$1700 Medical Bill for 20 mins treatment on P&O Cruise

[The_Big_M]

I know that people cruising from Sydney to Tasmania and back (all within Aussie waters) have to buy 'international' travel insurance.

 

The definitions and coverages of travel insurance are set by the provider.

 

E.g. some sell "coastal cruise" policies, some would cover it under a "south Pacific" policy, and others in another category. I've also seen at least one that charges a surcharge on the regular policy if the travel includes a cruise.

[MicCanberra]

The medical bay on Celebrity ships warn people that they use the USA medical charge system. This translates as You Pay the high prices on board and then you need to claim them back from your insurance. I had a bill for just over $800 US for some minor treatment.

Insurance is necessary if you do not want to be caught out.:D

[MicCanberra]

I know that people cruising from Sydney to Tasmania and back (all within Aussie waters) have to buy 'international' travel insurance.

 

We buy travel insurance for domestic cruises to ensure we are covered, and thankfully so far, have not needed them.:D

[gek]

About 10 or so years ago we went on a P&O cruise out of Sydney and my daughter got quite ill. Nothing serious but it was enough to prompt a visit to the sick bay for a quick check-up and some anti-nausea pills. We were charged nothing apart from a few dollars for the medicine. Have things changed that much or did they just go easy on us because our daughter was quite young?

[Aus Traveller]

About 10 or so years ago we went on a P&O cruise out of Sydney and my daughter got quite ill. Nothing serious but it was enough to prompt a visit to the sick bay for a quick check-up and some anti-nausea pills. We were charged nothing apart from a few dollars for the medicine. Have things changed that much or did they just go easy on us because our daughter was quite young?

Maybe things have changed in the 10 years or so since your cruise. My only serious visit to the medical centre on a Princess ship for treatment and follow-up visits was probably five years ago. I was very pleasantly surprised at how low the bill was. :)

[AKAMum]

Even if the doctors WERE to be accredited through Medicare (which for doctors from overseas can take years and years of working under supervision, passing Australian exams, etc), I would still take out insurance on a domestic cruise just to cover the possibility of needing to be evacuated via helicopter. I doubt very much any private ambulance cover/membership would ever cover that cost when it involves a cruise ship at sea.

 

In 2012 it cost us $155 for a family of four - 3 nights in Qld and then 7 nights on a domestic cruise including extra to reduce the excess to zero. We ended up needing to take our youngest to the medical centre and got a quick reimbursement of the $120-odd charge for the doctor and some medication within a week of returning home and lodging the claim.

 

If we can't afford insurance, we can't afford to cruise.

[Miamia65]

$26,000 costs for one night of a 28 day around Australia cruise! I think your empathy for the cruiseline being out of pocket is misguided.

 

Are you sure that the cruiseline couldn't resell this cabin from one of the ports of call?

 

My empathy is with the widow and family members.

 

This is an excellent reminder of the necessity to take out Insurance whilst cruising in Australian waters. It is not worth the risk to self insure. Maybe people, in these circumstances, who cannot get travel insurance, should reconsider their desire to cruise.

Marion thank you for your compassion. My point really was about the need to take out insurance. In fact my in laws started cruising because my FIL was unable to take long haul flights due to medical conditions like DVT. He also had a heart condition and had a defribulator in his chest to manage arythmia (not sure of exact spelling).

 

They decided to do the "around Australia" cruise because if they fell ill he thought that they could easily get to a hospital or medical centre in Australia. We all love cruising so finding a suitable cruise like the one that went around Australia was low risk for them, but it was not to be.

 

I suppose I was mostly trying to point out that people make decisions so they can cruise and travel insurance isn't always available to them and then the cruise line enforces its rules.

 

I'm not sure if Princess re-sold the cabin but I guess it could have been possible.

[fishtaco]

So are you or are you not covered for cruise medical expenses with travel insurance if only cruising between Australian ports such as Sydney to Melbourne?

 

Because as I read it travel insurance does not cover medical expenses in Australia because Medicare already covers you.

[goodycruising]

I reckon if the casino is open it is international waters and I have taken out insurance based on that. The ship is registered overseas and you are under their jurisdiction, so I think insurance companies would be hard pressed to say you are still in Australia.

 

If you are on shore then you are covered by Medicare.

Edited March 24, 2014 by goodycruising

[Aus Traveller]

So are you or are you not covered for cruise medical expenses with travel insurance if only cruising between Australian ports such as Sydney to Melbourne?

 

Because as I read it travel insurance does not cover medical expenses in Australia because Medicare already covers you.

Travel insurance should reimburse you for medical expenses incurred on board a cruiseship travelling between Sydney and Melbourne. However, if you went to a medical centre ashore in either of those ports, you would be able to claim under Medicare. Travel insurance then wouldn't apply as you would already have been paid a benefit from another source.

[Aus Traveller]

In 2012 it cost us $155 for a family of four - 3 nights in Qld and then 7 nights on a domestic cruise including extra to reduce the excess to zero. We ended up needing to take our youngest to the medical centre and got a quick reimbursement of the $120-odd charge for the doctor and some medication within a week of returning home and lodging the claim.

I note that the cost to take your daughter to a medical centre (presumably on board a ship) was $120 for the medicine and consultation (probably 10-15 minutes?). That is about what I would expect. And it is also why I don't believe any cruiseship charged $1,700 just for a 20 minute consultation. There must have been some treatment and maybe even hospitalisation overnight.

[MicCanberra]

So are you or are you not covered for cruise medical expenses with travel insurance if only cruising between Australian ports such as Sydney to Melbourne?

 

Because as I read it travel insurance does not cover medical expenses in Australia because Medicare already covers you.

While you are on the ship, you are not in Australia (medically) and therefore, the insurance is required as the ships doctors charge to their system and not Australia's (with Medicare).:D

[jland]

I am not an expert on travel insurance so please do your own research.

 

We are in the situation where my husband cannot get travel insurance, in Australia, because of pre existing conditons (heart, stroke etc).

 

I can get travel insurance, as I have no pre exsisting conditions but every travel insurance company I have asked has said if I make a claim for a cancelled trip caused by my husbands health, I will not be paid. It would come under pre existing conditions, even though it was him not me.

 

Whether this is correct or not, I cannot say for certain but I do think if you are in this situation it is wise to check.

 

We would never travel without insurance so we now get our travel insurance from the USA. It is expensive but covers all pre exsting conditions. All we need is a letter from our GP saying we are fit to travel. If we could not get a letter from our GP we would not travel anyway.

 

We consider the extra expensive is worth every penny, it is the difference between being able to travel or not and we love to travel.

[MMDown Under]

I am not an expert on travel insurance so please do your own research.

 

We are in the situation where my husband cannot get travel insurance, in Australia, because of pre existing conditons (heart, stroke etc).

 

I can get travel insurance, as I have no pre exsisting conditions but every travel insurance company I have asked has said if I make a claim for a cancelled trip caused by my husbands health, I will not be paid. It would come under pre existing conditions, even though it was him not me.

Whether this is correct or not, I cannot say for certain but I do think if you are in this situation it is wise to check.

 

We would never travel without insurance so we now get our travel insurance from the USA. It is expensive but covers all pre exsting conditions. All we need is a letter from our GP saying we are fit to travel. If we could not get a letter from our GP we would not travel anyway.

 

We consider the extra expensive is worth every penny, it is the difference between being able to travel or not and we love to travel.

 

That is true.

 

What is the name of the travel insurance which you get from USA?

[The_Big_M]

While you are on the ship, you are not in Australia (medically) and therefore, the insurance is required as the ships doctors charge to their system and not Australia's (with Medicare).:D

 

That's not correct. As per the earlier post, while in Australian waters you still fall within Medicare coverage.

 

Of course, you also need an Australian registered doctor, which is the issue as the cruiselines don't recruit for that purpose.

[joejoe 59]

Whilst on the ship regardless of where you are, you are classed as being in international waters. Thats what we have been led to believe.

[fishtaco]

I am not an expert on travel insurance so please do your own research.

 

We are in the situation where my husband cannot get travel insurance, in Australia, because of pre existing conditons (heart, stroke etc).

 

I can get travel insurance, as I have no pre exsisting conditions but every travel insurance company I have asked has said if I make a claim for a cancelled trip caused by my husbands health, I will not be paid. It would come under pre existing conditions, even though it was him not me.

 

Whether this is correct or not, I cannot say for certain but I do think if you are in this situation it is wise to check.

 

We would never travel without insurance so we now get our travel insurance from the USA. It is expensive but covers all pre exsting conditions. All we need is a letter from our GP saying we are fit to travel. If we could not get a letter from our GP we would not travel anyway.

 

We consider the extra expensive is worth every penny, it is the difference between being able to travel or not and we love to travel.

 

As said this is quite true but also if you need to return from a trip or cancel due to a sickness or death of a family member at home you are not covered if that family member had a pre existing condition!

[robinph]

Whilst on the ship regardless of where you are, you are classed as being in international waters. Thats what we have been led to believe.

 

This is what we were told also from our Travel Insurance company when we were cruising around Australia, we had to take out international insurance.Robin:)

[fishtaco]

Whilst on the ship regardless of where you are, you are classed as being in international waters. Thats what we have been led to believe.

 

This piece of info may help the PM,s "Turn Back The Boats" policy, perhaps you should email him the news:D:D:D

[The_Big_M]

Whilst on the ship regardless of where you are, you are classed as being in international waters. Thats what we have been led to believe.

 

Not sure who's lead you to believe that, but there are all sorts of variations that can apply.

 

Countries each maintain territorial waters around them, so for example, if you're sitting beside the Harbour Bridge, you're not in "international waters."

[AKAMum]

Domestic travel insurance doesn't cover medical as it's presumed you will claim through Medicare.

 

Ship's doctors aren't registered with Medicare therefore to have medical coverage you need to have a policy that includes it. Depending on the insurer, this might be classed as "cruise" or "international" or something else, regardless of where the ship is actually located.

[rkmw]

Domestic travel insurance doesn't cover medical as it's presumed you will claim through Medicare.

 

Ship's doctors aren't registered with Medicare therefore to have medical coverage you need to have a policy that includes it. Depending on the insurer, this might be classed as "cruise" or "international" or something else, regardless of where the ship is actually located.

 

on a cruise ship there's no domestic travel insurance, you need overseas travel insurance

[AKAMum]

on a cruise ship there's no domestic travel insurance, you need overseas travel insurance

 

 

That's what I'm saying :). Talking about whether a ship is in physically in Australian waters vs international waters is irrelevant to travel insurance - what matters is what the policy does or does not cover. If you want insurance to cover you for medical costs on a cruise ship, you need to take out the appropriate level of cover.

 

On a "domestic" cruise where you don't disembark at foreign ports, including those that drop anchor briefly at Willis Island on a technicality so they can sell duty-free items, you need to take out more than a domestic/Australia-only policy as that will specifically exclude medical and evacuation costs as they assume Medicare and/or private health insurance and/or ambulance membership. (Obviously, this is only relevant for Australian citizens. Coming from overseas, you WANT one that is for Australia!)

 

Some companies have policies where your destination can be classed as "cruise" rather than a country/region such as "South Pacific" but these still cover you for your on-board medical expenses and evacuation.

[MicCanberra]

That's not correct. As per the earlier post, while in Australian waters you still fall within Medicare coverage.

 

Of course, you also need an Australian registered doctor, which is the issue as the cruiselines don't recruit for that purpose.

How many ships have Australian credited doctors on board. I still think it is safer to assume I am correct or else you wait until you go ashore to get treatment, not always an option.

[MicCanberra]

That's what I'm saying :). Talking about whether a ship is in physically in Australian waters vs international waters is irrelevant to travel insurance - what matters is what the policy does or does not cover. If you want insurance to cover you for medical costs on a cruise ship, you need to take out the appropriate level of cover.

 

On a "domestic" cruise where you don't disembark at foreign ports, including those that drop anchor briefly at Willis Island on a technicality so they can sell duty-free items, you need to take out more than a domestic/Australia-only policy as that will specifically exclude medical and evacuation costs as they assume Medicare and/or private health insurance and/or ambulance membership. (Obviously, this is only relevant for Australian citizens. Coming from overseas, you WANT one that is for Australia!)

 

Some companies have policies where your destination can be classed as "cruise" rather than a country/region such as "South Pacific" but these still cover you for your on-board medical expenses and evacuation.

Exactly correct, well stated.