A word to the wise about going to the doctor on Oceania Riviera

[njhorseman]

As a former actuary, I can tell you that blaming the high cost of medical care on the legal system/malpractice costs is a bit like blaming the high cost of your Thanksgiving dinner on the price of the green beans you served as a side dish. It's a contributing factor, but hardly the major component.

 

You might want to look at this study, which found that annual medical liability system system costs, including practicing defensive medicine, are estimated to be 2.4% of total health care spending.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048809/

[MarkieMarkNYC]

As a former actuary, I can tell you that blaming the high cost of medical care on the legal system/malpractice costs is a bit like blaming the high cost of your Thanksgiving dinner on the price of the green beans you served as a side dish. It's a contributing factor, but hardly the major component.

 

You might want to look at this study, which found that annual medical liability system system costs, including practicing defensive medicine, are estimated to be 2.4% of total health care spending.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048809/

 

Why use science and math when you can rely on emotion? :cool:

[RJB]

As a former actuary, I can tell you that blaming the high cost of medical care on the legal system/malpractice costs is a bit like blaming the high cost of your Thanksgiving dinner on the price of the green beans you served as a side dish. It's a contributing factor, but hardly the major component.

 

You might want to look at this study, which found that annual medical liability system system costs, including practicing defensive medicine, are estimated to be 2.4% of total health care spending.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048809/

Even if the numbers are correct, what is 2.4% in real dollars? How many billions? or trillions? Don't know, but we have to start somewhere. Save a little here and a little there then the savings could be staggering. We must get the cost of medical care down or we will be swamped in a few years and most of us will never be able to afford it.

[p598738]

My wife just visited the clinic on HAL Nieuw Amsterdam. The visit, test and prescription was about $150. Quite reasonable.

[RJB]

My wife just visited the clinic on HAL Nieuw Amsterdam. The visit, test and prescription was about $150. Quite reasonable.

Should send this info. to Oceania in capital letters. Just shows that not every cruise line will rip off their guests like Oceania. Shame on them.

[LHT28]

Two years ago DH saw the doctor & a follow up visit was prescribed meds total bill was under $200

it really depends on YOUR situation what the treatment will be

 

They have a notice outside the medical centre on the cost of the visit so no surprises

 

As mentioned before ..if you are sick you can wait until you are in port & go to a doctor onshore probably for less but if you broke a bone or are having a heart attack do you really want to wait ??

 

Comparing what you pay at home & on the ship is pointless

 

we pay nothing out of pocket at home to see the doctor or for xrays, scans etc...

[njhorseman]

Even if the numbers are correct, what is 2.4% in real dollars? How many billions? or trillions? Don't know, but we have to start somewhere. Save a little here and a little there then the savings could be staggering. We must get the cost of medical care down or we will be swamped in a few years and most of us will never be able to afford it.

 

A click on the link I provided would have revealed an estimated cost of $55.6 billion in 2008 dollars.

 

I'm not denying it's a lot of money in absolute terms, but it is just a small percentage of total healthcare expenditures, and disproves statements such as the one that said "THAT is what is reall driving up costs our legal system is out of control."

[RJB]

A click on the link I provided would have revealed an estimated cost of $55.6 billion in 2008 dollars.

 

I'm not denying it's a lot of money in absolute terms, but it is just a small percentage of total healthcare expenditures, and disproves statements such as the one that said "THAT is what is reall driving up costs our legal system is out of control."

I never talked about the legal system as the major problem.. There are so many things that go into these excessive costs that if we save 2.5 % in each one (hospitals, drug co. insurance co. doctors over billing, fraud, legal) we may begin to solve the problem.

[njhorseman]

I never talked about the legal system as the major problem.. There are so many things that go into these excessive costs that if we save 2.5 % in each one (hospitals, drug co. insurance co. doctors over billing, fraud, legal) we may begin to solve the problem.

 

I never said it was you who made that statement. Another poster said it.

 

Sure, any little bit helps, but put the emphasis on the word "little". If you could reduce those costs to 1.4% instead of 2.4% (you'll never eliminate them), and that reduction were somehow applied across the board, that would only reduce your $100 doctor's visit to $99, your $10,000 surgery to $9,900.

 

What most don't realize is that there has been significant tort reform in the past couple of decades, with limits being imposed in many, but by no means all states. In some states doctors organizations have organized their own mutual insurance exchanges to cover members There is also tremendous variance in the cost of malpractice insurance based on location and type of medical practice. An OB/GYN in NYC or LA pays a heck of a lot more than a family practicioner in Nebraska.

 

The cost of healthcare is a really complex issue that defies simplistic solutions and as everyone knows the whole issue is so politicized that the chance of a reasonable solution being reached any time soon is practically nil. We're not going to solve the problem in a cruising forum, but it doesn't help a discussion when people make statements that just fly in the face of the facts.

[p598738]

Should send this info. to Oceania in capital letters. Just shows that not every cruise line will rip off their guests like Oceania. Shame on them.

 

I am already in an Oceania argument. I can only do one at a time. LOL.

[sandbag7]

Why use science and math when you can rely on emotion? :cool:

Good point excellently made M & M!

[RJB]

I never said it was you who made that statement. Another poster said it.

 

Sure, any little bit helps, but put the emphasis on the word "little". If you could reduce those costs to 1.4% instead of 2.4% (you'll never eliminate them), and that reduction were somehow applied across the board, that would only reduce your $100 doctor's visit to $99, your $10,000 surgery to $9,900.

 

What most don't realize is that there has been significant tort reform in the past couple of decades, with limits being imposed in many, but by no means all states. In some states doctors organizations have organized their own mutual insurance exchanges to cover members There is also tremendous variance in the cost of malpractice insurance based on location and type of medical practice. An OB/GYN in NYC or LA pays a heck of a lot more than a family practicioner in Nebraska.

 

The cost of healthcare is a really complex issue that defies simplistic solutions and as everyone knows the whole issue is so politicized that the chance of a reasonable solution being reached any time soon is practically nil. We're not going to solve the problem in a cruising forum, but it doesn't help a discussion when people make statements that just fly in the face of the facts.

I agree with you for sure. So WHAT DO WE DO? Need to do something to solve the problem and I have no answer, Just know that we are in deep s... if we can't find a solution. No politics, just reality. Our kids will pay big time if we do not find the answer.

[njhorseman]

I agree with you for sure. So WHAT DO WE DO? Need to do something to solve the problem and I have no answer, Just know that we are in deep s... if we can't find a solution. No politics, just reality. Our kids will pay big time if we do not find the answer.

 

We need to take the process out of the hands of the partisan politicians who know nothing other than which lobbyists lined their pockets with the most money and which voting position will bring them enough votes to be reelected.

 

Assemble a think tank of the best experts... actuaries, insurance company underwriters, physicians and other health care providers, drug companies, hospitals, lawyers, etc., who will also hopefully be willing to look beyond their own narrow self interests for the purpose of the greater good of the country.

 

Unfortunately there's zero chance of this happening.

[sfvoyage]

No problem.......:D

 

My plan is no deductible/ silver care....I never had a deductible for 30 years just a co pay of $10 per incident...nor is their a ceiling or cap on my annual or life time claims.. They quoted me $15 for knee replacement...per Knee...... ist that good!. Best insurance I have ever had.... when I retired, I made shure that I lived in a Kaiser service area to live.... No Kaiser...No Dan ( Hawaii is great Kaiser) If I was a traveler I would darn sure move to a Kaiser covered area the savings are beyond good

My premimum is $39 a month for my wife and I. My retirement pays for the rest..... ( that was 20 years ago...they dont do that now I suspect) ...whats to complain about.

 

In every incident, Kaiser ( my Insurance So Cal) deemed any ship board visit was like a visit to an ER regardless of the outome and thus any visit on O was an emergency visit...I had not planned on getting sick or hurt... I did not go in for a physical or other prescriptive care with advance notice that not covered, like elective stuff...

 

You must have been grand-fathered into an extremely generous insurance plan from time gone by... lucky you! I, however, have basically a catastrophic coverage plan with high monthly premium (over USD500), very high annual deductible (over 6,500) before any benefit kicks in, and then I'd still have to pay a hefty co-pay for each treatment.

 

 

Interesting that your Kaiser plan covers any doctor visit, not just for emergency or life-threatening treatment, on board a cruise ship for you. I wonder if that is true only for your particular plan or for all Kaiser members?

[RJB]

We need to take the process out of the hands of the partisan politicians who know nothing other than which lobbyists lined their pockets with the most money and which voting position will bring them enough votes to be reelected.

 

Assemble a think tank of the best experts... actuaries, insurance company underwriters, physicians and other health care providers, drug companies, hospitals, lawyers, etc., who will also hopefully be willing to look beyond their own narrow self interests for the purpose of the greater good of the country.

 

Unfortunately there's zero chance of this happening.

So again, what do we, the LITTLE PEOPLE with no clout do? Just bad for us.

[Hawaiidan]

You are correct sir; there is no established connection between legal expenses and the cost of healthcare. Another fairy tale.

 

 

Yes spoken as a true legal eagle..... it is never the lawyers ... ever:halo:

[Hawaiidan]

You must have been grand-fathered into an extremely generous insurance plan from time gone by... lucky you! I, however, have basically a catastrophic coverage plan with high monthly premium (over USD500), very high annual deductible (over 6,500) before any benefit kicks in, and then I'd still have to pay a hefty co-pay for each treatment.

 

 

Interesting that your Kaiser plan covers any doctor visit, not just for emergency or life-threatening treatment, on board a cruise ship for you. I wonder if that is true only for your particular plan or for all Kaiser members?

 

From my experience, yes, as far as I know:rolleyes:.

I have made claims in Switzerland, Ecuador, Tahiti, all 100% covered no deductible other than the $10 co pay, which for emergency treatment is $0 and no cap of expense of treatment....none

It does NOT pay for elective doctor visits or long term convalescent treatments. But when traveling, and you have a health problem that's considered a non planned or emergency service

Been with Kaiser since 1974 in the bay area, while working I never ever had a deductible but for a family of 4 paid about $ 950 a month,$ 650 of which was paid by my employer ( not the state) It was a group policy not an individual through the State of Cal. I turned down promotions and the like because of Kaiser. service . Yes I am lucky And Kaiser covered every medical service from routine to catastrophic , And if Kaiser lacks a specialist they without hesitation send you out to a top guy not in the Kaiser system !

 

(

And even in California not all counties or even parts of many counties are not eligible for Kaiser either group or individual ....)

[MarkieMarkNYC]

Yes spoken as a true legal eagle..... it is never the lawyers ... ever:halo:

Where was that said?

[S2000ap1]

Just checked our insurance and as far as the small,print goes there is no mention of being on board any kind of ship and subsequent restrictions , I am not covered for injuries as result of balancing on balconies or jumping off them, but on a ship seems ok . I can go on a sailing holiday as long as one crew member is qualified , that's me ok them I can go alone . But I wlll check tomorrow to make sure .

[Hawaiidan]

Just checked our insurance and as far as the small,print goes there is no mention of being on board any kind of ship and subsequent restrictions , I am not covered for injuries as result of balancing on balconies or jumping off them, but on a ship seems ok . I can go on a sailing holiday as long as one crew member is qualified , that's me ok them I can go alone . But I wlll check tomorrow to make sure .

 

The UK is an entirely different world of insurance and I would not even guess at its complex nature. I think that with my insurance, maybe yours It would cover me from injuries from balancing on a balcony, and if I were to jump off and be recovered by the ship, or another passing ship, that treatment would be covered as "emergency treatment" in either case. Being recovered by a military navy, helicopter, submarine or dingy, is no charge and part of international maritime agreements world wide. So your good there as the Royal Navy and US Navy are on speaking terms... dont fall over off Syria or North Korea.....

[SailorJack]

Here is my advice, but we were in the medical field...always carry things for minor ailments, i.e. sinus infection, Mucinex D, some antibiotics in case you have that kind of an infection...or as someone said, make sure your insurance will cover it. We don't go to the ships doctor...might go if it was very serious, but not just under the weather. Too many things you can do for that.

 

We always travel with an enhanced first aid kit to cover minor aches and pains - good advice.

[S2000ap1]

Ok I will make sure I have a stock of. Marine flares in case I do fall of the balcony , oh no, will need smoke cans for the helicopter rescue , but then second thoughts my experience of flares don't want to be within several miles of one , thanks.

 

Any way I checked and sure. Enough we are covered on ship no exclusions other than balancing on balconies , I dare say this as a result of drunken UK teens in Ibiza and such like !!!!

 

Best thing our insurance costs pretty much nothing as part of our personal banking deal , along with mobile insurance and car breakdown cover ! £5 a month for multi trip worldwide including winter sports , now where's me ski,s .

[p598738]

Filed my small claim from Hal Nieuw Amsterdam with Florida BC/BS. It's gap coverage but supposedly covers international claims. I'll post the results.

[TravelNLesa]

You know what? This post has been very positive for DH and I. We checked our coverage thru his employer and we are covered, as long as we not in Canada and are receiving emergency or urgent care.

We were ready to click the buy button on an additional policy but no need unless one of us dies on board--we're not going there, I hope and pray! I know someone that her husband on an Alaskan cruise? Not going there!

[TravelNLesa]

Sorry, the husband died on the Alaskan cruise.