I'll set the stage a little. I made a late decision to take an early season hunt. Combine this time crunch with the fact that my wife's friend works for a travel inoculation center, and the decision was made to go there for shots.

I left there today with 2 out of 4 or 5 shots for Hep A and Hep B and an oral typhoid vaccine. The bill for today was $315!!!! I didn't get the malarone tablets today because they wanted $9/pill.

If I only go through this place, my shots + malaria medicine would cost me $900!!!!!

This seems outrageous. Is it?

The county health clinic is usually the cheapest.

Thanks. I wish I had been smart enough to ask this question a couple of weeks ago.

My family doc gave me most of mine and insurance covered it, ins paid for the Malarone too.

Sounds about right. Add a polio booster and you can exceed the $900.00 Depends on where you are going, but a Bug Tamer Parka can be a good investment also. Our party got attacked by African Bees in Tanzania last year. Glad I had mine on.

I had all these, and did not have to pay a penny.

After I finished, I went to the payment desk, and the lady said "you only have to pay if you have no insurance. If you have insurance, it would be covered by that. And if you are a UAE citizen, you don't pay at all"

Saeed,

It must be nice to live in UAE?!

I came home from Mexico in a wheelchair last year after catching typhoid. Took more than two months before I went a day where I didn't feel like collapsing. Caused thyroid problems too. I had typhoid shots previously, was still current. They're not 100% guaranteed but please, don't scrimp on vaccinations - it isn't worth it! Cheers, Chris.

Shots don't totally protect you. I got so sick in Angola one time that I thought I was checking out. Made it as far as Lisbon on the way home, spent two days in bed at the Holiday Inn, and bough a first class ticket on TAP to JFK because I thought I was going to die enroute, and I wanted to die in first class. No shit.

I had a tropical medicine specialist on call in Miami. She couldn't diagnose my malady. I spent about thirty days at home in bed rest and finally recovered. "Undiagnosed tropical fever" is what she wrote on the report.

There's a lot of stuff in Africa that can kill you besides a pissed off buffalo, and most of it are diseases that no one in the west has heard of since medical school, if ever.

quote:

Originally posted by husky:
Saeed,

It must be nice to live in UAE?!

Actually, I think we might have the best medical service offered to our citizens in the world.

One gets free treatment - including any operations. If for any reason a specialist abroad is recommended, the government pays for you to travel and get treated there. All free.

Dla69.Were in africa are you going to hunt and what are you hunting

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by husky:
Saeed,

It must be nice to live in UAE?!

....government pays for you to travel and get treated there. All free.

That line ALWAYS makes my skin crawl. No it is not free. No Government pays for anything as government has no money. You pay for your medical treatment through taxes.

The correct answer is, I do not DIRECTLY pay for my medical coverage, but I do pay additional taxes so that the government sponsored healthcare system has funds.

Government, private healthcare, out of pocket, you ALWAYS pay.....

We have no income tax.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
We have no income tax.

Looks like there is a 5% duty on pretty much all imports. So lets say that the funds from this import duty covers all healthcare expenses. So you are paying 5% more for every import to cover the healthcare expense.

Health Care is a cost and funds spent their could have been spent elsewhere or not have been collected.

It is like someone saying they get "free" health benefits at work. No, your salary is reduced by the cost of the health care insurance.

Nothing is free.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by husky:
Saeed,

It must be nice to live in UAE?!

Actually, I think we might have the best medical service offered to our citizens in the world.

One gets free treatment - including any operations. If for any reason a specialist abroad is recommended, the government pays for you to travel and get treated there. All free.

There is never a free lunch. Someone is paying for it. ALWAYS.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmara:
Dla69.Were in africa are you going to hunt and what are you hunting

I am hunting in Namibia with Shona Adventures at both their tent camp and mountain lodge. I'm hunting Hartman Zebra, Kudu, Gemsbok and Warthog.

dla69
Did you go to passport health in Monroeville? My physician sent me there last time and I had the same experience as you. They don't take insurance. The other three times my prior Doctor just gave me a script for the Malarone and my insurance covered it. Next time I'm going to demand a script.

TerryR

quote:

Posted 07 April 2009 18:52 Hide Post
We have no income tax.

But you have walter

Last time I went to the Middle East (lovely summer of 2005) with my military brethren, all my shot records had been lost, so they put ALL on my form. 16 shots in 15 minutes, but at least they were free lol

Regards,

Chuck

As a rule, insurance doesn't cover travel health services. There are, of course, exceptions.

Take your superbills from your travel clinic visit and send them to your insurance company. You may get some back.

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
dla69
Did you go to passport health in Monroeville? My physician sent me there last time and I had the same experience as you. They don't take insurance.

You nailed it. I talked to the Dr's office today, they're going to finish the procedure for me.

Hi Dla69

I'm glad to see that you are so commited to the cause, See you in two weeks time.

quote:

Originally posted by Shona:
Hi Dla69

I'm glad to see that you are so commited to the cause, See you in two weeks time.

The next two weeks can't go fast enough.

quote:

Originally posted by husky:
Saeed,

It must be nice to live in UAE?!

not according to numerous articles in the world press- at least if you are the "hired help". there is definitely a problem when the parking lot at the airport there is full of Mercedes, BMW's and other high priced ABANDONED vehicles. sorry about the hijack!