Escaped Lunatic
Barfly
Civet Burger? Sounds tempting. Can I get fries with that?
Posts: 567
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Post by Escaped Lunatic on Aug 30, 2006 3:05:17 GMT 7
(OMG - A semi-serious post by EL) From what I've read and heard so far, minor medical issues come with fairly minor price tags in the Middle Kingdom, especially if one has a high tolerance for pain. If I were to develop some major malady that didn't require instant treatment, I'd just return to USania and let my US insurer rue the day they'd first heard of me. It's the possibility of a major issue requiring immediate treatment that worries me. (The patient seems to have been struck by a cobra at the same time that the car backed over him. Somehow, inexplicably, in the process of all of this, a chopstick was lodged in the patient's left nostril.) Does anyone know what sort of catastrophic health insurance plans are available, and at what prices? "More than any time in history mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, the other to total extinction. Let us pray that we have the wisdom to choose correctly." - Woody Allen
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Post by Mr Nobody on Aug 30, 2006 10:39:59 GMT 7
Nope. paying for some serious stuff now, but to quote Raoul, check the library. I don't, but it is good advice. I searched for some evac insurance, but hell, it costs about the same as an airlift anyway, and you end up taking the same time, same people etc. I had insurance from my credit card up until a little while ago anyway, when the one year thing expired.
I live next door to the best General Hospital in the Province. That will do, since our College Clinic seems useless for anything more than bandaids. I plan on HK if anything bad happens, then Oz. I have a fund for this.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 30, 2006 19:23:29 GMT 7
If you have the option of being treated in the USA, do hang on to that...
It sounds like what you need is medevac insurance... if you have a real emergency the locals will stabilize you and then pack you off to a country with real doctors and real hospitals. The USA and Oz are awfully far away...better choices might be Japan, South Korea, or Hong Kong. EL, does your insurance cover you in those countries in an emergency?
I dunno...it's been a while since I looked, but when I did I was finding medevac insurance for about US $100 per year. Make sure you're getting medevac only without a lot of other stuff. If the sources in the Links page don't satisfy you, try searching the website of the US State Department...last I saw they listed some providers of medevac coverage.
For other coverage, the insurer in the Links page seems as good as any. Coverage is not cheap but will cover you in any country except the USA. You can add America if you want but the cost of the premiums will skyrocket. They will allow direct billing (ie the bill goes right to the insurance company, not to you) if you can convince your local hospital to accept it. Most medical insurance here is reimbursement only, and of course actually collecting on anything can be a challenge...
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Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 30, 2006 19:26:25 GMT 7
By the way, be careful dealing with these insurance companies. Demand that they simply answer basic questions rather than insisting you fill out a quotation form first. Otherwise the local insurance salesweasels will attach themselves to you like leeches and never let go...
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Escaped Lunatic
Barfly
Civet Burger? Sounds tempting. Can I get fries with that?
Posts: 567
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Post by Escaped Lunatic on Aug 30, 2006 23:44:40 GMT 7
Checked out the one from the links page. 2 types of plans. One for those planning to be gone for a year or more. One for those only planning for 90 days or less. Personally, I'm planning on 6-7 months. Ah well. At least that site gives me some idea of prices and a large number of lovely terms to plug into google. “Man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in.” - Confucius
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teleplayer
Barfly
Ni3 you3 hen3 duo1 qian2. Gei3 wo3 yi4dian(r)3 ba.
Posts: 541
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Post by teleplayer on Aug 30, 2006 23:45:31 GMT 7
EL, You might want to look into Gateway plans. www.gatewayplans.com/ This is recommended by the insurer for our student RAs/TAs/Fellows who are going overseas and especially if they are terminating their student insurance. You'll note there's a package for internationals coming to U.S. Another for USAnians going abroad. Theres even a package for property. I'm sure there are other companies. Check with your present insurer.
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