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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
| Sorry but I wondered if anyone here has made a medical insurance claim in Russia? The reason I ask is that in several insurance companies terms and conditions you are sometimes forced to use reciprocal health arrangements and if you do not then you have to pay for everything yourself!!.Has anyone successfully claimed without using the arrangement mentioned on this weblink?
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-...
(about 3/4 of the way down the page under 'health'
Thanks again. Peter
Edited by peter northampton 2012-03-30 5:31 PM
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Expert
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Location: In the Windmills of my mind... | peter northampton - 2012-03-30 10:29 PM Sorry but I wondered if anyone here has made a medical insurance claim in Russia? The reason I ask is that in several insurance companies terms and conditions you are sometimes forced to use reciprocal health arrangements and if you do not then you have to pay for everything yourself!!.Has anyone successfully claimed without using the arrangement mentioned on this weblink? http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-... (about 3/4 of the way down the page under 'health' ) Thanks again. Peter Be very careful which company you choose, I would suggest that you contact BUPA worldwide, they are probably one of the best, but they aint cheap..... I am with a german/Russian tie up insurance company, and guess what, what I needed was not covered, yes, they would have paid for me to have a dangerous open surgery operation, but not for a stent operation....AND they would not cover repatriation as I am a resident here......... Also, the doctors will only operate AFTER receiving their "Envelope stashed with cash" (200,000) in my case, and this is NOT covered by any insurance.... Normally, if you fall ill, and visit a doctor over here, they will do all tests required to ascertain your problem, and make a diagnosis and reccomendation, which you will have to pay for yourself, but you will get receipts, at this point, you should already be talking with your ins co, by the way, BUPA will do everything if you contact them immediately (or so they say).. Most ins co's will check out what your needs are and make their decision on that, if repatriation is urgently needed, they will arrange it..... Stick with who you know, and not with what you can afford.... Ref lost or stolen doc's yes, it will be expensive, and I do not know who will insure you.... My offical doc's are protected better than the gold in fort knox, or whats left of it....... HTH ps, although I do not represent any insurance company, maybe I should start ......... 
Edited by Mel 2012-03-31 6:14 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
| Many many thanks Mel. Genuinely appreciate you taking the time to help.
This morning I have waded through another 5 sets of terms and conditions from a variety of travel insurance companies. Apart from being totally bewildering I started to notice little statements that more or less make the policies useless for my purposes.
I may get in touch with my insurance broker who is good but expensive and ask them to sort something out according to my criteria. If I have any luck I shall report back.
Incidentally, your point about having to pay in cash in Russia must be a real problem in an emergency, I wonder how good insurance companies are at dealing with this??? Very good point Mel which is now going onto my list of 'requirements' for my policy.
Thanks again. All the best. Peter |
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Location: In the Windmills of my mind... | peter northampton - 2012-03-31 2:46 PM Many many thanks Mel. Genuinely appreciate you taking the time to help. This morning I have waded through another 5 sets of terms and conditions from a variety of travel insurance companies. Apart from being totally bewildering I started to notice little statements that more or less make the policies useless for my purposes. I may get in touch with my insurance broker who is good but expensive and ask them to sort something out according to my criteria. If I have any luck I shall report back. Incidentally, your point about having to pay in cash in Russia must be a real problem in an emergency, I wonder how good insurance companies are at dealing with this??? Very good point Mel which is now going onto my list of 'requirements' for my policy. Thanks again. All the best. Peter Peter, I think that you have missed the point,.. Doctors earn very little over here, so they like to be given a gift to do a good job, in an unmarked envelope, in cash, and un-accountable (Tax free), something akin to bribery NO insurance company would pay this... Think man... For everything else, you get a bill, and most places take Master card, or Visa.... Get my drift...???
Edited by Mel 2012-03-31 9:54 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
| Thanks Mel and yes you are right I completely missed the point. But to try and understand what would happen if I did need emergency medical care in Moscow would this be the process:
1) me or a friend calls for ambulance or takes me to hospital - does the ambulance decide which hospital to take me to or can I express a preference?
2) me or a friend calls my insurance companies 24hr emergency help line
3) insurance company agrees (or not) to pay for treatment and may insist on a different hospital (incidentally is it possible to find out their list of preferred hospitals before travelling??)
4) doctor may or may not carry out surgery etc depending upon if I have a vast sum in rubles on my person ?
Final unrelated question. What would be the best hospitals to go to in Moscow in a medical emergency? That are ok for travel insurance funded treatment?
Thanks again. Peter |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
| Anyone had emergency medical treatment paid for by travel insurance in Moscow? And can you help with the above? It will be useful to know so that I can make a goodish choice of insurer. |
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Location: In the Windmills of my mind... | peter northampton - 2012-04-03 12:37 PM Anyone had emergency medical treatment paid for by travel insurance in Moscow? And can you help with the above? It will be useful to know so that I can make a goodish choice of insurer. Peter, In case of an emergency, you will either be concious or un-concious... If concious, telephone your insurers yourself immediately, if un-concious, then your girlfriend can make the call for you, that is unless you are heavily covered with life ins and she would be the beneficiary.... If you make the call, the ins co will advise and tell you the ins and outs.... If you are un-concious, then the doctors at the hospital which you are taken to have the call, and if necessary, they will just go ahead and try to save your life if required........ Now you are in the "Pot Luck" area, Are the doctors good???, are they genuine professionaql doctors, or are they the ones who got their qualifications by the "cash for diploma's" route............ Its the same with the hospitals, will it be a clean "Falling down" building, or a dirty one stuffed with cockroaches, mice and rats........... Will their scalpels be sharp, will the needles be new or used, will the blood on offer be clean or dirty...... Whatever the future hold for you healthwise, just make sure that the ins co that you do go with covers "Dead Body" repatriation.... HTH
Edited by Mel 2012-04-03 11:24 AM
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Yoshkar Ola. Mari El. Russia | I always get Russian Military medical insurance BCK |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 336
Location: Kent | Mel, you paint quite an inspiring picture lol |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
| LOL Mel!!! I like the image you created of me lying badly injured and drifting towards death whilst my lovely Russian friend rummages through my pockets for evidence of a life insurance policy.
As for your details of what happens when injured I found it deeply concerning. I plan to now find out from any potential insurance company how they handle incidents in Moscow and if they have a preferred hospital etc. One company did offer me the chance to speak to their 'claimline' for more information.
Thanks again Mel, made my day  am still giggling |
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Location: In the Windmills of my mind... | peter northampton - 2012-04-04 5:42 PM LOL Mel!!! I like the image you created of me lying badly injured and drifting towards death whilst my lovely Russian friend rummages through my pockets for evidence of a life insurance policy. As for your details of what happens when injured I found it deeply concerning. I plan to now find out from any potential insurance company how they handle incidents in Moscow and if they have a preferred hospital etc. One company did offer me the chance to speak to their 'claimline' for more information. Thanks again Mel, made my day am still giggling I wasn't joking, not in the least............... |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Kent | I paid a visit to the local childrens hospital in St Pete's as I was told initially my 12 month old daughter would need a health check for citizenship here. I was totally shocking. And thats an understatement !!! When my wife announced "we're here !", I thought we was at a building waiting to be pulled down. I have never seen anything like it. Also the doctor I saw doing a medical for me was trying to get me to buy "special" vitamins for my daughter. I guess he is still trying to pay for his diploma ?!?!?! |
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Extreme Veteran
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| Thanks Mel and simon. A rather depressing story. Does anyone know of a good hospital in Moscow? That I should ask to be taken to?? Thanks again. And forgive me thinking you were joking Mel - rather chilling  |
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Location: In the Windmills of my mind... | peter northampton - 2012-04-06 5:40 PM Thanks Mel and simon. A rather depressing story. Does anyone know of a good hospital in Moscow? That I should ask to be taken to?? Thanks again. And forgive me thinking you were joking Mel - rather chilling If you are ill, but well enough to talk with your ins co, they will tell you where to go....easy...ponyatno??? If you are ill, and do not talk with your ins co, and need an ambulance, the ambulance will take you to the nearest hospital accepting medical emergencies.......... If you are ill and want to go to a designated hospital, then you would need to call a private ambulance service to take you there as it may be the other side of the city....... Maybe the best hospital is the University Hospital, but they have many places with different specialism's.. HTH... |
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Location: South Leicestershire | Glad to see your fighting fit again Mel .... Peter I think you have failed to understand what Mel is saying to you !? Kevin your military medical insurance will be piss poor and you will as Peter will have to pay in envelopes on top and then cross everything hoping you get someone who has had 'real' evidence based training overseas |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
| Thanks again Mel. I didn't express myself very well - but I did understand the point you were making, thanks. As I said I hope to sort out beforehand with my insurance company what they usually do in an emergency in Moscow and if possible get details of what hospital(s) they use so that I can go prepared with a list of addresses and phone numbers and also a number for a private ambulance service (any suggestions?). This still leaves unresolved the problem of what happens if I am not conscious. Although, years ago I saw a man with a big piece of cardboard attached to the front of his coat, it gave his name, address and phone number. Maybe I could use a similar system
Best wishes, Peter |
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