Italian resident in Cuba: travel insurance?

Hi everyone

Im looking for suggestions for travel insurance. An Italian friend of mine who’s a photographer and travels a lot asked me to tap into the collective genius of LP in search of some good travel insurance. He’s never purchased it before but on his last trip he had an attack of kidney stones and had to be hospitalized – in the US. He expects he’ll be paying the bill in $10 increments for the rest of his life and wants to avoid a repeat on his next assignment. Complicating matters: he’s a Cuban resident, but there’s a work around for that piece, I figure (we have a lot of practice!)

Thanks in advance.

PS – I know there are posts about this already, and Ive read some, but the foreign residency part is a bit tricky.

Spotted Fever Rickettsia

I picked this up while in Asia in November/December and was diagnosed by a blood test last month - too late for antibitoics as I was more or less better. I didn't see my doctor after the diagnosis as he telephoned it through but I suspect they don't know much about it in the UK. Does anyone know if, like Malaria, you can get recurring bouts? I've googled it but it doesn't say. I'm feeling ill again, with the same symptoms it started with last time...

Travel Insurance

Any advice on cheap but good travel insurance? I have been working and traveling for nearly 4 years around Asia without insurance but now i am heading to Africa i think it would be wise to get some. Will only be for 4 months. Know of any good ones for backpackers?

Japanese Encephalitis vs. Rabies vaccinations

I just got shots for my upcoming 2 year + RTW trip, and found out that my health insurance covers 70% of the costs (rare in the States, where much insurance plans don't cover travel medicine at all). I've gotten a number so far, but because of the cost I haven't gotten JE or rabies shots. Now that I know I'll be reimbursed for most of the cost, I'm weighing the costs and benefits of getting either (or both) of these vaccinations.

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination

• extremely rare
• but extremely fatal
• less expensive US$200 after reimbursement
• will be spending a lot of time in Asia, including less touristy areas

• less rare
• still have to get shots even if you have them already
• can be hard to get treatment in rural areas
• slightly more expensive US$300 after reimbursement

babies.

Should this be under 'Health'? I don't know.
Yesterday a woman in The USA gave birth to four baby boys at the same time, but they were not quadruplets. Never heard of it before. Has anyone?

Pradaxa

This is a bit of a shot in the dark, but I'll give it a go anyway.

I'm using Pradaxa as a secondary DVT prevention treatment (something for which its not yet licensed) and loving it as an alternative to Warfarin for many reasons. However, because the drug is so new, there's very little information around about "normal" side effects or impacts.
Anything that I think is medically important I discuss with my surgeon, but I have a couple of travel based questions that he just cant answer, and because of the nature of the conditions for which it is generally prescribed, there appears to be very little crossover between pradaxa users and people who travel in general.

Anyone out there using Pradaxa?

Malaria Long term

Hello All,

i am moving to Ghana (accra) from the UK for 2 years and i am evaluating what approach to take against malaria:

-take malarone for the 2 years (+ use insect repellant, etc...)
-do not take any anti-malaria pills and just use insect repellant and always use long sleeved clothes BUT take malarone whenever i am going to remote areas of Ghana or when i am volunteering in 'outskirts' of the city

the views from my doctors/employer/online are very contrasting and i would like to understand your experience living there.

I am also tempted not to take anything to avoid assimilating a lot of chemicals that may be as bad a malaria itself...

in case you catch malaria, it's possible to remove it completely or you will have it for your lifetime and will have to control it with some drugs?

thanks very much - really appreciate your contribution! more »

Anti Malaria post trip?

Hi,

I take frequent trips to India, travelling on business with a decent expense account, so quite fortunate in that I have never been bitten (I tend to simply go from air conditioned hotel -> air conditioned car -> air conditioned office, and don't tend to go out at night). So on this trip I haven't taken any anti-malaria medication.

I'm still in Kolkata on my last day today, however one of the little b******s must have got into my room last night, and I woke up this morning to find my hands have 2 mosquito bites on them...

On my way to Dubai later today, then back home in UK on Sunday, but just wondered if anyone knew what my options are, and whether I can get some malarone on Monday and would they be effective?