How do you feel that with just one hospitalization due to a major sickness, you could lose all of your hard-earned money – including your life savings?

This was the discussion on Saturday, February 13, after Twitter user @claudiopoy posted about the cause of his anxiety in his Twitter thread.

Are you also petrified that your life savings is just one major hospital admission away from being depleted?

— Clyde every mountain 😌 (@claudiopoy) February 13, 2021

As of posting time, the series of tweets garnered more than a thousand retweets and over 8,000 likes, with netizens sharing the same worries about financing medical emergencies.

Yep. Scared for me and my mom. That’s why I’m working my ass off now to make sure my safety nets in case something happens.

— Ate Czarot (@smurfette017) February 13, 2021

The more petrified part is that it’s your family’s hospital admission that depleted it before 🙁

— JAM🇶🇦约翰 (@heero_yuy2) February 13, 2021

Nakakatakot sobra lalo na yunv tulad kong walang malaking savings at insurance 😢

— Abe (@angweirdko) February 13, 2021

Para sa may ipon; kung wala diretso sa morgue.

— mertin santos (@mertinsantos) February 13, 2021

As Filipinos were left to fend for themselves, some netizens said they got health insurance for when a medical emergency arises.

That's why I got insurance. Lol
Anyway, my savings was drained from my multiple hospital visits mid last year. Take care of your health guys, or better yet get yoselves insurance 😋 https://t.co/tJYgrsTimh

— Chalamet (@chellyyygirly) February 13, 2021

This. Mapapadasal ka na lang talaga at mapapaisip. Kaya every time talaga na kaya ko, gift ko sa sarili at loved ones ko ay additional life / medical insurance. Skl, prepaid health cards are great for gifting. Sulit at sensible. Also, PhilHealth, ano na #NasaanAng15Billion ? https://t.co/Db5llmaVGU

— kai (@mfmmarcial) February 13, 2021

But what happens to poor Filipinos who cannot afford to pay for a safety net once they get sick?

FA ako pero I don’t wanna be a hypocrite. I don’t blame people for not having insurance or emergency funds. Magkano ba sinasahod ng normal na trabahador, tapos ang taas pa ng presyo ng bilihin, minus taxes, SSS, PAG-IBIG at potaenang PhilHealth. Tapos bibili ka pa childseat chz https://t.co/f67WicK1Fh

— Montreal Pineda (@MontrealPineda) February 13, 2021

Most (working) Filipinos (myself included I admit) are one sickness away from poverty.

That’s on the assumption that you’re not yet living in it.

— Dwight Kurt Schrute (@ass2dregnlmngr) February 13, 2021

Poor health care system

This personal but collective anxiety emanated somewhere, according to the discussions.

Systemic problems in health care caused this stress – from inadequacies of the Philippine health care system to the alleged corruption involving officers of government health institutions, such as in the case of the state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

People should not die because they cannot afford the cost of medication they need https://t.co/iLGRxc7U1U

— Christ Orozco (@xtianorozco) February 13, 2021

Sad reality is, no matter how “financially secured” you are, it will never be enough pag nagkasakit ka dito sa Pinas; daming hidden charges, faulty healthcare system and making health a business talaga. https://t.co/OohaMAmuLg

— MightySuman (@SumanSaLihiya) February 13, 2021

Imagine stressing over your fam member being admitted, stress over his/her condition, then worrying every day on where to get the payment for the next cycle of hospital bills.

healthcare was supposed to be a basic human right. now poor people can only die than get admitted. https://t.co/I0UUthVLaj

— Carl (@carlsbaddelr) February 13, 2021

Totoo ito. Tapos narealize ko lang na yung pagiging manggagamot ng isang doktor ay namamaximize lang pag may pera at budget ang isang patient. W/c is sad kasi nananatili parin tayo sa out of pocket system compared sa ibang bansa na govt ang bahala. Huhuhu

— Jarly Barley (@jaroldrobino) February 13, 2021

Kaya sana yung UHC ay totoong universal health care. One major illness can push one individual or household below the poverty line. Also, HMOs and insurance can only protect you up to a certain degree.

— Joey Hernandez (@joefranc) February 13, 2021

Privatization of Philippine healthcare in a nutshell. Tapos kulang sa pondo mga public hospitals (at nanakawan pa tayo ng 15 billion ng PhilHealth) https://t.co/GLlNSRVfmf

— saving for tsaritsa ❄️ (@lexhelios) February 13, 2021

The coronavirus pandemic added fuel to the fire, as it is now more costly to undergo treatment once an individual gets sick with COVID-19. (READ: Getting treated for coronavirus comes with a hefty price tag) 

May mga horror stories na yung mga nahohospital because of COVID are P5 – 6M in debt. Dead or alive. Parang kahit may Philhealth ang laki pa rin ng utang mo.:(

— Nor-B-Cool🇵🇭 (@nordomingo) February 13, 2021

Kaya I’m very careful pag lalabas eh.
Maselan kung maselan pero lahat disinfect agad. At hanggat maaari, hindi lumalabas pag di important na lakad. Putangina. Mahal maospital sa covid. https://t.co/GJDEU9uj2F

— abby (@eyjiel) February 13, 2021

We have large health expenses because of my brother’s cancer so I’m super OA with health protocols and distancing. I’ve been turning down invitations because it’s a fine a line. Getting sick is a luxury. https://t.co/sjuSQKuU9b

— jo ✨ (@mojojolienne) February 13, 2021

Read more sentiments on this issue below.

On funding & emergencies – Curated tweets by rapplerdotcom

In the Philippines, COVID-19 cases have reached 547,255 as of February 13, 2021 – with 11,507 deaths and at least 500,781 recoveries. – Rappler.com