That was always the worry for me if i went to live in the Philippines, money doesnt go far when hospital expences are involved.. my wifes family are still paying of loans that they took out to pay her brothers medical expences from when he had cancer..
I can see that in other reports it states he had no travel insurance, I suppose the question is did he actually have none or did his trip violate the time periods allowed for a trip. I don't know of any travel insurance that will cover a trip longer than 90 days.