health issues

[czexrus]

We are cruising on the Legend next Month. Here's the issue. Last year, my father had a stroke and heart attack. He was in the hospital for 5 months and when he got home he decided that he wanted to take the whole family (15 of us) on this cruise. What i'm wondering is if there is a medical emergency, let's say a stroke or heart attack (something that i'm guessing the infirmary wouldn't be equipped to treat) what happens? Woulc they fly him to let's say Florida since that would be the closest US land?

If anyone has any opinions please post. He is now feeling a bit worried about getting "stuck" in Mexico and having an issue.

also, can we get a motorized cart or something that he can use once we get off ship at the islands for sightseeing.

Thanks so much.

[firefly333]

They will probably get him to the closest good hospital. We were doing western and someone was critical and we stopped at Grand Cayman and a Medic boat (its a tender port) came to get him and take him into the hospital there and we continued on to Jamaica the next day.

 

What I was saying we just stopped a minute for the man to be gotten off the ship and to the hospital. Its because the Grand Caymans hospital is better than jamaica is why they stopped to do it.

[azkcruizers]

I'm hoping you did get insurance :)

[StillPooh]

You need to do some big-time research into travel insurance that will cover him with his pre-existing conditions. Emergency medical evacuation from a ship with transport back to the U.S. can run tens of thousands of dollars.

[czexrus]

thanks so far for the comments. We are doing the western too. And yes, we did get him the insurance.

[StillPooh]

we did get him the insurance.

Glad to hear it!

[oncruisecontrol]

I would research what is the most comprehensive travel insurance (that includes medical and emergency evac, no stipulations) that you can buy. Many people on these boards have posted about insurance; you could do a search. Obviously if you were doing TransAtlantic or something like that (which you probably wouldn't do given his condition), help might be limited. You need to research. Even some Caribbean itineraries may take the ship out of range of helicopter evac. But, even if the itinerary does not, unforseen circumstances (such as a storm or natural disaster) could cause the ship to take an unexpected route.

[Essiesmom]

Make sure you have a credit card with a healthy limit....or access to lots of cash. I have heard that hospitals in Mexico want their money up front, even before they treat. Of course, any place outside the US you would have to pay and file for reimbursement from the insirance co. EM

[uppitycats]

We are cruising on the Legend next Month. Here's the issue. Last year, my father had a stroke and heart attack. He was in the hospital for 5 months and when he got home he decided that he wanted to take the whole family (15 of us) on this cruise. What i'm wondering is if there is a medical emergency, let's say a stroke or heart attack (something that i'm guessing the infirmary wouldn't be equipped to treat) what happens? Woulc they fly him to let's say Florida since that would be the closest US land?

If anyone has any opinions please post. He is now feeling a bit worried about getting "stuck" in Mexico and having an issue.

also, can we get a motorized cart or something that he can use once we get off ship at the islands for sightseeing.

Thanks so much.

 

The "motorized cart" is something you should have arranged LONG before now...as you book those in the US, have it available to use on the cruise ship, and then on shore for excursions. They're not usually easily available in foreign countries, including Mexico. And most cruise ships these days aren't willing to "rent" their manual wheelchairs, or allow them to be used on shore.

 

He SHOULD be worried about being stuck in Mexico. They're now requiring that you pay for medical care..usually at exorbitant rates..and have been known to hold people "hostage' who require medical care. I hope you have good insurance!

[klmorg]

From experience (DH had a heart attack on board on the ripe old age of 47 a couple years ago)... The infirmary will treat him as best they can and either med-evac him off the ship or wait til the next port. We were a few hours from Grand Cayman. They did a fantastic job treating him on the ship, gave him a life-saving "clot buster" shot, called ahead to have the ambulance waiting in GC, who took him to Cayman Islands hospital, then arranged to air ambulance him to Miami for surgery (stent). The nurse on board was thankful (for us) that we were headed to GC rather than Jamaica, where we were supposed to go the following day.

 

Chanting over & over... travel insurance, travel insurance, travel insurance. We wold have been SUNK without it. Pardon the pun.

 

OP, have a GREAT cruise! The Legend is my favorite ship so far. :)

[Essiesmom]

You cannot just rent a scooter and bring it onboard...Most scooters do not fit through the cabin doors, and you are not allowed to leave them in the corridors. You would have to have a handicapped accessible cabin and those go early. chances of getting one now are slim to none. EM

[Ken076]

thanks so far for the comments. We are doing the western too. And yes, we did get him the insurance.

 

Out of curiosity, what Insurance (company/policy) did you purchase?

 

Many Policies have a several thousand dollar Hospital guarantee, if required, to be admitted to a hospital. Several Policies have their own Network of Providers. MedEvac is coordinated and directly paid by the Insurer, so you don't need to pay up front for that.

 

ken

[Delta Dear]

When we cruised on the Legend in Feb.I didn't know about the pre-existing clause on most policies. The TA who handled our group had purchased Carnival insurance for all of us, but I was concerned about an emergency since my husband has had an organ transplant and a heart bypass.

 

I purchased a policy from MedJet, who offered a very reasonable policy that would have flown him back to the States from a hospital at a port ,if necessary. Check out that company. Thank goodness we didn't need it, but I felt better just having it.

 

We are cruising in Jan. This time I purchased a policy within the required period of booking so that pre existing conditions are covered. Have a wonderful trip. Since cruising is so relaxing, I do hope all of you travel with little or no stress.

 

As for getting around in ports,don't push it.

[RRLLAL]

We are cruising on the Legend next Month. Here's the issue. Last year, my father had a stroke and heart attack. He was in the hospital for 5 months and when he got home he decided that he wanted to take the whole family (15 of us) on this cruise. What i'm wondering is if there is a medical emergency, let's say a stroke or heart attack (something that i'm guessing the infirmary wouldn't be equipped to treat) what happens? Woulc they fly him to let's say Florida since that would be the closest US land?

If anyone has any opinions please post. He is now feeling a bit worried about getting "stuck" in Mexico and having an issue.

also, can we get a motorized cart or something that he can use once we get off ship at the islands for sightseeing.

Thanks so much.

 

The infirmary isn't a hospital but it is much more than a doctors office. They do what the can to stabilize people.

 

As to a scooter, my mother in law needed one our last cruise. Carnival has a couple of independent companies that they recommend. We used one and they ask for your embarkation port, ship and cabin number. They then deliver it to your cabin and pick it up at the end of the cruise. She got the bigger one and I think it was about $200 - $250 for the week. They do let you take them off the ship too.

 

Here is their website. http://www.cruiseshipassist.com/html/scooters.html

[tiger belle]

approximately how much does this insurance cost? I assume it is specific to a particular cruise and that it is more expensive the longer the cruise is...I am also pretty sure it would be more expensive for someone with certain medical problems are over a certain age...I am just curious as to what coverage like this would cost...and also how you would proceed with obtaining this insurance if you booked directly with a Carnvial PVP

[Nanaimobound]

Make sure you get the emergency evacuation policy!

[DaDivaMom]

If you would like to email me CZ, I have medical contacts for Cozumel, Grand Cayman(Georgetown) & Roatan. I'm sorry I do not have any in Belize.

 

My email is DaDivaMom at Comcast dot NET

 

In most situations the hospitals at the port will provide the best care they can and then evacuation to Miami would be needed. Others have given you excellent advice but if you require more peace of mind I have two expat friends who are Docs in Coz & GC and have a friend who is Irish but works at the private clinic on Roatan. None are heart or neuro specialists however.

[H82seaUgo]

thanks so far for the comments. We are doing the western too. And yes, we did get him the insurance.

 

i'm assuming you got him the right insurance, but what about everybody else? or will everybody else continue cruising?

[czexrus]

The only insurance we got him was the one through carnival; im thinking i should read the fine print now.

Yes, we will all continue to cruise. When we booked the cruise not knowing if he would be able to go but hoping he said and "i want to make sure that if i can t go that everyone else still does go."

He also has a trachestomy so he wouldn't be able to eat. That doesn't bother him so much as the thought of something major happening to him that would put him in the "critical" state.

Thanks for all the comments.

[H82seaUgo]

The only insurance we got him was the one through carnival; im thinking i should read the fine print now.

 

that's probably the worst one (berkley).

 

shop around.

[Ken076]

The only insurance we got him was the one through carnival; im thinking i should read the fine print now.

Yes, we will all continue to cruise. When we booked the cruise not knowing if he would be able to go but hoping he said and "i want to make sure that if i can t go that everyone else still does go."

He also has a trachestomy so he wouldn't be able to eat. That doesn't bother him so much as the thought of something major happening to him that would put him in the "critical" state.

Thanks for all the comments.

 

The Carnival Berkely Trip Protection Plan has pretty minimal Medical Coverage and marginally adequate MedEvac coverage. If you're cruising next month, it's too late to cancel the Policy for return of premium.

 

With Respect to "Pre-Existing conditions" the Policy has a 60 day look-back window from date of purchase for pre-existing conditions; if a condition surfaced prior to that 60 day window and did not re-occur, need a change of prescription, etc. during the 60 day window then it would be covered.

 

ken

[mali06]

Be sure to check with your private insurance if you have it . . . ours told us that they would even cover med evacuation in foreign countries. The trick is we would probably have to pay and then get reimbursed. So we have a limit free credit card and a couple more with very high limits so that we can pay and then get our money back! Especially since I am only one year done with chemo and you never know what could happen EVER. I still have complications from the chemo. Plus we get the trip insurance as well so that we have covered all of our bases. Just an added idea, I always get a check up right before we go and usually they give me antibiotics to take with me just in case. We cruised to Hawaii last year right in the middle of two chemo treatments . . . I was weak and bald but I had a perfect 3 weeks. Just have him take it slow and easy and enjoy the moments!

[Hebejeebe]

I think the OP's father should get a checkup with his doctor before going on the cruise. If you are touch and go then it's best not to go on the cruise regardless of the insurance. On the other hand, if the doctor says he's fully recovered then he can go (with insurance) AND peace of mind.

[Ken076]

The only insurance we got him was the one through carnival; im thinking i should read the fine print now.

Yes, we will all continue to cruise. When we booked the cruise not knowing if he would be able to go but hoping he said and "i want to make sure that if i can t go that everyone else still does go."

He also has a trachestomy so he wouldn't be able to eat. That doesn't bother him so much as the thought of something major happening to him that would put him in the "critical" state.

Thanks for all the comments.

 

 

Also, be aware that the Medical Evacuation coverage is not subjet to pre-existing condition - so if one has to be evacuated due to a pre-existing condition, the evacuation is still covered, and the Policy arranges and pre-pays the Evacuation.

 

Your "Concern" wrt pre-existing conditions would be for Cancellation and Medical coverage, which are both subject to pre-existing condition limitation.

 

ken

[pe4all]

Depending when you booked the cruise, it may be almost impossible to find an insurance plan that will cover your father, as he has pre-existing conditions. Most policies must be purchased within 7-14 days of booking to cover those conditions. It is time to research, and fast, as you leave next month!