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Old 24-02-2005, 16:26   #1
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Pay for services

Because I have found it hopeless to afford health care here in the USA I would like to ask if the fees for services in other countrys are affordable? Can you get good quality care that you can pay as you need it? If so where?
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Old 25-02-2005, 05:31   #2
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Medical services worldwide

I am not sure I fully understand the question. If you mean; when you are cruising can you get local medical help at reasonable cost then the answer depends on many variables.

We recently completed a circumnavigation and I needed fairly regular medical assistance for a condition I have that needs regular attention. I visited both public and private facilities in many places (Australia, Cocos Keeling, Egypt, New Zealand, Panama to name a few). It of course depends on what needs to be done, but I always found medical staff in all locations very helpful and the service was either free or fairly cheap.

A friend of ours had to be evacuated from Cocos Keeling on a medical emergency, a plane flew out from Australia to pick him up, he was not insured but he was lucky and it cost him nothing, But you could be left with a hefty bill in similar circumstances.

So the answer is:- it depends!!

See some of our info on Onpassage.com in the medical section on the following link:

http://www.onpassage.com/Emergency_Medical/Medical.htm

Hope it helps

Rod
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Old 25-02-2005, 06:24   #3
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Yes Rod it does help. What I am trying to say is because I could be wiped out by a illness in my country are there tropical places I should try to hang around that if I get sick I would be able to receive health care that I would be able to afford? I still think I missed what I'm trying to say.
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Old 25-02-2005, 08:56   #4
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Travel insurance

Travel insurance is designed to get you stabilised and get you home. The medical services at home will be a factor in the pricing of the insurance initially. If there is zero medical services at home, I doubt that they have travel insurance. Medical insurance is quite exspensive in some states so I imagine that any kind of off shore policy would be equaly exspensive. Best to travel to countries that tend to lean towards the socialist side with their medical plans. Be honest with the doctor ( what other option is there if you have a medical problem ) and take what comes. Having a prepaid ticket from anywhere to home might be a good idea.
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Old 25-02-2005, 13:28   #5
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I do not want to be sent back here for the treatment that I can not afford. I need to be treated where they do not charge more than you have. I have read that in some places around the world that very good care is 10% of the cost of the US. A $10,000. heart attack is better than a $100,000. one!
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