Anchor Moy wrote:

epidemiks wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 1:08 pm

Anchor Moy wrote:

Gardiguy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:44 pm

that genius wrote: What would you advise them to do if they need money for big medical expenses?

Doesn't Australia have universal healthcare? Serious question.

Good question. I thought they did too. AFAIK the woman is Australian, residing in Australia, and she came to Cambodia for a week. It's not like she's an expat seeking medical care in Australia.

We do. That doesn't mean everything is free. It just means that stuff like breaking your arm or giving birth doesn't have to cost $90,000 like it might in the US if you don't have private health insurance.

It doesn't cover everything, either. Dental isn't covered by Medicare at all, for example.

There's usually a base amount covered by Medicare and then a contribution that the patient need to pay. Plus, many drugs that might be used in the treatment and rehabilitation that aren't covered by the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.

They talk about amputation and rehabilitation in the GoFundMe, which can be fundamentally life changing so I'd guess the donations would largely cover her recovery over quite a long period of time.

Thanks for the reply. Would the friends be thinking of suing the doctor to get his insurance to pay hospital costs then ? It sounds awfully like the US health system.

Anchor Moy wrote:

epidemiks wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 1:08 pm

Anchor Moy wrote:

Gardiguy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:44 pm

that genius wrote: What would you advise them to do if they need money for big medical expenses?

Doesn't Australia have universal healthcare? Serious question.

Good question. I thought they did too. AFAIK the woman is Australian, residing in Australia, and she came to Cambodia for a week. It's not like she's an expat seeking medical care in Australia.

We do. That doesn't mean everything is free. It just means that stuff like breaking your arm or giving birth doesn't have to cost $90,000 like it might in the US if you don't have private health insurance.

It doesn't cover everything, either. Dental isn't covered by Medicare at all, for example.

There's usually a base amount covered by Medicare and then a contribution that the patient need to pay. Plus, many drugs that might be used in the treatment and rehabilitation that aren't covered by the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.

They talk about amputation and rehabilitation in the GoFundMe, which can be fundamentally life changing so I'd guess the donations would largely cover her recovery over quite a long period of time.

Thanks for the reply. Would the friends be thinking of suing the doctor to get his insurance to pay hospital costs then ? It sounds awfully like the US health system.

The US litigation mindset has been creeping in the Australia for a while.

If she went to a travel clinic specialising in travel health, then I'd assume they'd be referring to standard guidelines about risks. It would be odd that it wasn't recommended for an extended trip in the north east, it's listed as high risk on most government travel health websites.

Of course it's possible she had existing conditions which might have made lariam or prolonged course of doxy unwise.

I met a girl in India who had a total psychiatric episode after a just few days in the country on lariam. Friends we travelled with had to help her out of the mountains to Delhi to fly home for medical care.

Gardiguy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:44 pm

that genius wrote:

jaynewcastle wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:26 am Seems the first thing many people do now when they get sick, is launch a crowd-begging fund

What would you advise them to do if they need money for big medical expenses?

Doesn't Australia have universal healthcare? Serious question.

The key, I think, lies in the wording of the Gofundme page:

We ask for your help to support Shelley with the expense of her medical costs and living expenses. The smallest donation will greatly appreciated in relieving Shelley’s current and future financial burden.

So it appears it's not to cover her hospital costs so much as her future.

timmydownawell wrote:

Gardiguy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:44 pm

that genius wrote:

jaynewcastle wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:26 am Seems the first thing many people do now when they get sick, is launch a crowd-begging fund

What would you advise them to do if they need money for big medical expenses?

Doesn't Australia have universal healthcare? Serious question.

The key, I think, lies in the wording of the Gofundme page:

We ask for your help to support Shelley with the expense of her medical costs and living expenses. The smallest donation will greatly appreciated in relieving Shelley’s current and future financial burden.

So it appears it's not to cover her hospital costs so much as her future.

Ahh, thank you. Never did bother to visit the page. My bad

that genius wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:05 pm If she only started feeling unwell after her return from Cambodia, it's possible she was infected in Australia, no?

When I went to donate blood they insisted on six months unless I had just been to Phnom Penh or Angkor Wat. I said, surely you mean Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is out in the jungle. Nope. "Do I look like I have malaria?" didn't wash, either.

cptrelentless wrote:

that genius wrote: ↑Sat Mar 03, 2018 12:05 pm If she only started feeling unwell after her return from Cambodia, it's possible she was infected in Australia, no?

When I went to donate blood they insisted on six months unless I had just been to Phnom Penh or Angkor Wat. I said, surely you mean Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is out in the jungle. Nope. "Do I look like I have malaria?" didn't wash, either.

In Canada I had to wait 1 year because I had been in Bangkok, no problem with Phnom Penh. All of Thailand was on the nope list except Pattaya, I just burst out loud laughing when she told me that and said they probably had other things that would knock them off the list.

The eastern Mondulkiri region of Cambodia, where Ms Hill visited, is at significant risk of malaria. http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-ad ... 73780bb315

She was going to a high risk Malaria area in Cambodia where "antimalarials are usually advised" and she was only there for a week, so for taking something like Malarone or Primaquine she would only be on medication for 18 days, and "Her doctor told her that as she was travelling to Cambodia during the dry season, antimalarial medication wasn’t necessary." http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-ad ... 73780bb315

From the NHS
Malaria risk is present throughout the year in all areas except Phnom Penh, other main cities, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and close to Tonle Sap. Risk is highest in the north east regions of Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri.

Malaria precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin, and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinat ... bodia.aspx

Most tourists to Cambodia only visit Siem Reap, the temples of Angkor, and Phnom Penh. In all these areas malaria is NOT a significant problem for the visitor. So, if you only travel to these destinations, taking antimalarial drugs is really not necessary. You should however take precautionary measures against mosquito bites (see Dengue Fever).

It’s a different story in all other regions of Cambodia. If e.g. you are travelling to the southern coast – including the islands, or to the eastern provinces, like Mondulkiri, Ratannakiri and Kratie, please do take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and contracting malaria.https://www.camboguide.com/practical/he ... gue-fever/

Are the elephants OK?