Medical care?

Old Jun 15th, 2007, 07:40 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Medical care?

I heard to receive medical care at a hospital in China, you need to pay cash upfront. Is that true? If so, how could you manage to get that much cash?
LostinChina is offline  
Old Jun 15th, 2007, 08:01 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would imagine that if you were in serious condition, you would be treated first and asked for money later, but if you were not in serious condition, they would ask you how you were going to pay and maybe take a deposit or credit card.

One thing that is pretty universally true, wherever you travel, is that you must pay in full for any treatments and drugs you might get, and be reimbursed by your insurance company later, after you have filed the correct forms and gone through whatever procedures they require. Perhaps you are confusing this with paying up front?

This is true even for visitors to the US...I am sure of it because as a non-resident visitor to the US I had to do just that.

Point is, it's not only in China that you may be asked how you will pay or be required to pay. How else would they get money from someone who won't even be in the country in a week or two?

Next point is, don't worry about things that are unlikely to happen.

Even if you are sick in China, the chances of you being too sick and too poor to pay are not very high...and if you are that sick, they will treat you with or without proof of payment. It's China. And, most tourists never are in very rural areas that may not have good hospital facilities. In the larger cities, there are even international options, and some Blue Cross affiliated hospitals.

KimJapan is offline  
Old Jun 16th, 2007, 09:46 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, KimJapan!
LostinChina is offline  
Old Jun 16th, 2007, 11:07 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Kim, your universal truth is not quite accurate. If you are unfortunate enough to require medical attention in the U.K. you will be treated by the NHS free of charge regardless of your nationality and you will not be asked to pay later.

Nevertheless, I think the real point here is that travel insurance is a must. When this issue came up on this board some months ago, I stated that travel insurance ranks as high in my list of priorities when travelling, as my passport!!! My comments were met with considerable dissapproval.

Yes, in the main, you will never need to call on your insurance.......BUT..it is such a comfort to know that all possible emergencies are covered.

I had an experience in Crete some fifteen years ago that required extensive medical treatment and return to the UK. Thankfully I had insurance cover, and my wife simply had to make a few phone calls. Everything was dealt with faultlessly. So, of course we never travel without cover. We buy an annual multi-trip worldwide policy which even covers us for trips away here in the UK.

And finally, Kim,
'' don't worry about things that are unlikely to happen''

People do get sick when travelling and they do have accidents. So, I return to my statement of several months ago....travel insurance ranks as high as your passport if you are going to travel.

No scaremongering here, and since the Crete incident fifteen years ago, I have not required the services of my insurance and probably most people won't...but better safe than sorry eh?
LeighTravelClub is offline  
Old Jun 16th, 2007, 02:43 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's great that in the UK anyone can be treated for free. What a nice system; if only everywhere could be so generous.

The reason I said not to worry about something that isn't likely to happen is that LostinChina has posted many, many messages about various things she is worried about...so many that I'm actually worried about her ability to enjoy her trip. I did not say that she shouldn't get travel insurance...of course she should. When I said don't worry, I meant just that...don't spend a lot of time worrying about something that may never happen. Cover your bases, get insurance, do whatever you need to do in terms of carrying medication, and go to the hospital if you need to. But don't let worry about unlikely turns of events prevent you from enjoying the trip.
KimJapan is offline  
Old Jun 16th, 2007, 07:57 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,609
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Seems the UK is only generous for emergency treatment. This is from visitbritain.com:

If you become ill while visiting Britain, you are eligible for free emergency treatment in the Accident and Emergency departments of National Health Service hospitals. However, if you are admitted to hospital as an in-patient, even from the accident and emergency department, or referred to an out-patient clinic, you will be asked to pay unless:

* You are in receipt of a UK state retirement pension
* You are a national or resident of the European Economic Area
* You are a refugee or stateless person living in the European Economic Area or the dependant or survivor of such a person, regardless of your own nationality.
* You are a national or resident of countries which have reciprocal health care agreements with the UK. The following countries have such agreements in placelist not including the US]

Exemption from charges applies only to treatment needed during the visit. You are strongly advised to take out adequate insurance before travelling to Britain. Your travel agent will be able to suggest a suitable policy.

I've been to two different hospitals in two different towns in the UK over the last few years, and both have charged me, even though it was for emergency room outpatient treatment - maybe the problems weren't sufficiently urgent to count as emergencies?

Personally, I agree that you'd be crazy to travel without both medical and medivac insurance. Being healthy isn't enough reason to skip insurance - I've suffered both a badly sprained ankle and a broken wrist while traveling.
thursdaysd is offline  
Old Jun 16th, 2007, 08:12 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks.
LostinChina is offline  
Old Jun 17th, 2007, 07:03 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We are signed up with travel insurance. They told me that they can reimburse me once I return home. They can't help me pay the upfront cash though.
LostinChina is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sojourntraveller
Travel Tips & Trip Ideas
9
Dec 4th, 2014 10:46 AM
excited_confused
Travel Tips & Trip Ideas
15
Oct 30th, 2014 02:18 AM
honja
Europe
21
Sep 15th, 2012 04:30 PM
sarahkay
Europe
6
Feb 19th, 2006 03:01 PM
suzy
Europe
21
Jul 9th, 2004 11:42 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -