How much to see ship doctor?

[janatmovies]

As our cruise date approaches, I am feeling both excited and nervous. I'm so scared either me or my son will get sick. I am scared of stomach virus for me (I'm pregnant) and for my son who has asthma I'm scared of him developing croupe or just general sickness as well.

I do have his asthma meds which I will carry with me but if one of us needs to be seen how does this work? How much is it to see the doctor and if we need any meds do they have a way of getting it for us? Thanks for any help.

 

[ldymcbth]

When my son got strep on our Fantasy cruise, it was about $250 to see the doctor and they did have antibiotics on board for him. I was really impressed with the medical services.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Take any OTC meds you think you might need with you. While I don't know the cost of seeing the ship's Dr., I know it isn't cheap and the meds are expensive. If you have a stomach virus or something they might consider contagious, you can be quarantined to your room.

Take some imodium, decongestant, Pepcid, anything you can think of that would help with discomforts.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Jumping in with a follow up question, thanks to the OP for opening this up for discussion...

Anyone out there that has seen the ship Dr know whether they would have access to using insurance instead of paying OOP for a visit? Not necessarily your regular work health insurance, but a travel insurance? We haven't gotten anything beyond the DCL provided insurance, would that even cover a visit to the ship Dr?

Thanks to anyone who can shed more light on the subject!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Jumping in with a follow up question, thanks to the OP for opening this up for discussion...

Anyone out there that has seen the ship Dr know whether they would have access to using insurance instead of paying OOP for a visit? Not necessarily your regular work health insurance, but a travel insurance? We haven't gotten anything beyond the DCL provided insurance, would that even cover a visit to the ship Dr?

Thanks to anyone who can shed more light on the subject!

No, the doctors and medical treatment is strictly OPP. It will be charged to your onboard account.

You'll get a bill showing treatments and costs which you submit to your insurance once home. Most travel insurance requires that you submit to your regular health insurance first, and then submit to the travel insurance company for whatever is denied by your regular plan.

Even the DCL plan would have to be submitted once back home.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

That's what I figured, thanks for answering so quickly!

 

[shoes99]

Jumping in with a follow up question, thanks to the OP for opening this up for discussion...

Anyone out there that has seen the ship Dr know whether they would have access to using insurance instead of paying OOP for a visit? Not necessarily your regular work health insurance, but a travel insurance? We haven't gotten anything beyond the DCL provided insurance, would that even cover a visit to the ship Dr?

Thanks to anyone who can shed more light on the subject!

No, the doctors and medical treatment is strictly OPP. It will be charged to your onboard account.

You'll get a bill showing treatments and costs which you submit to your insurance once home. Most travel insurance requires that you submit to your regular health insurance first, and then submit to the travel insurance company for whatever is denied by your regular plan.
Even the DCL plan would have to be submitted once back home.

Yes, shipboard account charge only. DH had a panic attack the evening before our whale watching excursion and did not feel well enough to travel. In order to get his excursion $$ refunded he had to see the ship doctor to get a release.
The ship doctor charge for just a 15 minute checkup was $145. It was charged to our shipboard account, and when I submitted the dr release our excursion charge of $165 was reversed on our account. When I got to Vancouver I called the DCL travel insurance carrier, and they told me to submit the bill to medicare first. I thought we were in a foreign port, but actually the dr visit was while we were in Juneau, Alaska, USA. Medicare approved the charge, paid the R&C less 20% and then Travel Insurance paid the difference to make us whole.
On another voyage I was stung by a bee on the ship. I called the medical center and they were closed. I chose to meet the nurse down at the center and she gave me benadryl and ointment and the charge was about $6 to my onboard account. I didn't feel seeing the dr was necessary but went to see the nurse as a precaution.
Michele

 

[Four Bears]

Just a FYI:
Guest services and the gift shops have OTC for a reasonable price. We always take the basic OTCs with us, but the last night of the cruise, the same night we left our luggage outside to be disembarked, DD1 came down with a fever at 3 am. Since we didn't feel it warranted a doctor visit, my husband was able to get children's liquid Motrin a GS at 3 am.

OP make sure you know which OTCs are approved for you during pregnancy, and what dosages are safe. I am sure your OB has given you a list! If you haven't already paid your final payment you may still be eligible for travel insurance, just make sure you get Pre-existing waiver, since both asthma and most likely pregnancy would fall in this catergory. Insuremytrip.com

 

[sweetpee_1993]

When my son got strep on our Fantasy cruise, it was about $250 to see the doctor and they did have antibiotics on board for him. I was really impressed with the medical services.

Did they have the strep tests to run onboard? Last May when we were on the Fantasy I got very ill the 1st night. Aches, chills, sweats, etc. By the end of day 2 I could feel the blisters on my throat. DH looked and we were both pretty certain it was strep. Never went to medical but I sure thought long & hard about it. Wasn't sure what extent of lab capabilities they had. I bought OTC cold/flu meds onboard to manage my symptoms until we could get to Mexico. As soon as we got to Costa Maya we ran straight to the nearest drugstore where I bought Cipro & Cephalexin OTC. Started with a double dose and was feeling significantly better within a day or so. Never did see a doc. Finished my full course of antibiotics. Still curious about lab capabilities onboard. Might be good to know for future reference.

 

[GetGlowing]

Fun fact: if your medical coverage is through the VA (Veterans Admin) they will cover your shipboard medical charges if you are like 6 hours from a US port. I forget the exact number, but we found that out when my dad had to spend some time in the Magic's sickbay due to an infection. He didn't see the doctor until midnight on our embarkation day, so his VA coverage wasn't applicable. (Please if you are in the VA system get the exact rules because it's been over a year so my memory is rusty).

As someone mentioned up top, the DCL insurance is secondary payer, meaning you submit to your home medical insurance provider and your cruise insurance should pick up the balance.

However, some independent trip insurance policies will be primary payer, meaning when you get off the ship you just send them your claims without having to fool with submitting to other insurance first to be denied or partially paid. And if you don't have any medical insurance on land, trip insurance could be a great investment. One trip to the med center can easily exceed your trip insurance premium.

 

[TeamH5]

Fun fact: if your medical coverage is through the VA (Veterans Admin) they will cover your shipboard medical charges if you are like 6 hours from a US port. I forget the exact number, but we found that out when my dad had to spend some time in the Magic's sickbay due to an infection. He didn't see the doctor until midnight on our embarkation day, so his VA coverage wasn't applicable. (Please if you are in the VA system get the exact rules because it's been over a year so my memory is rusty). As someone mentioned up top, the DCL insurance is secondary payer, meaning you submit to your home medical insurance provider and your cruise insurance should pick up the balance. However, some independent trip insurance policies will be primary payer, meaning when you get off the ship you just send them your claims without having to fool with submitting to other insurance first to be denied or partially paid. And if you don't have any medical insurance on land, trip insurance could be a great investment. One trip to the med center can easily exceed your trip insurance premium.

If the VA works anything like Tricare (and I believe it is Tricare if I'm not mistaken) then they will pay for an Emergency visit anywhere. Yes it's true that if you are within a certain proximity to an MTF (military treatment facility) then they would prefer you to try to get seen there. However if it's an emergency situation they WILL pay for all medical costs. I've had to take my daughter to a civilian ER on a couple of occasions, and the MTF was literally 2 miles away. The only reason I did ER was because I knew the MTF would be at least a 3 hr wait to see the Doc and her situation was to emergent for that kind of wait. But Tricare did pay for it without question even.

FWIW, I believe (but don't quote me) that the proximity is 1.5 hours. It's either that or 45 min I don't recall exactly.

 

[storknurse13]

I have had two experiences with shipboard medical services... My DS started running a fever during a sea day a few years ago. I called GS and they said that the Physicians were not in the medical facility until specified hours but if I needed someone now that they would have the Doc meet me there but it would be an extra charge, so we waited until it opened. The MD did an amazing exam of my son along with strep testing! It was positive for strep and he was given a 10 day supply of antibiotics and Motrin and Tylenol for the remainder of the week. The care he received was fabulous and certainly a great piece of mind knowing that medical care is available if needed! I think that visit was 145.00.
The second experience was this past April. On day 2 of the cruise I experienced severe diarrhea and vomiting, we'll say from sea sickness. Not sure if that's what it was but I spent a lot of time not feeling well. After 2 days I finally talked myself into going to medical and being seen. The physician did a very thorough exam and found that I had started wearing the scopolamine patch the day the cruise set sail. He said that some people react differently to the patch and said it was too strong for me. He took it off and I received 2 liters of IV fluids and some phenergan (anti nausea medication) in my IV. After having the fluids I felt so much better and within 24 hours I was back to my self again. Trust me I didn't miss a beat while on the ship just incredibly sick. My visit to medical was only 250.00 and so worth it. 5 days sick on the Fantasy is certainly better than 7 non sick days at home so I'm not complaining!

 

[Woodmnky]

My son had to be seen for a double ear infection and respiratory issues. The first visit was $145 for the visit and $8 for an antibiotics and some Tylenol. We had to go back the next day because his breathing was worse and that visit was around $60 and included a prescription for prednisone. The care was great and actually both visits combined were less that what are local urgent care charges. My insurance covered all but my copays and then the travel insurae covered those.