Vikand Medical screening

[Wildcat85]

Hello. Has anyone used Hurtigruten’s medical screening company named Vikand? Any input or impressions to share? One of my questions is whether they will provide me adequate documentation to file a claim with my health insurance. What kind of proof of the evaluation do you get? Do they give you results and any diagnoses? I hope the receipt clearly  indicates it is for medical services. It isn’t cheap so I hope to get some refund from my company’s insurance. Thanks for any thoughts. 

[twototravel]

@Wildcat85 Since it's been several months since your post I assume you either got your answer or went ahead and booked. We just completed our Vikand online medical screening for our upcoming Antarctica expedition on the Roald Amundsen. The receipt you get only says Guest Medical Review and the charge amount. The evaluation is very vanilla. The doctor basically asks you the same questions that were on the medical form. Ours also threw in a couple of tips - bring seasick medicine, be careful when walking, bring warm clothes, and sunscreen. Didn't feel I got my 165 euros worth.

[dcbiker97]

@twototravelReopening this question. From the previous response, it doesn't seem so, but does Vikand request or require any medical documentation or is it simply a question and answer session with the doctor.

Edited September 12 by dcbiker97

[Wildcat85]

Based on my experience, it was just responding to the doctor’s questions , which were minimal. 

[Wildcat85]

Btw the receipt for the screening charge was insufficient for me to get my health insurance to pay. It was too generic. 
 

In my online health interview, the doctor warned me about wildlife! He seemed to think we’d get close enough to get bitten. But we never got very close to any animals on my trip for that to happen. 

[twototravel]

@dcbiker97 You do fill out a form beforehand. During the online interview, they go over your answers and then just provide general guidelines for staying safe. Interview lasted no more than 10 minutes. 

You may have a close encounter with an animal. During landings, the crew tries to keep you within the mandated distance of so many feet from wildlife. However, since the animals can go wherever, sometimes it was a challenge to keep the distance. If you go on the kayaks or even in the zodiacs, you could have a close encounter with a whale. We had one bump our zodiac and then another bump my husband's kayak. Both times near the ship. 

[mlgb]

Vikand is a total nightmare!

 

If you can find another doctor to complete that form for you, do it! In 2023 did not have enough lead time for my HMO (Kaiser) since I booked at the very last minute.