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

[LHT28]

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.

Just curious why would they not cover you if you were in Canada?

 

Maybe your coverage is not what you think it is :eek:

[Hawaiidan]

Just curious why would they not cover you if you were in Canada?

 

Maybe your coverage is not what you think it is :eek:

 

 

Maybe, a guess, that it they were Canadian citizens, that while in Canadian territory they would be obliged to first go through their national health people....

As a point of interest, I was told that if you are a visitor to New Zealand and suffer any medical incident, un planned, that they will treat and take care of you for no charge...... I wonder if thats true of other commonwealth countries with a national health care.?

However carry some remedy's for things that might be endemic to the region visited is always good, as well as a plan B for medical coverage.. ( considering both health insurance and what your credit card also covers) However be wise enough to realize the limits of first aid, which is not medical aid. Cost is relative to benefit....

 

By the way my wife was sent to a specialist by my insurance the other day in Palm Springs, for an hour of tests and a hour consult the bill was $11,000.00.... Paid by Insurance. I just offer that as a reality check as to what is happening in the world of medical costs

[RDC1]

Maybe, a guess, that it they were Canadian citizens, that while in Canadian territory they would be obliged to first go through their national health people....

As a point of interest, I was told that if you are a visitor to New Zealand and suffer any medical incident, un planned, that they will treat and take care of you for no charge...... I wonder if thats true of other commonwealth countries with a national health care.?

However carry some remedy's for things that might be endemic to the region visited is always good, as well as a plan B for medical coverage.. ( considering both health insurance and what your credit card also covers) However be wise enough to realize the limits of first aid, which is not medical aid. Cost is relative to benefit....

 

By the way my wife was sent to a specialist by my insurance the other day in Palm Springs, for an hour of tests and a hour consult the bill was $11,000.00.... Paid by Insurance. I just offer that as a reality check as to what is happening in the world of medical costs

 

There are a number of countries that will treat you at no charge in case of an accident (that includes several countries in the EU, but not all, it includes some common wealth countries, but not all). Several of those same countries will charge if the emergency is due to illness.

[njhorseman]

Maybe, a guess, that it they were Canadian citizens, that while in Canadian territory they would be obliged to first go through their national health people....

 

The poster lists their location as FL...which of course is Florida. I think it's the other way around... they're US citizens and their health insurance doesn't cover them while in a foreign country, which is the case for any number of private insurance plans as well as Medicare.

 

If they're on an Alaska cruise the only foreign country they're probably visiting is Canada, hence the comment about not being covered in Canada.

[Hawaiidan]

The poster lists their location as FL...which of course is Florida. I think it's the other way around... they're US citizens and their health insurance doesn't cover them while in a foreign country, which is the case for any number of private insurance plans as well as Medicare.

 

If they're on an Alaska cruise the only foreign country they're probably visiting is Canada, hence the comment about not being covered in Canada.

 

 

True Medicare will not pay in a foreign country....However if you purchase the part B ? supplemental for medicare then it will.... Mine does

[njhorseman]

True Medicare will not pay in a foreign country....However if you purchase the part B ? supplemental for medicare then it will.... Mine does

 

Yes, I also have a Medicare supplement that provides coverage in foreign countries, but not all of the standardized plans do. Plan F, Plan C and Plan N do, the others do not. Further, the amount of coverage in a foreign country is limited. The first $250 in any calendar year is not paid by the supplement plan, and thereafter the supplement pays 80% with a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000.

[Hawaiidan]

Yes, I also have a Medicare supplement that provides coverage in foreign countries, but not all of the standardized plans do. Plan F, Plan C and Plan N do, the others do not. Further, the amount of coverage in a foreign country is limited. The first $250 in any calendar year is not paid by the supplement plan, and thereafter the supplement pays 80% with a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000.

 

I guess Kaiser that I have as a supplement is different No $250 deductible, 100% of all costs with NO lifetime limit..... and my retirement agreement pays the premium..... I guess I am lucky I retired 21 years ago.... I dont think they do this anymore...

[njhorseman]

I guess Kaiser that I have as a supplement is different No $250 deductible, 100% of all costs with NO lifetime limit..... and my retirement agreement pays the premium..... I guess I am lucky I retired 21 years ago.... I dont think they do this anymore...

 

Yes, you're lucky. The plans I cited are the standardized Medicare supplement plans sold to the public by a number of insurance companies for use in conjunction with original Medicare. They don't apply to those with Medicare Advantage policies, nor to anyone such as yourself who has supplemental insurance through their former employer's plan.

[tropicalkerry2002]

wow...a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000 strikes me as low... am I missing something?

[njhorseman]

wow...a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000 strikes me as low... am I missing something?

 

The $50,000 max is just for the part of the supplemental coverage that applies outside the US where Medicare provides absolutely no coverage. It's intended to cover emergency medical treatment. It isn't a lot, and that's why I never travel outside the US without having an additional trip insurance policy that provides more medical coverage as well as medical evacuation coverage.

[tropicalkerry2002]

thanks for the explanation.

[andrea802]

I'll be on an Oceania cruise in September -- the Riviera -- so have been trying to get some tips on Cruise Critic. I found the information about the doctor on board of interest and called my insurance company - Blue Shield - to find out if I need to get a supplemental policy. I was told that since Oceania is based in Miami, any doctor visits on board are considered to be in the US and are therefore covered under my plan. Not sure this is right --- so, we are going to get some extra insurance and hopefully we won't need it. Anyone else hear of Blue Shield covering medical costs while on board?

[Host Jazzbeau]

I'll be on an Oceania cruise in September -- the Riviera -- so have been trying to get some tips on Cruise Critic. I found the information about the doctor on board of interest and called my insurance company - Blue Shield - to find out if I need to get a supplemental policy. I was told that since Oceania is based in Miami, any doctor visits on board are considered to be in the US and are therefore covered under my plan. Not sure this is right --- so, we are going to get some extra insurance and hopefully we won't need it. Anyone else hear of Blue Shield covering medical costs while on board?

 

They may be covered, but as "out of network." I had a doctor visit on NCL Pride of America -- which only cruises in US waters. The charge was $149, but Medicare only paid a pittance -- thankfully I had travel insurance that picked up the rest [i would have been 10x more thankful if the charge had been anything like those mentioned on this thread!]

[hockeygal54]

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.

 

 

Totally agree and I do the same when my friend and I cruise. I'm an ICU RN with over 40 yrs practice so I think outside the box a little and honestly would have to be pretty near dead to go to a ship Dr or a stateside ER even. That's part of the problem tho with healthcare in the USA tho. Folks have this "fix me right now mentality", want antibiotics for every little thing and a narcotic for each and every tiny twinge they experience.

 

I have a eBag container devoted to any minor issue that could crop up....starting with anti-diarrheal mess! [emoji13]

 

 

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[RJB]

Totally agree and I do the same when my friend and I cruise. I'm an ICU RN with over 40 yrs practice so I think outside the box a little and honestly would have to be pretty near dead to go to a ship Dr or a stateside ER even. That's part of the problem tho with healthcare in the USA tho. Folks have this "fix me right now mentality", want antibiotics for every little thing and a narcotic for each and every tiny twinge they experience.

 

I have a eBag container devoted to any minor issue that could crop up....starting with anti-diarrheal mess! [emoji13]

 

 

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I guess you are one of the few who can self treat. The rest of us seem to be out of luck and have to rely on the ships Doctor if it gets bad enough. Not a good place to be. No choice.

[findacruise]

On recent cruises in February and March my husband had to see doctors on Seabourn and Oceania. The basic consultation fee for the doctor was $95 on Seabourn and $178 on Oceania. Quite a difference, as it was the same illness. The first dose of antibiotics on Seabourn hadn't cured the problem and we had moved over to Oceania when the first does ran out. One of the same tests was run - $21 on Seabourn and $35 on Oceania. Different prescriptions so I can't compare those costs.

 

Travel insurance (we bought evacuation and it comes with medical) covered them both and awaiting the check.

[RJB]

On recent cruises in February and March my husband had to see doctors on Seabourn and Oceania. The basic consultation fee for the doctor was $95 on Seabourn and $178 on Oceania. Quite a difference, as it was the same illness. The first dose of antibiotics on Seabourn hadn't cured the problem and we had moved over to Oceania when the first does ran out. One of the same tests was run - $21 on Seabourn and $35 on Oceania. Different prescriptions so I can't compare those costs.

 

Travel insurance (we bought evacuation and it comes with medical) covered them both and awaiting the check.

It does not matter that insurance covered these doctors. Because of the rip off cost of Oceania and a few others insurance costs an arm and a leg. If we were paying fair prices to some of these cruise lines for the doctors than insurance could be much cheaper and then most of us could afford it. Time for them to stop taking advantage of us.

[Toranut97]

On our recent Riviera cruise, my husband inadvertently tossed his new vial of insulin instead of the used one. Of course, we realized this too late. Fortunately the medical clinic had the insulin in stock. Doctor evaluation was $149. Insulin, $300. Our travel medical insurance paid it ALL within 2 weeks. I think it is crucial to have a cooperative and communicative insurer, and we have been most fortunate with Travel Guard!

 

Donna

 

 

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[Mura]

I personally am surprised that people are surprised that it costs more to see the doctor on board a ship than it does at home. As others have mentioned, so does the ER. I remember a visit to the ER here in NYC some years ago for a very simple problem and the bill was $500 -- WITH insurance. An ambulance to take my husband to the same ER cost far more more recently.

 

While Oceania appears to charge more than others, that is part of the decision you have to make as to whether it's important enough to travel on another line. I*'m wondering -- and I'm wondering, not asserting -- whether part of the problem is that Oceania has smaller ships than many of the lines that have been referenced. It would seem to me that a smaller ship may have to may for supplies even if not for equipment. As I say, that's a guess and may not be part of the equation.

 

We take what we normally would need, which isn't serious -- anti-diarrheals, antihistamines, aspirin. That kind of thing. We are fortunate that we don't need REAL meds, and our regular prescriptions of course are with us.

 

Sometimes you just don't have a choice. I didn't on Regatta in Nov '05 when I tore my meniscus and could barely walk. Yes, the two visits to the doctor were expensive but were necessary, and we were reimbursed by my insurance. (This was pre-medicare so more was covered outside of the country than I think is covered by medicare.)

 

Some people here seem to think this is a deliberate rip-off. I beg to differ ...

 

OTOH, I agree that the cost of tour prices definitely seems to be a rip-off since they are so much more, sometimes for the exact same tour, than is charged by other lines.

 

Mura

[Glaciers]

I personally am surprised that people are surprised that it costs more to see the doctor on board a ship than it does at home.

I’m not surprised either. Extra services and products usually do cost more on a ship. Where else you going to go? Ever compare what toiletries cost onboard vs. at your home retailer. Twice as much sometimes.

[Toranut97]

I personally am surprised that people are surprised that it costs more to see the doctor on board a ship than it does at home. As others have mentioned, so does the ER. I remember a visit to the ER here in NYC some years ago for a very simple problem and the bill was $500 -- WITH insurance. An ambulance to take my husband to the same ER cost far more more recently.

 

 

 

While Oceania appears to charge more than others, that is part of the decision you have to make as to whether it's important enough to travel on another line. I*'m wondering -- and I'm wondering, not asserting -- whether part of the problem is that Oceania has smaller ships than many of the lines that have been referenced. It would seem to me that a smaller ship may have to may for supplies even if not for equipment. As I say, that's a guess and may not be part of the equation.

 

 

 

We take what we normally would need, which isn't serious -- anti-diarrheals, antihistamines, aspirin. That kind of thing. We are fortunate that we don't need REAL meds, and our regular prescriptions of course are with us.

 

 

 

Sometimes you just don't have a choice. I didn't on Regatta in Nov '05 when I tore my meniscus and could barely walk. Yes, the two visits to the doctor were expensive but were necessary, and we were reimbursed by my insurance. (This was pre-medicare so more was covered outside of the country than I think is covered by medicare.)

 

 

 

Some people here seem to think this is a deliberate rip-off. I beg to differ ...

 

 

 

OTOH, I agree that the cost of tour prices definitely seems to be a rip-off since they are so much more, sometimes for the exact same tour, than is charged by other lines.

 

 

 

Mura

 

 

Except, to address your last point, no one is forced to take ship's tours. When you are ill at sea, the ship's doctor is your only choice.

 

Donna

 

 

 

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[Mura]

No argument there, Donna. But we cannot predict when we will really need the ship's doctor and we should anticipate that costs will be higher than they would be at home.

 

Mura

[Toranut97]

No argument there, Donna. But we cannot predict when we will really need the ship's doctor and we should anticipate that costs will be higher than they would be at home.

 

 

 

Mura

 

 

No argument from me! One reason we cruise is the feeling of security knowing that there is medical care available aboard. Like many others we can testify to the huge value of being able to get treatment promptly!!!

 

 

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[LHT28]

Wouldn't be nice if we never got sick on vacation

I am also happy there is a doctor available on cruise ships

DH has had to utilize the medical centre a few times on the cruises but we always have trip insurance with medical so costs are covered

[Debbers]

I've had good, though expensive, care on Oceania, and was glad it was available. Likewise, on Cunard, a quick visit and a few meds cost quite a lot, but saved my trip. Worth it? Yes.

 

Interestingly, the charming South African doctor on Queen Victoria spends half his year on cruise ships in order to finance his real passion: Providing medical care to desperately poor people in Africa.