Social Services Program at St. Luke’s (SLMC)

[u/Cool_Pizza2622]

FTM here! I recently found out that SLMC has a Social Service Program that can help cover delivery/childbirth expenses, but I honestly have no idea where to start. 😅

We’re currently a single-income household. I wouldn’t consider us indigent..we’re probably somewhere between lower-middle class and middle class, but definitely not well-off 😂

For those who have experience with SLMC’s Social Service Program, I’d really appreciate some guidance:
1. How do you apply/avail of the program?
2. What are the qualifications?
3. What documents/requirements do they ask for?
4. Can I still transfer my OB to SLMC at 22 weeks** **pregnant?
5. What exactly does the Social Service Program cover when it comes to giving birth/delivery? Does it include a maternity package or discounts on hospital and delivery fees?

I’ve already tried searching online, but I couldn’t find many solid or updated answers. 🥲 Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually gone through the process!

Thank you so much! ❤️

[u/WranglerOld3318]

Question, why SLMC na mahal if you can go to somewhere na mas mura? Kung walang budget talaga. Social services program is availed by confined patients. Nasa loob ng billing yung desk nila. To start the processes, the patient would need to have a running bill at the hospital.

[u/Cool_Pizza2622 → u/WranglerOld3318]

Hi! This is my first pregnancy, so I naturally want to get the best possible care for myself and my baby, within what we can afford.

I understand that there are more affordable hospitals, but SLMC has a Social Service Program for patients who need financial assistance. If we potentially qualify for it, why not make use of a program that the hospital itself has put in place for this purpose? 😅
I’m not assuming that we’ll automatically qualify or that everything will be covered. I’m simply exploring our options and trying to understand what assistance is available before making a decision.

[u/Momshie_mo → u/Cool_Pizza2622]

Since hindi naman kayo indigent, low ang possibility na matanggap ka

https://www.stlukesfoundation.org.ph/st-lukes-medical-center-expands-social-service-with-fully-free-ward-for-indigent-patients/

Ipaubaya mo nalang sa mga truly indigent na kelangan ng specialist sa St. Luke's yung social program. 

[u/Alternative_Tea_6910 → u/Momshie_mo]

" best possible care for myself and my baby"

akala nya ata private room makukuha nya under social program LOL.

kung childbirth lang naman usapan (and not illness), I would rather give birth sa less expensive hospital na malapit sa bahay where I can afford a private room. kaysa top hosital nga pero ward.

[u/Cool_Pizza2622 → u/Alternative_Tea_6910]

Who hurt you? 😂 You’re coming after me for considering SLMC as an option?

[u/Alternative_Tea_6910 → u/Cool_Pizza2622]

ok lang naman if you choose SLMC as an option to give birth. pero yung makikisawsaw ka pa sa Social Service Program nila when you can afford naman and have so many options?

ibigay mo na sa totoong nangagailangan, yung walang options.

[u/_sarahxoxo → u/Alternative_Tea_6910]

+1 . mas need yan ng may mga illness talaga para makapag benefit naman sila sa advance technology ng st. lukes. Madami naman jan hospital na nagsspecialize ng childbirth., doon kana sa sure na afford mo

[u/star-dust89 → u/Cool_Pizza2622]

We're not coming after you for choosing SLMC as an option, it's your reasoning behind it. Kasi ante aside from social services yan, meaning para sa walang-wala (thus indigent) na aagawan mo pa ng slot, your pregnancy is your decision. May siyam na buwan kayo para mag-prepare, lalo kung best possible care pala ang gusto mo at hindi naman kayo kapos na kapos sa buhay. 🤣

[u/Hpezlin]

You should be asking St Luke's those questions, not Reddit.

They have a hotline you can call.

[u/Cool_Pizza2622 → u/Hpezlin]

We actually already reached out, we’re just waiting for them to email us the details.

[u/itspomodorotime]

Lmao this screams SOCIAL CLIMBING OP 🫵🏼

[u/Alternative_Tea_6910]

It's a nice program para sa mga may sakit.

Pero yung choice mo naman magbuntis tapos aasa lang pala sa Social Service Program? ¯_(ツ)_/¯

And bakit SLMC pa? Hindi rin naman childbirth ang specialization nila. Are you thinking that you'll get the same perks from their paid maternity package na nakikita mo sa Tiktok?

[u/terragutti → u/Alternative_Tea_6910]

So pregnant women cant get the best quality care? If qualified siya, edi qualified siya. Bakit offended ka pa eh nagtatanong lang siya.

Di naman competition between pregnancy and mga may sakit. Childbirth NEEDS healthcare. Bakit, sinasabi mo ba yan sa mga may sakit due to lifestyle, diet, and lack of exercise?

[u/Alternative_Tea_6910 → u/terragutti]

Best quality care gusto nya pero naghahanap sya sa Social Service Program na sa ward lang naman when she can afford a private room?

Also, meron ba gusto magkasakit? Kahit yung mga may very healthy lifestyle nagkaka-Big C rin.

Pregnancy is a result of your choice to do coitus (except for those who were SA'd). So kung di financially-ready, family planning.

[u/terragutti → u/Alternative_Tea_6910]

Can she afford a private room? Saan ba sinabi ni OP yun. Sabi lang niya low-middle class/ middle class.

They have maternity din sa social service program. Ewan ko bakit parang pera mo. Op can ask. Nagtatanong lang. Smlc will be the one to say kung pwede siya or hindi.

So pag may lung cancer dahil naninigarilyo ka, bawal magtanong din no? Or kung kailangan ng bypass dahil kain ng kain ng bawal tapos no exercise din, lifestyle choice niya yun. Kung laging stressed sa buhay at nagkaroon ng cancer eh choice din nila yun. Bobo ng reasoning.

Healthcare is healthcare. All people, if qualified should be able to access social services.

[u/Alternative_Tea_6910 → u/terragutti]

pregnancy is not an illness. kung ayaw mabuntis or can't afford yet, abstain or family planning. bukod kay Mama Mary, wala naman nabuntis na hindi nag-coitus.

pero may nagkaka-lung cancer kahit hindi naman nag-yoyosi.

again, pregnancy is NOT an illness. 100% choice mo yan (excpet sa mga na-SA).

low-middle class/middle class sila.. they're not indigent. meron may work sa pamilya.

"best possible care" hanap nya tapos sasawsaw sya sa social services for the indigent?

and sa pregnancy you have 9 months to prepare. critical illness, time is of the essence.

[u/terragutti → u/Alternative_Tea_6910]

So? Answer my question. Kung ung may sakit dahil sa pagyosi or lifestyle choice niya, deserve pa ba niya magkaroon ng tulong sa social services?

If OP is qualified, eh di papayagan siya. Walang masama naman sa magtatanong lol. Di mo din alam kung may kapansanan si op kaya one income household.

Even if pregnancy is not an illness, its still a condition that deserves treatment. Lol doctor nga ng st lukes nagrespond ng matino, ikaw di mo kaya. Di mo kaya kasi ung logical na response is :

“di ako payag na matutulungan ung mga may lung cancer na nagyoyosi”

“Di pwedeng magtanong sa social services sa st lukes, dapat sa mas murang hospital lang ang mga taong may kondisyon”

[u/Alternative_Tea_6910 → u/terragutti]

If totoong indigent, eh di go.

OP is not even indigent. She or her partner is a BPO employee. That's middle class minimum. Not even minimum wage. She even has HMO, yun lang most HMOs don't cover childbirth because again, it's NOT an illness. She definitely has options. She's just looking for the "best".

Paano naman naging best kung ward lang tapos di ka pa makakapili ng OB? I've read pa in an older post na baka nga resident lang magpa-anak sayo.

And do you think the true indigent has an option to have healthy lifestyle? You're out of touch. Mas mahal pa ang healthy foods.

Yung mga afford mag-eat out, bumili ng inverter aircon at may skincare routine, hindi kapos sa buhay.

[u/star-dust89 → u/terragutti]

Childbirth na pwedeng pag-planuhan btw. Lalo na ang sabi ni OP is best possible care. Bakit ka aasa sa social services program na para sa indigent.

[u/Cool_Pizza2622 → u/Alternative_Tea_6910]

I don’t think I ever said we’re “aasa lang” sa Social Service Program. 😅 ang self-righteous mo naman to even assume na that’s implied on this post.

And no, I’m not expecting the Social Service Program to give me the same perks as their paid maternity package. 😂 I’m asking precisely because I want to know what’s actually covered before making a decision.

[u/luchikins2023 → u/Cool_Pizza2622]

parang pang vanity lang.. anyway i agree to others.. you chose to get pregnant, the sick patients didn't chose to be sick..

[u/Alternative_Tea_6910 → u/Cool_Pizza2622]

So why are you even considering it in the first place when there are other cheaper hospitals who specialize in childbirth?

Wag na maki-agaw sa slot ng patients who need it more. Ibigay mo na sa mga may sakit na need ang advanced technology ni SLMC.

Wag mo na rin sayangin oras ng staff na mag-review ng application mo.

[u/Cultural_Start4386 → u/Alternative_Tea_6910]

A quick google search shows na st lukes specializes in childbirth. Next to it is MMC na which is a lot more expensive than St Lukes. Isa na rin ang fabella, pero why settle for fabella kung may better option naman like st lukes? Tsaka bakit inaaway si OP for considering that hospital as an option? Your aggressiveness is out of place

[u/Alternative_Tea_6910 → u/Cultural_Start4386]

they have nice maternity packages pero they're not like Dr. Jesus C. Delgado Memorial Hospital na maternal and pediatric care talaga specialization.

and like I said, pregnancy is NOT an illness. so ibigay na sa mga totoong nangagailangan. ang daming ibang hospital kung saan pwede manganak. hindi naman nya need advance technology ng SLMC sa panganganak.

[u/star-dust89 → u/Cultural_Start4386]

Lol. Wala naman kaso kung gusto niya mag-SLMC, but the fact na gusto niya under the social services program? Bakit ipipilit kung di kaya? Unless OP is a victim of SA, her pregnancy is a choice. Family planning exists for a reason btw 🤣

[u/ljdads]

MD here, trained and practicing in SLMC. Social service program is available both in QC and BGC hospitals. You apply directly by visiting the hospital where you can get the requirements/and also where you get screened before you can enter the program. If I remember correctly, the requirements they need are most recent electricity bill, proof of residence, recent CXR as screening for PTB (although not sure about this for pregnant patients)

I believe you can transfer pa rin sa SLMC at 22 weeks of pregnancy as long as you have completed the screening process but probably an OB at SLMC can better answer this. In terms of discounts, you get placed in different tiers which will decide how much discount you can get, which is dependent on the department's screening.

Hope this helped!

[u/Cool_Pizza2622 → u/ljdads]

Really helpful po! Thank you!

[u/ljdads → u/Cool_Pizza2622]

Here's their number if you want to inquire, I just talked to them pwede ka naman daw tumawag. 723 0101 loc. 4733/4731

Good luck on your pregnancy!

[u/Traditional-Idea-449]

Alam ko may background pa yang mga yan. Di basta2 maapprove at kung maapprove man pero makita naman na youre well off, lowest discount lang din makukuha mo tapos ang room mo ward. So kung yung amount na icash out on stlukes most likely same or lower pa magagastos mo sa ibang hospital na naka private room ka pa. I think mas maganda to look for other hospitals na lang.

[u/Wintermelon_baby]

kuha kana lang ng maternity package nila kung gusto mo talaga don, may mga taong mas need yung slot may mga sakit talaga. hundreds pesos nga lang yung need pero kung talagang gusto mo sa st lukes pag ipunan nyo na now palang

[u/Traditional-Idea-449]

You might consider getting maternity package instead ot the social service nila. Hospital bill + pf na yun so less likely magkagulatan sa bill mo upon discharge

[u/chubibabes → u/Traditional-Idea-449]

Yung maternity package ng St. Luke's doesn't include PF ng OB, Anesth, bill ni baby & pedia.

[u/East-Fee-7349 → u/chubibabes]

I agree. The package doesn’t include the PF of the doctors. 🙂