ni God ay yung mahipo nya ang puso ng mga taong hindi ko man kilala at nasa malalayong lugar na tumulong sa akin financially. Salamat sa Diyos at Salamat sa lahat ng tumulong sa akin. "Grabeng kumilos si God talaga."
So there goes my experiences in seeking financial/medical assistance. I guess my piece of advice I can give is to be inquisitive. "Basta magtanong lang ng magtanong - sa mga ahensya at mga empleyado nito, pag nadeny ang application, magtanong sa ibang branch. Magtanong sa kapwa pasyente o kamag anak ng pasyente, maniwala kayo mas marami silang alam.
P.s. My father and I both have regular laboratory expenses done every three months, every six months, and every year ( CT Scan, CT Aortogram, Ultrasound, Blood Chem, CA 125 (tumor marker screening) aside from emergency medical circumstances that I should be prepared for when it happens. But I know that through God's wisdom and God's Grace He'll lead me and find ways to recover again.
Till then. Have a great day!
Merry Christmas & God Bless.
Having this kind of illness is really hard. It can drain you physically, emotionally, mentally and financially as well but I guess God has its own way of teaching me a lesson. "Naubos man ang savings ko, naturuan naman ako kung saan at paano makakahingi ng tulong sa ahensya at institusyon ng gobyerno at ang pinaka amazing na ginawa ni God ay yung mahipo nya ang puso ng mga taong hindi ko man kilala at nasa malalayong lugar na tumulong sa akin financially. Salamat sa Diyos at Salamat sa lahat ng tumulong sa akin. "Grabeng kumilos si God talaga."
So there goes my experiences in seeking financial/medical assistance. I guess my piece of advice I can give is to be inquisitive. "Basta magtanong lang ng magtanong - sa mga ahensya at mga empleyado nito, pag nadeny ang application, magtanong sa ibang branch. Magtanong sa kapwa pasyente o kamag anak ng pasyente, maniwala kayo mas marami silang alam.
P.s. My father and I both have regular laboratory expenses done every three months, every six months, and every year ( CT Scan, CT Aortogram, Ultrasound, Blood Chem, CA 125 (tumor marker screening) aside from emergency medical circumstances that I should be prepared for when it happens. But I know that through God's wisdom and God's Grace He'll lead me and find ways to recover again.
Till then. Have a great day!
Merry Christmas & God Bless.