title: A snapshot of catastrophic post-disaster health expenses after Typhoon Haiyan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper provides a snapshot of the health-care costs, out-of-pocket expenditures and available safety nets post-Typhoon Haiyan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study used a survey and document review to report direct and indirect health-care costs and existing financial protection mechanisms used by households in two municipalities in the Philippines at one week and at seven months post-Haiyan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reported out-of-pocket health-care expenses were high immediately after the disaster and increased after seven months. The mean reported out-of-pocket expenses were higher than the reported average household income (US$ 24 to US$ 59).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The existing local and national mechanisms for health financing were promising and should be strengthened to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and protect people from catastrophic expenditures. Longer-term mechanisms are needed to ensure financial protection, especially among the poorest, beyond three months when most free services and medicines have ended. Preparedness should include prior registration of households that would ensure protection when a disaster comes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital, Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Espallardo
authors.affiliation: Office of the WHO Representative in the Philippines, Sta Cruz, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Lester Sam
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Geroy
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital, Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital, Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gavino
authors.affiliation: Office of the WHO Representative in the Philippines, Sta Cruz, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Lucille Angela
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nievera
authors.affiliation: Office of the WHO Representative in the Philippines, Sta Cruz, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Julie Lyn
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D055867:Cyclonic Storms / Q000191:economics*; D004190:Disasters / Q000191:economics*; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010679:Philippines