Retiring from the US
Retiring in the Philippines from the United States
Many American retirees, and many Filipino-American families looking for care for a parent, consider the Philippines. This guide explains what happens to your U.S. benefits when you live here, how to get here, and what care at Bambu Harmony Living in Tanauan City, Batangas costs in US dollars.
Social Security in the Philippines
If you are a U.S. citizen and eligible, you can generally keep receiving your Social Security payments while you live in the Philippines. The Social Security Administration has a Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Manila that serves beneficiaries who live here, and it encourages international direct deposit.
The rules are different for people who are not U.S. citizens. Use the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool before you move.
Medicare does not pay for care here
Medicare generally does not cover health care outside the United States, and Medicare Advantage plans usually do not either. Some Medigap plans pay for emergency care abroad up to a lifetime limit, but no Medicare plan pays for residential or long-term care in the Philippines.
Plan for private health insurance that covers you here, or for paying yourself. Many retirees keep Medicare Part B for visits home; check the late-enrollment penalty with Medicare before you drop it.
For U.S. veterans
Manila has the VA’s only outpatient clinic outside the United States, at the U.S. Embassy compound on Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. The clinic and the VA Foreign Medical Program cover care for VA-rated service-connected conditions. To enroll at the Manila clinic you need a Philippine address and phone number, so register soon after you move.
Getting here from the US
Philippine Airlines flies nonstop to Manila from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu and New York. From the West Coast the nonstop flight takes about 14 to 15 hours. Bambu Harmony Living is about 1.5 to 2 hours by car from Manila’s NAIA airport.
You can read more about the drive from the airport and the hospitals near us.
What care at Bambu Harmony Living costs
We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living and Specialized Memory Care, with 24/7 resident support. Monthly rates start at:
- Independent Living: ₱95,000 (about US$1,500)
- Assisted Living: ₱110,000 (about US$1,750)
Converted at the exchange rate of 16 October 2026. Your final rate depends on your care level.
USD 5,900 a month is the U.S. national median for an assisted living community (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2024). The services and rooms are not the same, so use this as a guide.
For your estimated care level, start with the free care assessment on the contact page. See also how our costs compare and our guide to the SRRV retirement visa.
Questions
Questions from the US
- Can I receive Social Security while living in the Philippines?
- Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen and eligible, payments can generally continue while you live in the Philippines. The SSA Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Manila serves beneficiaries here. Non-citizens should check the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool.
- Does Medicare pay for care at Bambu Harmony Living?
- No. Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States, and no Medicare plan pays for residential or long-term care in the Philippines. Residents use private health insurance or pay themselves.
- How much does Bambu Harmony Living cost in US dollars?
- Independent Living starts at ₱95,000 a month (about US$1,500) and Assisted Living at ₱110,000 a month (about US$1,750). These are starting rates; your final rate depends on your care level.
Rules change. We checked these facts in October 2026 against the official sources below. Check with the agency before you move.
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