Is this pre-existing policy quote adequet?

[Kinkacruiser]

My 69 yo husband had a heart attack 7 years ago and had a stent implant. He is stable and has no angina. We are about to go on a 35 day cruise from Sydney to Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific Islands.
I have heard it can cost around $ 10,000 per day in a US hospital and that expatriation costs to Australia could be as much as $350,000.
A company here will cover the CAD and Stent, but have imposed a $1000 excess per event (eg heart attack) and a cumulative limit on the policy of just $50,000. I doubt this would even cover a medivac from the ship.

Has anyone or their travelling partner experienced a heart attack on a cruise and could shed some light on the costs involved. I'd appreciate any help in this area.

[6rugrats]

I don't think that policy is going to give you adequate coverage.

According to the Health Care Cost and Utilization Project, the average cost for the hospital charges for acute myocardial infarction was $18,200 in 2009. These charges don't include any doctor charges, etc.

I found another study done by the Iowa State Dept. of Health in 2007. It stated that the average hospitalization for Coronary Heart Disease was 3.4 days, and the average cost for this stay was $36,850.00.

To give you an idea of what one patient paid for one stent, here is bill from an actual patient:

In July had one stent inserted in LVCF and 7.5 hours to the minute I arrived in the ER, I walked out of the hospital on my own accord realizing I could not afford the bill.

Below is the itemized bill as received 3 days after I got home.

Card Cath: $23046.20 (0659h-0718h -- 19 minutes)
Cardiology: $ 2276.50 (doctors WERE awesome-saved my life)
EKG/ECG: $ 504.00
ER: $ 1318.00 (0630h-0659h -- 29 minutes)
Implants: $ 3715.80 (Metal Stent loc. LVCF)
IV Fluids: $ 172.00 (Former USAF PJ, sugar water 1 bag)
IV Therapy: $ 1.00 (IV machine usage maybe)
Lab: $ 2114.40 (blood drawn twice, ER and ICU)
MED/Surg Sup: $ 6746.70 (several items used)
Pharmacy: $ 4409.90 (2 nitro tabs in ER, 1 for nausea)
Pharmacy SELF:$ 238.85 (don't recall self-medicating)
Room: $ 3015.00 (ICU after cath lab, left at 1400h)
X-ray: $ 301.00 (used during cath lab procedure)
TOTAL: $47859.35
Uninsured Discount(self-pay): -$19143.74
Balance $28715.74

None of this takes into account evacuation back home.

[Kinkacruiser]

Thankyou so much so taking the time to reply so graphically as well. From my research, it appears that no insurance company here
will provide unlimited medical and hospital cover for pre-exisitng (heart disease)conditions on a travel insurance policy. It's even worse too if you are over 69 yrs. You just need to shop around for the best package (least excess, most cululative cover).

My husband had a heart attack and angiolasty (same procedure as described as above) in 2005. It didn't cost him a penny as it's considered an emergeny procedure in Australia. He was even afforded a medivac (Flying Doctor service) from Rockhampton to the Cardiac specialist hospital in Brisbane some 500 miles away unit. Too often we take our public hospital service for granted.

[mellerswa]

Originally Posted by Kinkacruiser

My 69 yo husband had a heart attack 7 years ago and had a stent implant. He is stable and has no angina. We are about to go on a 35 day cruise from Sydney to Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific Islands.
I have heard it can cost around $ 10,000 per day in a US hospital and that expatriation costs to Australia could be as much as $350,000.
A company here will cover the CAD and Stent, but have imposed a $1000 excess per event (eg heart attack) and a cumulative limit on the policy of just $50,000. I doubt this would even cover a medivac from the ship.

Has anyone or their travelling partner experienced a heart attack on a cruise and could shed some light on the costs involved. I'd appreciate any help in this area.

That is not sufficient medical coverage for your trip. If you are within 30 days of your initial deposit, and if this will cover Australian residents (I'm not sure--you'll need to contact http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/) this would probably work for you: http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/travelexmax.shtml

[cruiseco]

Originally Posted by mellerswa

That is not sufficient medical coverage for your trip. If you are within 30 days of your initial deposit, and if this will cover Australian residents (I'm not sure--you'll need to contact http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/) this would probably work for you: http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/travelexmax.shtml

Travelex is US and Canada only

[mellerswa]

Originally Posted by cruiseco

Travelex is US and Canada only

Thank you--good to know.