Urgent medical care

[disneyholic family]

i know people wonder about this before they go - what if - where will they get medical help.

DD and her husband are there now and needed medical care twice, so had the "opportunity" to experience both types of service offered by Centra Care, the urgent medical care clinics located throughout Orlando, including in Lake Buena Vista just outside the entrance to the DTD area of WDW.

You can either walk into one of the Centra Care clinics (and they'll provide you with free door to door transportation if you need it) or Centra Care will send you a doctor to your hotel room ('physician room service').

Last week, when they arrived in Orlando from 2 weeks in Alaska, DD was very ill and had also burned her hand at the buffet on the alaska cruise.
Because of the burn, Centra Care said that she would have to come into their office rather than have a doctor visit her in her resort room.

Centra Care sent a car to pick them up and bring them to the Centra Care clinic (no charge for the car service), she was examined almost immediately, the car then took them to the pharmacy for her to fill the prescription and then drove them back to their resort.

She said the whole process was quick and easy (though costly, but she has the forms to file when she gets back home).

This week, her husband has been ill, so finally yesterday they called Centra Care again, but this time ordered the "physician room service" service - a doctor comes to you to your hotel room.

DD said this doctor was exceptionally good. She was very very impressed by him. He spent over 2 hours with them - if only our regular doctor would take that kind of time.
and in this case, he had the medicine required sent over to the hotel for them so they didn't have to run around anywhere to get it.
and again, he gave her all the forms she'll need to file when she gets back home.

she said the service was expensive, but definitely worth it.

You don't need to remember the name or the phone number - just call the disney front desk and they'll give you the number.

But here is the number of the clinic located in Lake Buena Vista
http://centracare.org/locations/fh_centra_care_lake_buena_vista/
(407) 934-2273
this location is open Monday - Friday from 8 am to midnight and Sat/Sun from 8 to 8.

here's a map of their many locations:
http://centracare.org/locations/

i hope you'll never need this information, but just in case, you know that it's there!

 

[chmurf]

Another anecdote here.

Last february DW developped an allergy (to the soap or bleach used at WDW for the bed sheets) she felt ill, had a fairly impressive rash, and at that point we needed some rather urgent medical advice.
We had to call 911, you can do that from your room or ask at the front desk. Actually it was the manager at POP who advised us to call 911 as it was free as long as the "situation" did not require us to go to the hospital.

we were in POP and the emergency center is located just down the road, at victory way & E Buena Vista Dr (between CBR and Boardwalk)
they were there in a flash (less than 1 or 2 minutes). We had 4 EMTs examine DW. They have quite an impressive array of medical appliances (I even more in the truck)
As DW's condition did not require to go to the hospital nor prescription meds, they wrote down what DW needed to take (over the counter meds and cream), one EMT even went to the store at POP to check if the meds were available and if there was no interaction problem with the brands available at our hotel

we were very impressed (not to mention that DW swoons over US firefighters - third watch and shows like that, and she finally got 4 of them taking care of her )

We used this solution since DW's condition was mild enough to expect she wouldn't need prescription meds or going to the hospital. So there was no real need to spend some $300 for a hotel room call. DW had to sign a waiver on the EMTs computer since she wasn't taken to the hospital
If her condition had been more serious, we would have gone to Centra-care (front desk also offered to call them for us if we needed to)

There are many solutions when you stay at Disney's and have health issues.
Whatever those issues, the front desk will always be helpful in giving you directions.

 

[VailaTigger]

Very good to know that the front desk will be able to advise and help, should the need arise, and that there is good care not very far away!

Peace of mind Thank you for sharing!

 

[disneyholic family]

Another anecdote here.

Last february DW developped an allergy (to the soap or bleach used at WDW for the bed sheets) she felt ill, had a fairly impressive rash, and at that point we needed some rather urgent medical advice.
We had to call 911, you can do that from your room or ask at the front desk. Actually it was the manager at POP who advised us to call 911 as it was free as long as the "situation" did not require us to go to the hospital.

we were in POP and the emergency center is located just down the road, at victory way & E Buena Vista Dr (between CBR and Boardwalk)
they were there in a flash (less than 1 or 2 minutes). We had 4 EMTs examine DW. They have quite an impressive array of medical appliances (I even more in the truck)
As DW's condition did not require to go to the hospital nor prescription meds, they wrote down what DW needed to take (over the counter meds and cream), one EMT even went to the store at POP to check if the meds were available and if there was no interaction problem with the brands available at our hotel

we were very impressed (not to mention that DW swoons over US firefighters - third watch and shows like that, and she finally got 4 of them taking care of her )

We used this solution since DW's condition was mild enough to expect she wouldn't need prescription meds or going to the hospital. So there was no real need to spend some $300 for a hotel room call. DW had to sign a waiver on the EMTs computer since she wasn't taken to the hospital
If her condition had been more serious, we would have gone to Centra-care (front desk also offered to call them for us if we needed to)

There are many solutions when you stay at Disney's and have health issues.
Whatever those issues, the front desk will always be helpful in giving you directions.

DD and her husband are also staying at Pop Century.

last year, when her husband didn't feel well at Islands of Adventure, we took him to first aid there.

and guess who works in universal's first aid? Off duty firefighters!!
(and they were gorgeous - and looked just like the tv version of themselves!!)

Don't tell your wife, it will give her ideas!!

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Yep centra care is one of many options. Another option most CM's will NOT tell you about unless specifically asking for (apparently there are some benefits for WDW to refer you to certain locations);

concierge medical facilities. There are multiple in the direct area. Basically it is getting your care but like a home visit. Do have to foot the bill yourself first, but can get it refunded by your travel insurance or even healthcare insurance if they have an international section. Tends to be fully covered as GP-services fur us Dutchies and have heard some of the same stories from a few UK friends. Basically you call your desired concierge facility, explain the problem and schedule a house call. Will be within no time after calling most of the times, most will call you back about 15 minutes prior to the doc arriving to inform you he/she is 15 minutes away. They can basically do anything and all a GP can, but on the spot. Including if needed for instance drawing blood to bring back to lab, do a urine stick test for UTI's, rehydrate with saline etc. Can be a very welcome option when someone isn't feeling well and would be much more comfy waiting in their own bed instead of hanging around a waiting room.

The check in desk CM's at any resort will have phamflets for a few facilities with a good rep, but as said before will have to ask for it or get the standard spiel.

Another thing to be aware of is the number of hospitals in the area. When having the time to do so, and for those of us with chronical ilnesses etc (do your homework before leaving! Hopefully never needed, but if be.......), research which one specializes in the area of care you (might) need. It can make a lot of difference between hospitals on different kind of specialties, illnesses etc.


As far as the emergency services? Even when you personally don't see the bill; somebody has to pay for it. Keep in mind the general kinda distorted IMHO standard there tends to be in the US when it comes to healthcare. GP care is not the norm as we in Europe know it. Asking any CM for medical options, it is about a 99% chance of them advicing to call 911. Even for something as stupid as you going "we can go anywhere, there is no emergency where every minute counts but what are our transportation options?" the standard response seems to be "ambulance, call 911". I personally have a standard that for things I can do with GP or hospital care without ambulance at home, there is no need for that in the US either. Plenty of perfect options out there. Including resorts way beyond responsibility offering to foot the taxi bill when travelling to your own desired healthcare facility. No need for 112 or 999 (is it still 999 in the UK or have you joint the 112?) at home is no need for it in the US. Not just because I don't need it, but because it would also be taking up a limited facility I do not actually need at that time that might also be needed somewhere else for something that is much more serious than my unwelcome but not so urgent or instabile situation that I would need 911. But that's a personal point of view.

Somehow I've managed to score a 100% trip-medical care needed at least once during trip. Been there done that, seen to many options so to say.


Oh and for those planning on a DCL cruise; be aware that onboard care is limited. They are great (guess how I know ) but will take no risk with your health or the cruise of thousands of others. Where needed if possible they will go for specialist check up/care while in port so you can rejoin the cruise but this one of those things where you should be aware of the real risk of staying in port longer than the cruise allowes. Whether it being consults or tests taking to long or needing admitting/ DCL not wanting to back onboard, so ALWAYS have your passport and other important paperstuff and a small bag of change of clothes with you if winding up for even a quick check up in hospital while in port and make sure your travelinsurance fits this. Care on board as stated is good but expensive. Not just from our point of view but also a lot more expensive than it is on US mainland. To give you an idea; a simple leg plaster cast already came to almost $1000,-. Very worthwhile to make sure your travelinsurance does not have a limited coverage but covers whatever possibly outragous price you might be quoted. Also be aware that unlike other expenses onboard the medical services costs will be billed to your creditcard attached to your shipboard account on the same day! In case you want to pay with another creditcard than the one on file; tell so beforehand and they will take care of it but otherwise they automatically charge your on file cc on that same day.

 

[paulh]

can vouch for the small things,when in MK after a long day DS got a blister on his foot.i went to the first aid station(in all the parks)and asked for a band aid.was given 6 free and had to sign.was also told if it went worse they would get a free transport to centre care,and was offered a map of there locations. i thanked her but said didnt need a map, and i went on my way

Paul

 

[stephensmum]

i know people wonder about this before they go - what if - where will they get medical help.

DD and her husband are there now and needed medical care twice, so had the "opportunity" to experience both types of service offered by Centra Care, the urgent medical care clinics located throughout Orlando, including in Lake Buena Vista just outside the entrance to the DTD area of WDW.

You can either walk into one of the Centra Care clinics (and they'll provide you with free door to door transportation if you need it) or Centra Care will send you a doctor to your hotel room ('physician room service').

Last week, when they arrived in Orlando from 2 weeks in Alaska, DD was very ill and had also burned her hand at the buffet on the alaska cruise.
Because of the burn, Centra Care said that she would have to come into their office rather than have a doctor visit her in her resort room.

Centra Care sent a car to pick them up and bring them to the Centra Care clinic (no charge for the car service), she was examined almost immediately, the car then took them to the pharmacy for her to fill the prescription and then drove them back to their resort.

She said the whole process was quick and easy (though costly, but she has the forms to file when she gets back home).

This week, her husband has been ill, so finally yesterday they called Centra Care again, but this time ordered the "physician room service" service - a doctor comes to you to your hotel room.

DD said this doctor was exceptionally good. She was very very impressed by him. He spent over 2 hours with them - if only our regular doctor would take that kind of time.
and in this case, he had the medicine required sent over to the hotel for them so they didn't have to run around anywhere to get it.
and again, he gave her all the forms she'll need to file when she gets back home.

she said the service was expensive, but definitely worth it.

You don't need to remember the name or the phone number - just call the disney front desk and they'll give you the number.

But here is the number of the clinic located in Lake Buena Vista
http://centracare.org/locations/fh_centra_care_lake_buena_vista/
(407) 934-2273
this location is open Monday - Friday from 8 am to midnight and Sat/Sun from 8 to 8.

here's a map of their many locations:
http://centracare.org/locations/

i hope you'll never need this information, but just in case, you know that it's there!

Great info, Beth. I too have used Centra Care when I developed an allergy to wearing sun cream in the sun. They were great but I would have been a lot less stressed if I'd had this info before hand.

 

[madmumof2]

I always worry about this. We don't have hundreds/thousands just sitting in the bank, and don't have a credit card.

If anything happened I'm not sure what we'd do :S

Can't get a credit card due to bad credit in the past.

 

[disneyholic family]

I always worry about this. We don't have hundreds/thousands just sitting in the bank, and don't have a credit card.

If anything happened I'm not sure what we'd do :S

Can't get a credit card due to bad credit in the past.

you should be sure that you are covered by travel health insurance in the event of a serious illness/injury requiring hospitalization.

US hospitalization costs are astronomical. If something serious should happen, you want to be sure you're covered.

the urgent care i posted about in my earlier post was just for when you have the regular little things that happen, not major illness/injury requiring a hospital.

i think DD paid something like $250 for the doctor's visit to her hotel room.
I don't know how much she'll get back from insurance, if anything.

 

[madmumof2]

I have AA travel insurance, I'll have to find out if that's included (would have assumed it would be!) and if not how I can add it on!

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I have AA travel insurance, I'll have to find out if that's included (would have assumed it would be!) and if not how I can add it on!

Apart from "just" adding on coverage of medical expense, check out what is covered, how, which rules etc. Can make a huge difference, esp. for you when stating that you have no financial room to take a "punch".

The norm for costs that don't include admittance and aren't "astronomical" is that you first pay the bill and then file a claim with your insurance after coming home. This can be bills that are quite high when I personally think of said statement. For instance a visit, check up, urine swap and medication for a simple UTI through a concierge facility can easili cost you $300,-. For you it might also be interesting to first find out if the insurance company is one that pays out claims fast or not. Some cane be as quick as a day or 2 after filing, some can take some weeks.

Worrying about admittance and astronomical high costs normally is not needed, but again something to now first check up on the rule and criteria before picking your insurance and insurance company. Most cases they will want you to contact them asap when being admitted or expecting very high costs, which is a requirement of the insurance actually. Basically a good thing as most will get so involved in things you will never see the bill but they will arrange it with the hospital itself. Also great relieve of mind knowing that enough hospitals all over the world will not start treatment/admittance until having made sure things will be paid. Depending on insurance type and company, the situation you are in, the location you are at and many more in those situations they can also provide a translator when in a country where you do not speak the language and their medical english might be difficult for you to understand, again depending on a rep. of the company might show up to help you with practicle stuff that might need to be taken care of etc.

Another thing few people think about; again depending on insurance, situation etc. when an admittance is so serious, the insurance might cover getting one or 2 loved ones over from back home to destination to help, be there etc. When travelling with multiples, this tends to be a 1st degree family member so a parent or child for instance. When travelling alone, coverage can be so broad you might be able to fly in one person (whomever you pick) to help you out when there is a need for help and obviously travelling solo there would be nobody there to help already.

Insurance for medical expenses are a must whenever abroad. Apart from illness, accidents always happen when you least expect them. Even death can sometimes be part of a trip. Hell enough, but with proper insurance at least there are no worries or bills for transporting the body back home (can easily be 10.000 or more) and saying goodbye as desired.

All these things combined, and many others, also make it wise to leave a copy of your insurance back home with a loved one. In case something were to happen, a copy is also back home (for instance needing to fly in, they could get the ball start rolling already). Or heaven forbid loosing the one you have with you; you can easily get a copy by just contacting a loved one instead of a company that might take a lot longer.

Hopefully insurances like this are never needed, but once you do need them it makes all the difference to have a proper one.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Oh and when having taken care of this, and worrying about footing the bill first for smaller things; openly discuss this with loved ones that might have a creditcard.

Obviously it would need trust, good bit of "contract" between the both, but sometimes it might be an option to us someone elses cc to absorb the costs before getting it back from the insurance. Best way to go would be to have a trip that ends before but not durign a closing day of the cc. That way, there would be enough time to put the costs on the cc, file a claim when back home, getting it refunded, repaying the loved on and them not having to actually feel paying the bill and wait for their money back from you. Best option would be someone with the same family name, for obvious reasons. Also always have a signed permission slip from the owner for both customs and when needing to use it.

I have always taken along one of my parents cc for these smaller medical costs, mostly because we don't want it to intervene with my holiday budget on my cc which has a clearly chosen low limit. Combine that with how high medical expenses can sometimes be and 2 cc's is the way to go for me. Have always used that cc for medical expenses each trip, never been a problem. Even not using moms which is in her maiden name. My parents do the same with my cc as back up during their trip. Never needed, but a nice added security blanket for both medical costs and other unexpected situations where for instance you need to foot the bill before filing a claim, in case the own cc and bankpasses would be stoolen or blocked, you name it. But it does take total trust between both parties, knowing the other will not let someone else suffer for their cost and sometimes a bit of planning. The rule of thumb "always pay of before said month on the cc gets totalled and needs to be paid or else interest will be added" is holy for us in this. Works for us, doesn't work for all for obvious reasons. Did want to mention it though, in case it might be something worth checking out.