Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Medical Care Outside the U.S. ?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Yuba City, Ca.
    Posts
    2,229

    Default Medical Care Outside the U.S. ?

    I'm wondering how many of you have ever needed medical help when you were traveling outside the U.S.? So many of these great destinations are pretty remote in third world countries and accidents and illnesses do happen.

    A few years ago I was at Isla Holbox and crushed the front of my tibia against some coral blocks and couldn't get back to civilization in Cancun. As it was, three days later, I got on our plane home and first stop was Kaiser ER in Roseville.

    A few weeks ago I was fishing the delta with a couple of good friends. Came home that night and woke the next day with fever, chills, and menengitis. No notice at all. I'm still hooked up an IV for next few weeks. I asked the doc about what would have happened if I'd been in another part of the world when this happened and all she could say was that I might not be here.

    Any words of confidence about visiting foreign hospitals?
    TONY
    TONY BUZOLICH
    Feather River Fly
    Yuba City, CA.
    (530) 790-7180

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Reno, NV
    Posts
    95

    Default

    This is what my dad uses when he travels. He's in his 80's and just got back from Egypt and Jordan.

    http://www.medexassist.com/Default.aspx

    He definitely carries the evacuation/air ambulance coverage.

    I've lived in foreign areas with less-than-stellar medical services. My colleagues and I had a pact that if anyone got seriously ill, the others would take them to the airport and put them on a plane. Hospitals are no place for sick people. Especially third world hospitals.

    Cheers,
    Mike
    "Someone just back of you while you are fishing is just as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you are writing a letter to your girl." - E. Hemingway

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    Here is a helpful web page from Keith Kaneko's "Angling On The Fly" travel site:

    http://www.anglingonthefly.com/Trave...Resources.html

    I get the travel medical evacuation insurance by the year for under $200.
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    NorCal
    Posts
    123

    Default

    I've known of dispicable care in the US, and of foreign government funded stellar care in other countries. But maybe this might get a bit too political.

    Suffice it to say that the care you receive is reflective of your remoteness in location, and the attention, skill, and technology of your caregivers. You can get piss poor care 100 miles from an American city and great care in a place you might least expect it.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Fresno, CA
    Posts
    2,749

    Default

    A few years ago, we had a client who needed "big time" medical assistance. All of this happened on the beach. First, he was taken to the local medical (walk in) facility at Los Planes, they said that he needed more attention that they could provide, so they transported him to La Paz, about 50 miles. Ambulance cost - around $20.00.
    Then at the hospital in La Paz, he was well cared for. Had all the tests, MRI, EKG, Scans, the whole package and was also stiched up. He spent a night in the hospital and release the next day. I understood that he had some great medical attention from some of the top doctors and I also understand that a doctor friend of one of my captains, who is a specialist also drove in from Aqua Amarga. After his return home he went to Kaiser for a check up and they said that he'd been well taken care of.

    Just a note, this was not in the jungles and the facilities were close. I've only had one experience myself but nothing tramatic.

    Jay

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Placerville, CA
    Posts
    33

    Default

    A lot of the med-evac insurances are from a hospital. One outfit I just found out about, Global Rescue, will go 'up the river, etc.' to get you. No affiliation with them, just my searching, and I am switching to them(yes, a little more expensive) from my previous coverage(didn't ask/read the fine print). Of course it depends on where you are going and your medical requirements. Sorry if this sounds like a sales pitch, but, I found out after several years I didn't have the right coverage and thought it was important to share the info. There are probably other companies that provide this coverage. I just quit looking when I found the coverage I needed, and I certainly hope nobody ever needs it.
    Too old and tired to walk out anymore!!
    Steve

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Yuba City, Ca.
    Posts
    2,229

    Default Medical Evacuations

    Steve, you're right on about getting good insurance no matter what kind it is. I'm sure some hospitals in various parts of the world are good, but I don't want to find out the hard way. Any place that is considered a third world country (or less) can't have the facilities or standards we have here. Even here when I went in to emergency I had to have a spinal tap immediately for a culture so that they could identify what it was. I was hooked to an I.V. almost immediately and started on antibiotics. Its been nine weeks now with this thing stuck in my arm and I'm still not done.

    Had this been tried in a foreign country I can only imagine what the outcome might have been. Its tough enough going through it here.

    A lot of the hunting shows showing African safari's advertise heavily with medical evacuation companies and the promise that they'll get you home no matter where you are. I think anyone who travels anywhere should have this kind of protection.
    TONY
    TONY BUZOLICH
    Feather River Fly
    Yuba City, CA.
    (530) 790-7180

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    1,765

    Default medical

    Encourage all of you to read T.R. Reid's "The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care".
    Travel health insurance does make a lot of since. A good friend's husband (healthy, but, in his late seventies) suffered a heart attack while kayaking off lower Baja last fall. Sent by med-evac to San Diego which probably saved his life.
    Stay safe!
    Larry S

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    the Lost Sierra
    Posts
    750

    Default Third world health care.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Buzolich View Post
    Any place that is considered a third world country (or less) can't have the facilities or standards . . ."
    Talking about Oroville?

    Seriously though, international medi-vac can vary by country. DAN has a wonderful network in the South Pacific but doesn't have the same in Peru.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •