An injury or illness on a cruise: what to expect?

[4774Papa]

Well, yes and no. I have my Medicare coverage through a private insurer. They cover me anywhere in the world for emergency services including air evacuation if required. I know, I had to use it once and they performed as advertised. 100% satisfied.

 

Yes, but in some countries, before you can receive medical care, you mugt pay up front, even in Canada. We have Blue Cross/Shield as a retired Federal Employee and it covers us anywhere in the World. However, we always buy trip insurance with a medical evacuation and coverage for that reason.

[iancal]

Years ago my son broke his wrist on a cruise ship. It was casted. The pain continued. A week after arriving home it had to be re-cast. The work done on board was second rate and could have cause long term issues had we not sought a second review.

 

We learned at that time the cruise company (large, well known US based) actually outsourced it's on board medical clinic to a third party company. The reason was simple...to avoid any serious litigation. Not certain if this is the case on other cruise lines. Hopefully we will never have to find out.

 

We could care less if the physician attending us is US or Canadian trained. There are excellent,qualified physicians from all parts of the world. North America certainly does not have the corner on this market. We only care that the physician is competent and provides good care.

[Hlitner]

I'm confused. I thought the government provided Medicare coverage?

 

Yes you are confused and totally wrong! And having spent over thirty years in the government healthcare world we will clear the air. Medicare does not give you any coverage outside the USA and its territories except for 2 rare exceptions. If you have a Medicare Supplemental Plan (or an Advantage Plan) you may (I emphasize MAY) have some emergency coverage outside the USA....but you need to check with your insurer. And even this coverage leaves much to be desired and you would have to personally pay all bills and later seek reimbursement.

 

Just a note about the 2 Medicare exceptions (unknown by most folks). If you are traveling through Canada on your way to or from Alaska, you would get coverage if you have an emergency inside Canada. But this only happens if you are driving...or perhaps would be on an airline flight that had to deviate or make a stop in Canada. The other exception is so rare as to not even be understood by many Medicare employees (I have asked). There is a clause that says that Medicare coverage extends up to 6 hours from a US Port....if on a cruise. But we are not aware of any regulation that fully explains the "6 hours" which could be interpreted in many ways. When I worked in government healthcare I actually asked a senior Medicare friend to explain this clause and she was helpless. In fact, she told me she never heard of the clause until I asked and gave her the regulatory cite.

 

Hank

[El Crucero]

Coverage from Medicare is only good while physically in the USA.

 

Medicare Advantage Plans (which are an approved alternative to direct coverage from Medicare) often include emergency medical care while outside of the USA.

 

Yes, but in some countries, before you can receive medical care, you mugt pay up front, even in Canada.

 

I agree with all the above. I have one of the Medicare Advantage plans. It is excellent. My plan also includes air evacuation if my carrier determines that adequate medical care is not available in the Country where I am hospitalized. Many Countries, even second world Countries, have health care that is equal to the US and sometimes even better. You do have to pay for your services upfront while abroad and then submit for reimbursement when you return home. However, my plan is not available to residents in all States, even though it covers me in all States and Countries while I am traveling.

 

I carry trip insurance primarily to cover non-health related issues such as trip cancellation, return home while on cruise for family emergencies, and other cruise issues. Read your cruise insurance policy carefully including the fine print to insure you have the coverage you are seeking.

[emilygrace]

The list that Fish Lover posted is quite good. One thing no one on this thread has mentioned, and it might be a no brainer to most who travel a lot, but I would also suggest to be sure to have cell phone coverage for outside the US. I was traveling with a friend and since I only had a prepaid phone that was not capable of adding an international plan, I asked her to get one for her phone for our trip. She was not happy about the added expense (which I was willing to share), saying if we had problems we could just call our TA. Then I asked her how did she think we could call the TA if we didn't have an international phone plan? So it's understood that you need to have all the necessary contact numbers (insurance, port agent, etc) but you also have to be able to use your phone to call them.

[Fish Lover]

Years ago my son broke his wrist on a cruise ship. It was casted. The pain continued. A week after arriving home it had to be re-cast. The work done on board was second rate and could have cause long term issues had we not sought a second review.

 

We learned at that time the cruise company (large, well known US based) actually outsourced it's on board medical clinic to a third party company. The reason was simple...to avoid any serious litigation. Not certain if this is the case on other cruise lines. Hopefully we will never have to find out.

 

We could care less if the physician attending us is US or Canadian trained. There are excellent,qualified physicians from all parts of the world. North America certainly does not have the corner on this market. We only care that the physician is competent and provides good care.

 

Does it have to be stated plainly? I am sure that you were advised to see your regular physician when you returned home. The medical care you receive on board is emergency care and probably akin to what one could expect from an urgent care clinic. The on board clinic and physicians certainly do not have the technology of a hospital nor the knowledge that could be expected from a specialist (which is whom you would be treated by in the hospital). The fact that your son's bone was not properly set may be due to many reasons, not necessarily incompetence from the on board physician. Also, regardless of who employs them and where they are from or where they are educated, do you really think that the very best physicians are practicing on board a cruise ship?

[RDC1]

Does it have to be stated plainly? I am sure that you were advised to see your regular physician when you returned home. The medical care you receive on board is emergency care and probably akin to what one could expect from an urgent care clinic. The on board clinic and physicians certainly do not have the technology of a hospital nor the knowledge that could be expected from a specialist (which is whom you would be treated by in the hospital). The fact that your son's bone was not properly set may be due to many reasons, not necessarily incompetence from the on board physician. Also, regardless of who employs them and where they are from or where they are educated, do you really think that the very best physicians are practicing on board a cruise ship?

 

Actually some very very good physicians do work on board.

 

Do not confuse what physicians make in the rest of the world with the income they have in the US.

 

I will give you an example. On a cruise on the Pacific Princess, the physician was from South Africa. Her husband, a chemical engineer, was also on board with her. Her salary on the cruise ship, was more than what both of them together would make at home in South Africa. In addition they got to travel and most of their expenses were taken care of (food housing etc.). They planned on doing the cruise ship doctor thing for a few years, save their money, then go home buy a house and get jobs there.

 

The cruise lines can get very good Doctors because they pay more then those same physicians would make at home.

Edited November 11, 2016 by RDC1

[RDC1]

Not to borrow trouble but what should we know to prepare (besides travel insurance) if the unexpected occurs on our upcoming cruise? I have read threads from cruisers who report receiving much support from Celebrity and those who report receiving inadequate assistance from Celebrity on ship and/or at foreign ports. We would like specific info from those with experiences which may help us and others.

 

If it is minor and can be treated/managed on board then you can get treated and remain on board.

 

If you develop a medical condition that the doctor feels cannot be treated or managed effectively on board then you will have to leave the ship. Either at the next port or if serious enough via medical evac.

 

When you leave the ship their will be arrangements made to get you to a medical facility. That does not necessarily mean that it will be a facility you really want to be treated at. The quality varies tremendously, even in developed countries. Once you have been delivered to the medical facility the responsibility of the cruise line pretty much ends. Even though you might get some support and follow up, I would not necessarily count on it.

 

At this point it is up to you and any insurance that you might have. Some facilities require payment before you can check out. A having a credit card with a high limit is probably a good thing since some facilities do not accept insurance and even if you have it, you will have to pay and get reimbursed.

 

With many insurance companies they determine the facility were you will be treated, not you. Even if they will medically evac to the US, it will probably be to the closest medical facility that can treat, not necessarily to your home hospital.

[Bery]

Thank you all. We have gotten a great deal of valuable information from the experiences and knowledge of the above contributors which we intend to use in preparation for our next Celebrity cruise. It is true that when bad things happen, we are on our own but it is heartening to know that you all are there for us and each other. We all are better off for Cruise Critic! Forewarned is forearmed!