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Old 08-29-2006, 07:44 PM  
Webby
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Far far away - as possible
Posts: 14,956
Quote:
Originally Posted by L-Pink
Webby, my $365. month insurance pays for it. That still doesn't mean massive price gouging isn't taking place. Or, is it medical malpractice insurance premiums driving costs?
Got ya!

I was just checking some stuff (tho not got the paperwork here right now) - apparently we have private international healthcare cover and this includes air ambulance services if there was a need (some islands may not have full medical facilites) - and this costs just over $100/month.

One bit worth noting - the air ambulance flights will take you to Canada, the EU or wherever the nearest South American country with suitable facilities - the choice of where you go is a personal one (tho may be based on urgency - depending).

The moment you elect to fly to, eg Florida or the US - that's another policy and the cost jumps up to over $600/month. Suppose, if anything, that kinda matches the cost of healthcare in the US.

Was just checking medical air services - there is even what looks like a ripoff on costs if you charter an air ambulance in the US to go elsewhere - they can't give a price - all "negotiable" - presumably hoping for some stitchup on insurance claims.

While thinking of this - dunno why we bother with this policy - healthcare here is good and often in private clinics operated by US hospital chains - the difference is the costs are averaging 25%-33% of the US rate. Makes you think

BTW.. On your morphine costs - spent three days in a private clinic here (US owned and operated) and got two morphine shots and the total bill was fractionally under $800.

Sure.. smells like mass ripoff pricing to a level that makes any drug cartel look improvised.
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