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Chronic disease - Private or public hospitals?

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  1. #1

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    Chronic disease - Private or public hospitals?

    Hello,

    Me, 28, and my wife, 25, are about to come working in Hong-kong on September 1st.

    My company does provide a local insurance coverage.

    The point is that my wife does have Crohn disease which require frequent visit to an outpatient clinic and Remicade injections each 2 months which can cost a lot.

    We live in France for the time being and are then very well covered by one of the best national insurance coverage of the world.

    Now if we speak about hong kong, many people told me that my wife will probably have to wait few weeks/months before having the first outpatient appointment on public outpatient clinics.

    Hence, we are considering to opt for an international insurance (company plan) which reimburse all medical costs in private hospitals but... As you imagine the plan cost a lot.

    What do you think about public outpatient clinics?
    Did you experience it?
    Did you queue for it?
    Does someone have chronic disease?
    Is it well treated?
    What is your point of view regarding our situation?

    Thanks a lot for your replies



    Sent from my SM-N9005 using GeoClicks mobile app


  2. #2

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    Don't insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions? Your best bet would be the public sector I guess. AFAIK you don't have to wait for outpatient visits, as soon as you got your HKID you are good to go.


  3. #3

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    Public outpatients clinic are very busy; you do have to make appointments. Not all medicines are covered by the public health authority.

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  4. #4

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    Looking at the Formulary, Infliximab is available and is classed as a special drug. Budesonide is a general drug.


  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by Claire ex-ax:
    Public outpatients clinic are very busy; you do have to make appointments. Not all medicines are covered by the public health authority.
    Indeed. Sometimes have to wait for several hours or (more rarely) even the better part of a day. That being said, the medical service provided is generally of a high quality (for a public service), notwithstanding the sometimes surly staff and patients.

    Private clinic is alot quicker and usually more pleasant experience, but you have to pay out of your own pocket of course. Although if you can get a good recommendation from someone who knows the doctor in private practice, they may give you a good discount.

  6. #6

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    OP: what is the local insurance coverage that your company is providing?

    Sent from my SM-N9005 using GeoClicks mobile app

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  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by Drunken Master:
    OP: what is the local insurance coverage that your company is providing?

    Sent from my SM-N9005 using GeoClicks mobile app
    I know some companies in HK sign up designated HMOs for their employees, so if they go to these HMOs, they usually receive a lower charge for the medical services than they would otherwise receive in a private clinic.

    A note of caution, the doctors in some of these HMOs are salaried staff and in my experience, provide poor service to the patients, i.e. generally rude and impatient.
    Last edited by Watercooler; 08-07-2014 at 11:08 AM.

  8. #8

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    I met quite a few patients with Crohn disease in the public hospital last year. There is a special ward only 6 beds in Queen Mary hospital dedicated to out patient care. From speaking to them, its not very common in HK. They were all frustrated with the care they were receiving. The younger patients in their 20s were all looking at alternate options overseas. They would come in every 2 weeks, and spend the entire day thre. Sometimes getting a Dr to put in a IV line would take 2 hours. IV would take 4-6 hours.

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  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by rani:
    I met quite a few patients with Crohn disease in the public hospital last year. There is a special ward only 6 beds in Queen Mary hospital dedicated to out patient care. From speaking to them, its not very common in HK. They were all frustrated with the care they were receiving. The younger patients in their 20s were all looking at alternate options overseas. They would come in every 2 weeks, and spend the entire day thre. Sometimes getting a Dr to put in a IV line would take 2 hours. IV would take 4-6 hours.
    seems its not common for Asians so they dont put too much emphasis in care for the suffers maybe???

    Crohn’s disease (CD) is more common in the Western than the Asian countries.
    Limited data is available about CD in the Hong Kong Chinese population. A
    retrospective study was performed in a regional hospital from the year 1993 to 2000
    and 15 new cases of CD were diagnosed, giving an estimated annual incidence rate of
    0.43 per 100,000 population. No apparent gender difference was observed (M:F;
    1.1:1).
    Attached Images Attached Images

  10. #10

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    From what I know, most "local" (these are actually international companies with overseas HQ's, but providing medical plans which are adapted to the local market. eg: AIA, Manulife, Prudential, etc.) insurance companies take a pre-existing condition as an exclusion.

    If we are talking about the so-called "expat" insurance companies, they can underwrite new applicants on a 12- or 24-month moratorium (waiting period) in respect to any pre-exisiting condition. Also, most of these "expat" insurance companies will consider pre-existing medical conditions which has started to occur 24-months before the individuals application.

    Even Bupa, which is loved by many expats, provides the following details on their website:

    Q) Am I covered for pre-existing conditions?
    A) We will not cover you for any illnesses you are currently suffering from or have had before. These are known as pre-existing conditions.
    A pre-existing condition is any disease, illness or injury for which in the 7 years before your start date:

    • You have received medication, advice or treatment; or
    • You have experienced symptoms

    Whether the condition was diagnosed or not.
    If you have a pre-existing condition that may need treatment in the future, we will usually exclude it from the cover along with any conditions related to it.


    Then my personal experience with the Public Healthcare system in Hong Kong:

    What do you think about public outpatient clinics?
    - It is for sure not bad, but because the public system tends to be understaffed it can be quite hectic and extremely busy in there..

    Did you experience it?
    - Yes. I had a bad cut on my finger with blood gushing out and went to the A&E at Queen Mary. The moment I stepped in they gave me an express pressure bandage and labelled me as semi-urgent on my waiting ticket.

    Did you queue for it?
    - Oh yes! 4 hours... I spend a very memorable Friday evening there

    What is your point of view regarding our situation?
    - Can't your current healthcare provider offer international packages? Because you described them as "one of the best insurance coverage of the world". I know many EU national insurance companies provide international packages to their national clients' when they move abroad.

    Also since you have about 2 months left you can try to contact the private hospitals in Hong Kong and enquire if they provide the specific medicine which is needed for your wife, the duration of the treatment and most importantly the costs.

    Good luck!
    Last edited by Maryknoll; 08-07-2014 at 05:31 PM.
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