Medical Facilities Onboard Ships

[BOAZ5]

I have never needed to visit to the infirmary on a ship:), but have always wondered about them.

 

What type of facilities do they have on board; what types of emergencies are they equipped for, staff, etc.

[Clarea]

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqSubjectName=Safety&faqId=257&faqSubjectId=466&faqType=faq

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/connect/blog/tag/medical-facilities/

[Folk Singer]

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqSubjectName=Safety&faqId=257&faqSubjectId=466&faqType=faq

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/connect/blog/tag/medical-facilities/

 

thank you. getting older. lol

[setsail]

http://www.royalcareersatsea.com/pages/medical

[geocruiser]

I have had to use the Dr. on board other cruise lines (not RCCL). They were very good. On one cruise that we were on a friend of one of the people that we were traveling with became very, very ill. The Dr. did save his life. It was his heart.

[Croozin Soozin]

I have never needed to visit to the infirmary on a ship:), but have always wondered about them.

 

What type of facilities do they have on board; what types of emergencies are they equipped for, staff, etc.

 

My husband had a heart attack on one of our Serenade cruises. We were two days away from San Diego, coming from Hawaii. The doctor and nurses were wonderful and the care that he got was very good. They somehow connected to a hospital in Ohio, I believe (Cleveland?) and they helped prescribe care for him till we got to San Diego, where an ambulance was waiting to take us off the ship and to UCSD.

 

I just realized that it was 9 years ago this week!!

[Daghis]

This isn't quite what you asked for, but in case it's interesting, I'll share it with you. When I was on Independence of the Seas in March, I had an injury during a shore excursion and had to get medical treatment from the onboard medical center. I wrote up a review of the great service I received.

 

I'm happy that it wasn't life threatening, but I'm definitely comforted by the fact that they do have a capable and caring staff available for passengers and crew.

[marklodi]

This may also help with info about doctors and medical services onboard cruise ships. A book called "Cruise Ship SOS: The Life-Saving Adventures of a Doctor at Sea". Wonderful read.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GKMUKS/ref=oh_d__o03_details_o03__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Folk Singer]

This isn't quite what you asked for, but in case it's interesting, I'll share it with you. When I was on Independence of the Seas in March, I had an injury during a shore excursion and had to get medical treatment from the onboard medical center. I wrote up a review of the great service I received.

 

I'm happy that it wasn't life threatening, but I'm definitely comforted by the fact that they do have a capable and caring staff available for passengers and crew.

 

it is really good to know. If you need care you can get it.:):)

[luvscruising2007]

DH fell on a shore excursion in Cartegena. He cracked his elbow. They took extensive x-rays, provided a sling and pain meds. He was treated very well. The doctor was very thorough and we felt the experience was a positive one.

[Jimnbigd]

I don't think the medical facility is free (already paid for in the cruise price). I've read it can be rather expensive at times. Anyone have any first-hand knowledge of this? Anyone had to use the ship's medical service, and your health insurance did not pay for it?

[wrp96]

I don't think the medical facility is free (already paid for in the cruise price). I've read it can be rather expensive at times. Anyone have any first-hand knowledge of this? Anyone had to use the ship's medical service, and your health insurance did not pay for it?

 

Yes definitely NOT free. You pay up front and then they give you the paperwork to file with your insurance. The first time I had to use the ship's infirmary (yes I'm a repeat customer there ;) ) I found out after the fact that my health insurance at the time did not offer coverage outside the US so did not cover it. Learned my lesson and now always get travel insurance (although my current health insurance does cover me outside the US). I believe it was something like $100 just to see the doctor plus the cost of any meds, supplies, etc. It's been awhile since that first visit so I'm sure prices have changed and/or my memory could be faulty about exact amounts.

[reedl]

The medical service is not free in most cases. My wife who is a nurse went down to one of them and chatted with them, and was quite impressed with their facilities.

 

On my last cruise on the Liberty, they had a patient who was airlifted at 1AM in the morning. She was well taken care of by the on board medical staff from what I heard, and in fact one of the medical staff went with the patient into the helicopter.

[dixieva]

Yes, not free! I have had to see the doc on a ship a few times for my asthma. I got very good care. The last time they had me come back the next day to check my breathing to make sure it was better after a treatment. No charge for that visit.

 

Just a FYI- if you are on Medicare they do not cover any care outside of the US unless the care provider is licensed to practice in the US. Just found that out last year! However my Medicare supplement insurance did cover all of it. I always get travel insurance for costs not covered.

[Daghis]

My treatment was provided by the cruise line because my injury happened during a shore excursion (purchased through Royal Caribbean). Apparently that's a benefit of using the ship's shore excursions.

 

I wouldn't have known about this benefit but for a guy on our excursion who was actually a nurse from one of the Celebrity ships that was also docked in St. Maarten that day. He let me know that I'd be able to get complimentary treatment from the medical center onboard.

[Clarea]

My treatment was provided by the cruise line because my injury happened during a shore excursion (purchased through Royal Caribbean). Apparently that's a benefit of using the ship's shore excursions.

 

I wouldn't have known about this benefit but for a guy on our excursion who was actually a nurse from one of the Celebrity ships that was also docked in St. Maarten that day. He let me know that I'd be able to get complimentary treatment from the medical center onboard.

Thanks, learned something new today.:)

[marielco]

I don't think the medical facility is free (already paid for in the cruise price). I've read it can be rather expensive at times. Anyone have any first-hand knowledge of this? Anyone had to use the ship's medical service, and your health insurance did not pay for it?

 

No definitely not free. I visited the medical facility for a throat infection It cost $100 for the examination. I paid separately for the antibiotics. My travel insurance covered it. One of the reasons I would never travel without insurance. I'm sure if something unforeseen happened and you needed any more extensive treatment or tests the cost could be high.

 

It is very reassuring to know good medical services are available on board.

[allie3490]

On the first day of our Freedom cruise last year I jammed my 2nd toe very badly. Note to others - do not walk barefoot on the pool deck!

 

Anyway, it hurt so bad I could barely walk and it also looked a bit disfigured. So I hightailed it to the medical office. This was about an hour before muster drill. I was the only one in there...they made me fill out some paperwork, took a quick xray, told me it wasn't fractured, gave me a bandage to wrap around it and a week's worth of ibuprofen and sent me on my way.

 

Never got a bill. They did call halfway through the cruise to see how I was doing which was very nice.

[jlbkty]

Our son tripped on his bedspread on the way to the bathroom around 2:00 am on Rhapsody a few years back. Jammed his finger pretty bad. Medical met us in the clinic, x-ray'd it, pulled it back into place, splinted it, and sent us on our way! They were awesome, not free, but awesome! Seems we paid just under $300. Medical insurance covered some of it and trip insurance picked up the rest. Only downfall was paying for it first.

[justforkicks]

The medical service is not free in most cases. My wife who is a nurse went down to one of them and chatted with them, and was quite impressed with their facilities.

 

On my last cruise on the Liberty, they had a patient who was airlifted at 1AM in the morning. She was well taken care of by the on board medical staff from what I heard, and in fact one of the medical staff went with the patient into the helicopter.

Yes they did take care good care of me, in fact saved my life ~ so did the two very kind passengers who donated blood for me. The total cost was quite expensive, which is automatically added to your sea pass, but well worth the money considering. Let's just say the cost of a three day stay at a hospital at Turks & Caicos was cheaper, but thankfully our medical insurance did cover most of the expenses and the cruise insurance (which I will never do without) paid for the rest.

 

The medical staff on the ship was nothing less than stellar, IMHO

[Ken076]

....

 

Just a FYI- if you are on Medicare they do not cover any care outside of the US unless the care provider is licensed to practice in the US. Just found that out last year! However my Medicare supplement insurance did cover all of it. I always get travel insurance for costs not covered.

 

WRT to the above, from the Medicare Site:

 

Will Medicare pay for medically-necessary health care services I get on a cruise ship? Medicare may cover medically-necessary health care services you get on a cruise ship in these situations:

• The doctor is allowed under certain laws to provide medical services on the cruise ship.

• The ship is in a U.S. port or no more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port when you get the services, regardless of whether it’s an emergency.

Medicare doesn’t cover health care services you get when the ship is more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port.

 

What do I pay if I get Medicare-covered services outside the U.S.? Except in the limited situations described in this fact sheet, Medicare doesn’t pay for health care services you get outside the U.S. If your circumstances don’t meet these limited exceptions, you pay the full cost to the health care provider. If your situation matches one of the exceptions in this fact sheet, and Medicare covers the items or services you get, you still pay the coinsurance or copayments and deductibles you would normally pay if you got these same services or supplies inside the U.S.

Although U.S. hospitals must submit claims to Medicare for you, foreign hospitals aren’t required to file Medicare claims. If you’re admitted to a foreign hospital under one of the three situations described on the first page, and if that hospital doesn’t submit Medicare claims for you, then you must submit an itemized bill to Medicare for your doctor, inpatient, and ambulance services. If you got Medicare-covered services on a cruise ship under a situation described in the previous question, the doctor must ordinarily submit the Medicare claim. However, you may also file a claim directly to Medicare in these rare circumstances. For information on where to send a foreign claim, please visit http://www.medicare.gov/MedicareOnlineForms, and select the form "Patient’s Request for Medical Payment" (CMS 1490S).

 

What if I have a Medigap (Medicare SupplementInsurance) policy? Your Medigap policy may offer additional coverage for health care services orsupplies that you get outside the U.S. ... Standard Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M and N provide foreign travel emergencyhealth care coverage when you travel outside the U.S.

ken

[dixieva]

Thanks for posting that.

 

This is absolutely not what I was told when I called Medicare after returning from my cruise. I was told that the ship had to be registered in the US( I had forgotten that part) AND that the doctor had to be licensed to practice in the US. No mention about location of the ship at the time of service. But that's typical of Medicare- phone reps not knowing all of the rules.

 

My supplement insurance normally doesn't cover anything if Medicare refuses it but they told me that in this instance (cruise ship medical costs) that they would cover it and they did pay all of it so I didn't have to file with my travel insurance. But nice to know I had it if I needed it.

[Ken076]

Thanks for posting that.

 

This is absolutely not what I was told when I called Medicare after returning from my cruise. I was told that the ship had to be registered in the US( I had forgotten that part) AND that the doctor had to be licensed to practice in the US. No mention about location of the ship at the time of service. But that's typical of Medicare- phone reps not knowing all of the rules.

 

My supplement insurance normally doesn't cover anything if Medicare refuses it but they told me that in this instance (cruise ship medical costs) that they would cover it and they did pay all of it so I didn't have to file with my travel insurance. But nice to know I had it if I needed it.

 

I could also interpret that first section several ways!

 

It does look that MediGap policies have out-of-country coverage beyone Medicare's.

 

ken

[drarill]

This isn't quite what you asked for, but in case it's interesting, I'll share it with you. When I was on Independence of the Seas in March, I had an injury during a shore excursion and had to get medical treatment from the onboard medical center. I wrote up a review of the great service I received.

 

I'm happy that it wasn't life threatening, but I'm definitely comforted by the fact that they do have a capable and caring staff available for passengers and crew.

 

Same thing happened to a friend's mom during a shore excursion. This was on the Allure, and my husband went with them to the medical facilities. He was really impressed with the staff and medical center. DH also offered to take the sutures on our friend's mom face, but they didn't allowed him. ;)

[claytonfulmer]

I was on board Navigator a,few years ago and had a very unusual medical situation. Back in the US a couple months earlier a doctor couldn't diagnose a throat infection I had, they just lanced it and told me it wouldn't come back. Fast forward a few months... I was on the cruise and felt the infection came back and went strait to the doctor on board. He was able to give me antibiotics intravenously but he didn't comfortable cutting into my neck while on board a moving ship. Unfortunately the next stop was Jamaica where there wasn't an ENT surgeon close by qualified for the operation so we had to wait for Grand Cayman where the RCI's doctor referred me to an ENT. As soon as we got off the ship we went strait to the hospital where the doctor was waiting for us. It took him one x-Ray, and an ultra sound to diagnos an infected thyroglosal duct cyst. He treated it so I could enjoy the rest of the cruise and referred me to a great ENT surgeon who did my operation to fix me for good back home. I received EXCEPTIONAL care on board and by the doctor in Grand Cayman. I had to pay for everything out if pocket then get reimbursed to the tune of $7k but it wasn't too much trouble.

 

On that cruise I learned two things that will stay with me for the rest of my life:

 

1. Don't travel outside the US without insurance.

2. IV fluids are a miracle cure for a hang over.