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MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and living in HK

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    2

    MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and living in HK

    Hello,

    Looking for some advice regarding medical care and living in HK. My husband has recently been offered a job in HK and we are considering our options. We have lived in HK before but since moving back to the UK I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I have been beyond fortunate and have kept really well and have not required medication as yet. I know this might unfortunately not always been the case. As this is a pre existing condition I would expect my husband new employer would not cover the cost of any medication or appointments (i.e. MRI scans). I am looking to see if any one has experience regarding insurance, paying for medication or appointments? Any advice regarding insurance (for per existing conditions) which might be able to support with the cost of medication (should it be required)?

    Thanks


  2. #2

    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    New Territories West
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    1,359

    I don't know much about MS but the handful of people I know who became chronically ill in Hong Kong went home.

    I Googled and found an MS Society here in Hong Kong:

    About Us – Fight MS with HKMSS!

    I also saw this which didn't sound very promising to me:

    https://today.mims.com/multiple-scle...uality-of-life

    Personally speaking, I wouldn't come here if I was chronically ill... that said, you say you are okay at the moment... what will you do if you become ill?

    Health care here is supposed to be world class but I have found the public system to be about 'adequate' the few times I've experienced it... not dissimilar to the U.K. experience except with longer waiting times, more crowding, etc...

    I don't know much about the private side because I am not rich.

    Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck.

    Mhari likes this.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    829

    If you do decide to come, get onto the HK public system asap you arrive. Public system is WAY better than private for anything serious like MS. Even if you had full private coverage, you should still go onto the public system for this. Be very careful about trusting private system specialist doctors for chronic long term illnesses like this. (Private sector GPs, PTs, OTs, tend to be OK)

    Use private insurance only to top up for things like scans, GP check ups (just make sure they're not specifically for MS).

    Negotiate - the top expat executives here can be offered health insurance packages that cover pre-existing illnesses.

    It's your decision whether to have an adventure and stretch out of your comfort zone while disease under control. Top UK teaching hospitals + a really good GP will probably offer you a better all round care experience. But if all's quiet for now, I can see why you might want to go for this. If you do come, make sure you guys have exit plan in case anything here triggers flare and you want to go back to UK.

    Presumably you've worked out likely triggers for flare up, if any? e.g if heat or heavy air pollution is going to cause a flare, then .... um....


    Ask your UK consultant if s/he has any contacts with HK public system specialists, and if s/he can (a) provide you with direct referral (b) check if key medication you need is provided free or at subsidized cost here. Senior/experienced doctors in HK used to train in UK for MRCP and other advanced qualifications, so chances are the top doctors here know counterparts in UK, assuming they're still working in the public system.

    Here's link to what's covered fully, covered but you pay them out of pocket (still massively cheaper than buying at commercial pharmacies), or which you have to buy yourself from commercial pharmacies (have found mark ups for drugs tend to be 8-12X cost).
    Drug Formulary

    Happy to provide GP, PT and OT referrals once you get here - all private sector, see them as supplementary to main public sector care.

    Good luck, and keep us posted on what you decide, and how we can help!

    SpeakCantonese and Mhari like this.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    2
    Quote Originally Posted by z754103:
    Here's link to what's covered fully, covered but you pay them out of pocket (still massively cheaper than buying at commercial pharmacies), or which you have to buy yourself from commercial pharmacies (have found mark ups for drugs tend to be 8-12X cost).
    Drug Formulary
    Thanks for this. I see the drug that I may have to take on there. Its under the special drugs category but I can't tell if that means its fully covered, or covered but pay them out of pocket etc. How can you tell?

    Thanks for this!

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    829
    Quote Originally Posted by Mhari:
    Thanks for this. I see the drug that I may have to take on there. Its under the special drugs category but I can't tell if that means its fully covered, or covered but pay them out of pocket etc. How can you tell?

    Thanks for this!
    At a high level:
    - general drugs - included, small nominal cost per prescription.
    - special - covered at nominal cost, if your doctor deems it must have for the disease it's supposed to cover (so not ok if you use it for other diseases). Sort of semi rationed. Frequently Asked Questions

    Commonsense suggests a sensible doctor shouldn't be quibbling over using standard drugs for MS treatment! But if you want to be sure, (a) ask your doctor if they know anyone in the HK public system and get him/her to write to that person (b) get letter from UK consultant explaining and stating you need that drug for medical purposes due to your disease, and why. (UK consultants well respected over here)

    For both general and special drugs, if HKHA cover the costs, the prescription fees are very reasonable indeed http://www.ha.org.hk/visitor/ha_visi...10044&Ver=HTML)

    In case there are other drugs you may need in future, the other 2 categories are:
    - self financed with safety net. If you pass means test (fairly tough), you can apply to a couple of charitable funds to get those paid for (Safety Net). Note that the applications are a bit of a pain, but probably easier than applying for universal benefit in the UK (not saying you need that, just giving you a sense of the relative bureaucracy)

    - self financed without safety net. You have to pay out of pocket, not eligible for support from 2 funds cited above. If you're lucky, and these are on Hospital authority pharmacy's list where they'll sell them direct to patients, you pretty much get these at cost. Still pricey, but at least you don't have a commercial firm in between trying to rip your face off. If you're not, and you have to go get them from what HK govt calls 'community pharmacy' (aka commercial firms ripping faces off sick and vulnerable), then the mark up is typically 7-12X the cost price. (List of Self-financed Items to be sold via HA pharmacies)

    Keep the questions coming!
    Last edited by z754103; 30-04-2018 at 11:51 PM.