April 2009 Episode 14 "Operation Kill is standing down."

[AuldAlliance]

Voici FWs!

People have suggested scans will be about 200euros, but if I need a D&C it's about 7000euros...

I'm suddenly appreciating the NHS a whole lot more.

(this is why things are very lovely in the UK compared to the USA too- truly healthcare is a terrible stress -if you don't have it that is)

Bebe, how about rapidly buying some UK travel insurance and pretending you're on holiday, then seeking medical attention tomorrow amred with this and an EHIC card?

There's no way a D and C should cost 7000 euros. You can have a CS for less.

www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinGermany.aspx

From website:

It is important that you ensure you are treated by a state healthcare provider as you will not be covered for private healthcare. You should be particularly careful if the healthcare arrangements have been made by a hotel or travel representative. Any costs incurred for private healthcare are non-refundable.

If you need medical or dental treatment, you should visit a contracted doctor or dentist and show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You will need to select a German health insurance fund at whose expense you would like to be treated. To do this, you will need to fill in either

* a form 80 - if you have not got your EHIC with you
* or a form 81 if you show your EHIC

You should be careful not to sign a form agreeing to private treatment.

Non EEA nationals are covered in Germany.

You need to contact any of the health insurance funds 'Krankenkasse' such as

* Allgemeine Ortskrankenkassen (AOK)
* Betriebskrankenkassen (BKK)
* Ersatzkassen e.g. BEK, DAK, TK, etc.
  Find more details on the health insurance funds directoy (in German only). 
* Innungskrankenkassen (IKK)
* Knappschaft or landwirtschaftliche Krankenkassen

Insurance providers won't cover me apparently because the pregnancy is a pre-existing condition.

Doctors

You need to make sure the doctor you consult treats patients under the state scheme. Your local 'Krankenkasse' should be able to provide you with a full list of registered doctors. There is a fixed charge of ?10 if you want to see a doctor, which is not refundable. This is non-refundable in Germany but you may be able to seek reimbursement when you are back in the UK.

Hospital treatment

Usually you will be referred by a doctor to a hospital. In an emergency, you can go directly to a contracted hospital. The hospital will then contact the 'Krankenkasse' to confirm that your treatment costs will be met. You will have to pay a fixed charge of ?10 per day for a maximum of 28 days in a year. Patients up to the age of 18 do not have to pay this charge. This is non-refundable in Germany but you may be able to seek reimbursement when you are back in the UK.

Everything I see indicates that you are covered under EHIC.

DH has contacted AOK apparently and is waiting a reply.

This says that you're covered. The only bit that I'm not 100% sure about is having your due date within 8 weeks of the end of the trip - but they have no way of knowing where you're intending to be in the summer.

I think in your position I would ring the Krankenkasse immediately, explain to someone the situation you are in, and that you need a Frauenartz who is registered under the state scheme, and go to see him/her asap. This should cost you 10 euros, or get them to bill you later.

Do not mess with your health. This is a fairly late miscarriage and you need proper medical attention. We will find Schulte and get more advice from her after that about how to deal with the system.

Do make sure you hang on to all the original documents and invoices you aquire, though, as photocopies will not work when you get back to the UK for a refund. Pay by credit card if at all possible for everything, as then you have backup from them as well in cases of later disputes.

I have personal experience of being covered for pregnancy for holiday insurance - it was never a pre-existing condition for me (not being an illness). However I know BUPA International and so on might view it differently for a long-term policy.

Not wanting to scare you, but the problem with a late mc is that there can be a lot of blood and tissue can get stuck, leading to further bleeding. Often you need to be in a hospital because you could get low bp and faint a lot, plus you can go into shock. That's not everyone's experience but it is not uncommon.

If I was there I would be putting you in the car and getting you to a doctor. The 'pool of blood' comment would be enough justification for me.

Bebe remind us where you are living and we can check local websites.

I am still here, checking in. I just don't have much to add. I second Boff about wanting to wrestle help you into the car, though.

Bebe, so sorry to hear about your bleeding. You must must must get checked over. Why don't you phone a gynaecologist (or at this time of the day, the local hospital) and explain the situation - they should know what the rules are too. I can't see why you shouldn't be covered under your EHIC card. Sending lots and lots of good wishes, and if you need me to speak German to anyone on your behalf please Facebook me and I'll help!

Bebe - if you send me your postcode I'll find a local gynaecologist for you - just bear with me as am about to go pick up my girls!

BabyBolat - I can usuall meet Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays. Not this Friday though. Let me know when is good.

Tried the local ob/gyn walked to where it was supposed to be but couldn't find them. It's really ok now. I've been getting a lot of help on a thread I made earlier.
I'm calm currently, dh should be home soon (phones a re unreliable I suppose because they're uk). Bleeding is gone now really. Though I've got stringy brown bits and just had a globule of similar material which I assume is the plug or like. Cramps are gone now too mostly.

bebe :( I feel so sorry for you walking around like that with a poorly Meg, too. Bless you. I hope DH looks after you well when he gets back. Hopefully soon.

bebe i had a bleed at 20 weeks with DS1 and he's living proof that it can be nothing. crossing fingers for you and hope you get to see a doc soon x

He's home now, but with no more news abt insurance etc as no one got back to him. Meg took me to bed a bit ago and fell asleep properly (finally) though she's in my bed which I still need to finish sorting...

Bebe you are risking your health now.

FWIW my husband would be waving the credit card and insisting we do something about this, not just coming home and saying that 'nobody got back to him'. He would have a 'right, that's it' moment and get it sorted. What's going on over there????????????? Ring them back yourself, or get Schulte to do it for you, and move this on.

You're being as daft as Springy with her 'no I can't be in labour, nobody in my family as ever had a cervix that opens' and not to mention BB with her 'tell you what, let's demolish the house and I can give birth in the aisle at Wickes while choosing scaffolding poles and Italian bathroom fittings'.

I'm so glad Boff said it. I've been wondering how to phrase it - your DH is being Not Very Useful right now. You're there for his work, he fucked up along the way (what did he actually DO about the move? From where I'm sitting, you seemed to have all of the stress of the logistical things, apart from bits he messed up) & now you're stranded without medical care.

& Boff, I was used to contracting all the time, give me a break. BB was daft, not me

I so want to kick your dhs butt round now. You need to get checked out. He needs to realise this and if you're not covered due to his cxrapness then he needs to find a way to make sure you go whatever and he needs to suck up the stress of sorting it out.

I hope, I really do hope somethign is happening over there at the moment