Health Insurance Required in French Polynesia

[Celestialsailor]

Not only do we need to post a bond (price of a one way ticket back home) in French Polynesia, now we have to show proof of health Insurance. What's next?


From Latitute 38
"One not-so-good bit of news is that authorities in the Tahitian capital, Papeete, are now enforcing (via spot checks) a long-standing regulation that all travelers must show proof of health insurance which reimburses for foreign medical expenditures. It will be up to each boat to determine a solution, such as purchasing a short-term policy from DAN (Diver's Alert Network), which includes Medevac services for a nominal fee".

[goboatingnow]

its not difficult or expensive to get a temporary policy

Dave

[msponer]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

its not difficult or expensive to get a temporary policy

It's probably even less expensive to skip Papeete... There's no parking lot full of food trucks in Moorea.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Not only do we need to post a bond (price of a one way ticket back home) in French Polynesia, now we have to show proof of health Insurance. What's next?


From Latitute 38
"One not-so-good bit of news is that authorities in the Tahitian capital, Papeete, are now enforcing (via spot checks) a long-standing regulation that all travelers must show proof of health insurance which reimburses for foreign medical expenditures. It will be up to each boat to determine a solution, such as purchasing a short-term policy from DAN (Diver's Alert Network), which includes Medevac services for a nominal fee".

you need to speak french as well!!!

[Celestialsailor]

I am assuming that all Islands under the French flag will reqire it. No doubt along with the food truck in Papeete, there will be an insurance truck waiting for cruisers as they arrive.

[denverd0n]

I'm actually quite surprised that more countries don't have requirements like this. If you fall sick or get injured they don't want to have to foot the bill for your medical care (reasonable enough), and at the same time they don't want to just kick you to the curb to die if you can't pay for it.

[MacG]

I have an international Health Insurance Certificate in creditcard form where all details of my insurance policy are stated. In Holland, health insurance is obligatory by country law.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally I am from Canada. As you know the medical Insurance is almost free. I have been in the states for 30 years and Insurance here a month is around $500. And good luck if you have a preexisting condition. We had a thread on this forum on cruising on $500 a month. Insurance would greatly upset that.

[MacG]

I have to agree that medicare everywhere in the world runs out of hand financially. My monthly bill is about US$ 150,- How long that will be is not to predict.
The mondial bankfraud has upset the whole tax & social security structure.

[James S]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

I'm actually quite surprised that more countries don't have requirements like this. If you fall sick or get injured they don't want to have to foot the bill for your medical care (reasonable enough), and at the same time they don't want to just kick you to the curb to die if you can't pay for it.

Plus 1

[AiniA]

This stuff about FP came out before we were there last year. We were not asked for proof of coverage nor was anyone we met there (quite a few people). We entered with the help of an agent arranged through the Pacific Puddle Jump, not sure if that matters.

Actually had to use the health care system in FP. Arrived in the Gambier Islands (remote SE part of FP) with a really serious boil on my leg caused by staph infection. Went to the local clinic every second day for two weeks to get it cleaned and a new dressing. They entered me in their computer system (name and age only, although I guess they could figure out gender) and did not charge. A few weeks later went to the fancy new hospital in Papeete for more treatment including getting a different infected area cleaned out (they gave me nitrous so I would not notice, or care about, what they were doing to my knee). The diagnosis and treatment took about 1 1/2 hours with at least one person there all the time and sometimes two. The cost was about $60 (about the best value, other than solar panels in FP). The prescriptions (2) and supplies the doctor recommended cost about $60 more at the pharmacy. Months later, these infections are insidious, I went to the 'private hospital' (ie the fancy one) in Suva, Fiji and was given another course of antibiotics. The hospital visit was $12 and the prescription (we got two courses of Keflex) was $12.

Health care outside the US is not expensive.

[Johnny Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Not only do we need to post a bond (price of a one way ticket back home) in French Polynesia, now we have to show proof of health Insurance. What's next?


From Latitute 38
"One not-so-good bit of news is that authorities in the Tahitian capital, Papeete, are now enforcing (via spot checks) a long-standing regulation that all travelers must show proof of health insurance which reimburses for foreign medical expenditures. It will be up to each boat to determine a solution, such as purchasing a short-term policy from DAN (Diver's Alert Network), which includes Medevac services for a nominal fee".

We are getting married on the beach in Bora Bora end of April this year. My fiancee' was born in France and has dual citizenship. (USA) We are bringing a large group of family and friends in to enjoy our wedding with us on our nickel. Rented 37 overwater bungalows over 100 family & friends. Even though all have round trip tickets about 1/3 of them are going on a 1 week cruise of FP with us also. As you correctly indicated we had to post a bond for those people who are going to cruise FP (though they have round trip airline tickets) and everyone had to show proof of medical insurance. Some of their insurance wasn't accepted so we had to purchase DAN short term supplements. And this is basically a land based tour of FP. Not very tourist friendly IMHO. Hope the people and weather make it all worthwhile as the costs of what seemed like a good idea at the time have spiralled way out of my original projection range. And all this info was required of us 3 months before our arrival date. (different issue but thought EU complained about US advance info requirements?) We don't have problem with that just found it to be a double standard though.
The times and costs, they are a changin'!
John & Carol

[bobconnie]

Things have not changed to much since the 50s and early 60s LOL FP has always been a PITA to Cruisers, back then it was the french style of Mordita, a little something had to change hands LOL now they can't get away with that sort of thing so they will Government ya to death !! LOL AHH the french have thier ways !! LOL absolutely lovely place to SEE but not always the best to vist !! LOL lots of other Islands to see with a lot less French rules LOL just a thought Bob and Connie

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by bobconnie

Things have not changed to much since the 50s and early 60s LOL FP has always been a PITA to Cruisers, back then it was the french style of Mordita, a little something had to change hands LOL now they can't get away with that sort of thing so they will Government ya to death !! LOL AHH the french have thier ways !! LOL absolutely lovely place to SEE but not always the best to vist !! LOL lots of other Islands to see with a lot less French rules LOL just a thought Bob and Connie

Not a problem for European cruisers we all have E111cards.

Dave

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by AiniA

Health care outside the US is not expensive.

Not true in all places. Health care in Australia for those who have to actually pay for it (ie visitors) is roughly similar in costs to the USA. True of dental care as well as medical. Relative quality is debatable.

And for long term visitors to Oz, med insurance is mandatory.

Cheers,

Jim