Pregnant in Abu Dhabi, No Insurance | ExpatWoman.com
 

Pregnant in Abu Dhabi, No Insurance

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 15:52

Hello, I have just found out I don't have maternity insurance through mine or my husbands employers and I am 3 months pregnant. We want to have the baby at the Abu Dhabi Corniche hospital as we have heard it's the best (and bonus it's a government hospital!) I have read people have pre-natal check-ups at a private clinic and deliver at the corniche hospital. If I don't have insurance, can you tell me roughly how much this would cost if we pay from our own pocket? Also, does this mean you see one Ob through the pre-natal care and a new doc delivers the baby? Any advice / recommendations? Thank you so much.

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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 20:43
http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=68964 There you go. Clear as mud!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 20:32
There is a thread on here where another poster actually emailed the NHS and asked them. I'll see if I can dig it up.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 20:31
Yeah i think i will emai her lwhen all her chaos has calmed a bit, DC!!! I believe she was only out of the country for less than 2 years, or does the time fly that quickley??? Philly, i do have an address but the problem is, they have got so wise to the whole thing, you now have to actually prove somehow that your a resident, either by Bills or wage slips,phone bills etc etc, none of which i can do?? Im sure there,saying that, there must be ways around it!! Just takes the mickey that as a TRUE BRIT(know what i mean??) your not allowed..........Welcome to the UK :cool:
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 20:17
Philly, i can go to the Uk, but as far as all the info goes, as an Expat over 2 years out of the UK, i'll have to pay as im not covered on the NHS? Do you have inside info, would love to hear it if you do???? TIA Hello Mrs :D. Your big sister's ex-housemate here! We have a mutual friend who just delivered back home after living in Kuwait for a while. Bristol NHS tried to make her pay but I'm not sure what happened in the end - email her on FB and ask.
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 20:17
Philly, i can go to the Uk, but as far as all the info goes, as an Expat over 2 years out of the UK, i'll have to pay as im not covered on the NHS? Do you have inside info, would love to hear it if you do???? TIA Are you sure this is right I have an aunt who lives in Oz and goes back all the time for different medical things ( when i say all the time i mean when she needs things done ) Do you have an address in the uk even if its a mum or sister ???
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 19:54
Philly, i can go to the Uk, but as far as all the info goes, as an Expat over 2 years out of the UK, i'll have to pay as im not covered on the NHS? Do you have inside info, would love to hear it if you do???? TIA
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 19:43
Jojo who said you can t go the uk to have the baby >
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 19:37
Mrs L, it certainly sounds like your used to the ''pay as you go'' way of health cover, im not, so yes it was a HUGE shock! Cant actually believe that as a Brit i cant go home and deliver as ive been an expat for 6 years and im expected to pay. What the cost is, i havent looked into it yet, but might consider it as an option as there can be a few complication with the British passport for your childrens children if also delivered out UK, something like that anyway? Have you considered going back home to deliver at all? Maybe its cheaper? I have the SHIFA(ADNIC) cover and it was only 5800 for maternity cover 100% immediately active, but i was lucky in that i signed the policy about 3 weeks before i knew i was pregnant(the 2nd time). I did enquire at AXA when i renewed my car insurance, they seemed quite reasonable for health cover(full maternity), have you tried there? Goodluck, i did hear someone mention Maternity packages around certain hospitals, i would be interested to know what they offer and how much it is, if you are looking into it, i was under the impression it was only available in Dubai but must be wrong.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 19:27
Hi swaugh84 - yes, you will get 100% immediate cover with ADNIC. I was like you - three months pregnant and had to find immediate insurance as I wanted to go through the private system. My only complaint about ADNIC is that I had a particularly drawn out application process as I have an existing medical condition so they wanted me to go for testing. Also, if you are married and are not sponsored by your husband (eg sponsored by your employer), ADNIC will most likely tell you that it's their policy that your husband has to sign up too. After many discussions about this "policy", I was later told by a very honest ADNIC employee that they had to do this in order to recover their money.... but having done the sums, I still tend to think that the cost of the premium will closely match the money I will be outlaying for all the doctors visits, delivery etc.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 19:23
@Jojo - no the states would be far more, the raw costs without insurance. WE had insurance, and what was considered good cover, but still we were whacked at times with some pretty large bills....also saw what the hospitals charged, before they discounted to the insurance people, and it was ridiculous, the whole system is a joke, but a crippling one if you don't have insurance.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 09:37
Thanks M, this is great. With the SHIFA policy, is there a waiting period because Daman said they'd cover us immediately, but we still have to wait 6 months (!!). Are you able to claim benefits immediately? I'm just over 3 months along. Has anyone else had experience with ADNIC and this policy? from what I'm reading on this forum, they're quite good to deal with... Thanks again everyone!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 07:16
Well compared to the Uk yes of course, because if i was classed as a resident still it would of course be all free! But yes as you say comparing it to nothing else here as i have no other experience with that procedure, but gobsmacked when whacked with a bill for 6000AED(nearly 1000 pounds!!!!) Is that what you might pay in the states??? Maybe myself and DH see things here as expensive as we are so used to having a medical service back home which is free and very good. My main point was that Womens Health Clinic charged 675 including a scan, and Cure Clinic charged 1675 not including a scan(as we went very early) We have now got insurance with ADNIC, they dont ask if your pregnant at the time of taking out the cover, and it starts straight away in UAE slected hospitals, Cure, Gulf D.Centre, Al Noor and a few more, take a look on their website, the policy i think was 5800AED from memory??? I've recently taken a policy with ADNIC after discovering I was pregnant and my insurance did not cover maternity. ADNIC does ask you whether you are pregnant at the time of signing the application form and you must by law provide this information. If you don't it's a risk you take and I am not sure what the implications are. If you are under 30, ADNIC will charge 15K for immediate cover and over 30, 19K for immediate cover, but this is subject to no other prevailing medical conditions. You get 100% in the network and 80% outside. The policy is known as SHIFA and it also covers other countries in the MENA region should you travel.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 23:01
Thank you everyone for the feedback, this is excellent & muchly appreciated! Jojo- Are you covered for maternity with ADNIC when you say 'it starts straight away'? We have tried to find a fund where we can take out maternity insurance and have no waiting period but can't seem to find anyone... Good luck with your pregnancy too.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 21:20
Well compared to the Uk yes of course, because if i was classed as a resident still it would of course be all free! But yes as you say comparing it to nothing else here as i have no other experience with that procedure, but gobsmacked when whacked with a bill for 6000AED(nearly 1000 pounds!!!!) Is that what you might pay in the states??? Maybe myself and DH see things here as expensive as we are so used to having a medical service back home which is free and very good. My main point was that Womens Health Clinic charged 675 including a scan, and Cure Clinic charged 1675 not including a scan(as we went very early) We have now got insurance with ADNIC, they dont ask if your pregnant at the time of taking out the cover, and it starts straight away in UAE slected hospitals, Cure, Gulf D.Centre, Al Noor and a few more, take a look on their website, the policy i think was 5800AED from memory???
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 21:01
Jojo - what are you comparing it to when you say it is expensive - the UK? Because I look at these costs compared with what I had to pay in the states and they are soooo reasonable, and I wouldn't say the care was that great either!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 20:45
I found out i was pregnant in Dec last year, i went to the Womens Health Centre(part of corniche hospital)without insurance. They did every single blood test and a scan at 9 weeks, total cost was 675 AED. Sadly i had a blighted Ovum and was advised to have an ERPC(D and C) which i had at the Corniche. VERY EXPENSIVE all in all. Basically the advised me to try some tablets to induce a miscarriage, that didnt work, they tried twice in total, was in for 2 nights beacuse of it and in the end finished with a ERPC, very quick and easy but a hefty bill at the end of it all, 6000AED!!!! Looking back and reading others stories, i could have waited for a natural miscarriage but do kind of believe now i didnt get the correct guidence and info like in the UK but who knows. Either way, the care at the Corniche is amazing!!! I am now "'hopefully"' pregnant again, fingers crossed, and have been going to see Dr Sawsan at Cure, she is amazing, but again not cheap...........for all the blood tests,appointment and urine test only, my bill was 1675 AED...........to which i nearly fell over(or my DH did)!!! She does listen but she does have strong opinions though so be a little forceful if you need to be. I will hopefully continue with her and she attends a delivery at Al Noor or your prefered choice. I also found Al Noor to be less of a ''Çircus'' type atmosphere than Corniche, but its personal choice isnt it. But guessing i would assume the total cost isnt cheap as per my first appointments!! Goodluck with your pregnancy xx
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 16:22
I see dr Sawsan at the Cure, and the charge is 350 Dhs per appointment and includes ultrasound I think because I havent seen it being charged to the insurance. The first time the blood/urine exams were around 900 dhs. However, probably better to go to a hospital and see if you can get a whole prenatal/delivery package!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 16:20
The prenatal care in Corniche hospital is good too. You can sign up for their package there. Not sure if they still have the Midwife Clinic there but they are lovely.
 
 

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