Heading off on a relaxing short cruise from Melbourne to Sydney for some much needed down time?
Before you depart, get the lowdown on your Medicare entitlements whilst at sea.
Many Australians are not aware that when travelling on a cruise ship in Australian Territorial Waters, they are not covered for any medical expenses by Medicare potentially leaving them with large bills if they don’t take out appropriate travel insurance before departing. We are often asked, ‘do I need travel insurance for a cruise?’
Why? Doctors on board the ships must be Medicare registered in order for patients to claim any entitlement. In most cases, Doctors on board ships do not have a Medicare Provider Number.
What is the standard of medical care? Our experience with claims arising on cruise ships has always been most complimentary of the doctors, nurses and facilities on board. Large cruise ships are incredibly well equipped to handle anything from sea sickness to a massive heart attack. If you become severely unwell, the ship will dock and arrange a road ambulance transfer to the nearest hospital or a medevac will be arranged by air.
So, what does it really cost? Typically, a quick trip to the on board doctor for a migraine or sea sickness will set you back anywhere from $300 to $1000 depending on what medications you need and whether you need a follow up consultation. If you break a bone or suffer a serious illness that requires you to be evacuated from the ship, you can expect to receive a bill upwards of $100,000.
To protect yourself, make sure you take out a travel insurance policy that covers you for travel on a domestic cruise. When purchasing a Go Insurance policy, you’ll need to select the South Pacific region as your region of cover to ensure you have adequate insurance for your journey.
Smart Traveller has recently issued advice on this issue with numerous complaints and enquiries regarding Medicare cover on domestic cruises. If in doubt contact your travel agent or cruise organiser and ask them if there will be a Medicare registered doctor on board your cruise.