Thank you for sharing the details and your experience...it is so important for all of us estrangeiros here to understand the steps, processes, when to worry and when to wait. Glad it has gone so well, thus far, and wishing you the very, most pleasant possible, recovery. We can't imagine not having Expat in Portugal updates!
Thanks, Susan. Further update, care of Ana (my insurance agent), she called the insurance company and the surgery has been approved. I should receive my refund (less 200€ copay) today or tomorrow.
ouch! The MGEN premiums are a bite, but there ain’t no free lunch. We had it lined up before we immigrated and knew what it would cost, but we started at €417 monthly in 2021 and with annual increases wound up about where you are at €600+. The current Medicare part B here in the U.S. is equal to about €340 for two people so it doesn’t seem as bad as first glance.
A lot of American Expats are still paying their part B premiums as a “hedge” in case they return (to avoid significant penalties for re-enrollment), an expensive proposition. There is a way to mitigate that, but that’s a long story.
Nancy, leave it to you to turn a painful mishap into an educational experience. Please be careful though, because this was not an easy learning experience.
I had a very similar experience with surgery at Hospital da Luz in Lisboa. Mine was a laparoscopy with biopsy (fortunately all clear) that cost 5600 euros with a night in the hospital in a private room with husband staying as well. They even came in and made up the pull out couch for him! I just arrived in Portugal in March so it was my first medical experience. I have read many good accounts of the (private) medical care here and it was excellent.
To me, a victim of the American "healthcare" system, this all seems like an impossible fantasy. Unbelievable how much we pay here, and with just about the worst outcomes in the developed world. Now I'm even more consumed with jealousy about your life than I already was! :-)
I’m wishing you a very speedy recovery Nancy. Thank you for the details concerning your hospital experience. Before I moved to Portugal I fell on my hand and did not go to emergency because I thought nothing was broken cause I could move my fingers. But after a year, when my hands still hurt , I finally got an x-ray and was told that my hand had been broken in many places, including my thumb. Still, I think I would rather suffer than get fixed properly in the hospital I have extreme hospital version. Then last December I went back to the US and fell in the airport. I made it home with a lot of pain and went straight to emergency where they took an x-ray and told me I was fine and should take Tylenol. Months later in Portugal, I went to a Doctor who read my x-ray and informed me that I actually fractured my hip. So even though I did go to the hospital, I didn’t get fixed properly. So that’s my broken bones story. I’m 70 with osteoporosis and I try hard not to fall down. But damn it …..
Glad you had a positive experience! I had hernia surgery at CUF in Santarém in September, and also had a very good experience. I'm a retired nurse anesthesiologist, so I come at it with some knowledge of how things should work. I was generally impressed with my care. I did note that in both human and veterinary medicine in Portugal, there are a *lot* of extra visits expected. I had surgery on Thursday, and the surgeon wanted to see me on Monday, then a week later, then two weeks after that, then a month after that. In truth, since I had no complications, the only strictly necessary visit was the two week one to remove staples (don't get me started on surgeons using staples that have to be removed, instead of buried, absorbable sutures that don't). Had a similar experience with my dog's recent surgery. I ended up canceling the 30 day visit, since I was 100% healed and absolutely fine. It was also somewhat amusing - the anesthetist (as MD anesthesia providers call themselves here) initially told me she would do a spinal for my hernia surgery. I gave her a perplexed look, and she asked why. I told her that if I'd gone to literally *any* general surgeon anywhere in the US and told them I was going to give my patient a spinal for a 20 minute hernia procedure, they'd look at me like I'd just flown in from the moons of Pluto. In the end, since I expressed the desire not to spend the night, she ended up doing a general instead of the spinal. Is it "wrong" to do a spinal for a hernia procedure? No, of course not. There are a thousand ways to do any anesthetic. Just a huge cultural difference.
Out of network (chargemaster) rate for outpatient operating room alone is $10,000/hr in the US so your 4x looks on the mark.
Over the last few years we've had a broken wrist (your surgery, next day), a broken elbow (no surgery) and severe road rash (18 wound care visits and counting) through the public system. Quite satisfied with the level of care (much better than in the US hospital system) and at a total cost of 18E.
Maybe we are sensitized now, but the number of slings and casts we see aournd suggests orthopedics is a specialty much in demand here.
how do you not repair a broken elbow? The top of my bone was displaced to my tricep about 2" above where it was supposed to be. The xrays are on my site.
Great storytelling - though I am sorry you had to go through the discomfort of breaking a bone. I had an intestinal resection after diverticulitis in 2/24 at CUF and likewise it was service and excellent - a wonderful surgeon and nursing staff. And no payment necessary from me. I would never have had this care at this price in Manhattan.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and a wonderful trip to Italy. I've heard nothing but good feedback about the private medical system in Portugal. Good to hear your experience was mostly positive. I always say if the Americans can't fault it, it must be good :)
Glad to hear you had an all-round good experience. Enjoy your holiday. :) When I fell and broke my wrist (6 weeks after I had my 1st knee replacement surgery at CUF Coimbra) I was sent by a private doctor to the ER at Coimbra Hospital. From the moment I entered to when I went home, took a total of 3 hours. (Filling in forms, seeing ER nurse and doctor and then assigned an on-call Orthopaedic Surgeon). My experience with the Ortho was not great as they pulled my hand and arm in different directions "to re-align the bones"! Afterwards a plaster cast. Sadly that was the wrong direction to take and 6 months later I had to have surgery to fix my arm. This was done by a wonderful Hand/Wrist Surgeon at Santa Filomena Hospital In Coimbra. I was in Hospital 4 nights (as I am high risk for bloodclots with a history of DVT. It was an all round good experience. I also had my 2nd knee replacement there, done by Dr Andre Bahute. I can honestly recommend Sanfil Coimbra. It is cheaper than other private Hospitals and has agreements with medical insurance companies, where claims are paid directly to hospitals. There are so many wonderful specialists in Coimbra.
The important lesson is really : Do have a medical insurance with good coverage! It may be pricey, but it is not expensive. What is really expensive is to not be insured.
And bear with the burocrazy (intentional spelling), you can not change it so just live with it and comply.
Glad you are doing well, very impressed with how expeditious everything was for you. By the way the new nurse was practicing on you as that’s how they learn and she was good to get another nurse and not try a third time.💕🤗🤗
I found it "concerning" that as she jabbed me the second time, she said, "Just so you know, I freak out when someone has to do this to me. The last time I needed a blood tes,t I had my father go along and hold my hand." Hmmm....
Nancy- thank you for the insight into med care in Portugal. I’m so glad it went well and quickly so you can enjoy Italia! My knee surgery had been delayed by 2 weeks due to insurance issues 😫 of course. My mom is still telling everyone who will listen about her wondrous trip to VRSA. Happy Turkey Day to you all and Onyx
Thank you for sharing your experience! Wow, not that I ever want to go through that, but knowing they handled it as well as they did is comforting. Sorry it happened ;(.
Thank you for sharing the details and your experience...it is so important for all of us estrangeiros here to understand the steps, processes, when to worry and when to wait. Glad it has gone so well, thus far, and wishing you the very, most pleasant possible, recovery. We can't imagine not having Expat in Portugal updates!
Thanks, Susan. Further update, care of Ana (my insurance agent), she called the insurance company and the surgery has been approved. I should receive my refund (less 200€ copay) today or tomorrow.
ouch! The MGEN premiums are a bite, but there ain’t no free lunch. We had it lined up before we immigrated and knew what it would cost, but we started at €417 monthly in 2021 and with annual increases wound up about where you are at €600+. The current Medicare part B here in the U.S. is equal to about €340 for two people so it doesn’t seem as bad as first glance.
A lot of American Expats are still paying their part B premiums as a “hedge” in case they return (to avoid significant penalties for re-enrollment), an expensive proposition. There is a way to mitigate that, but that’s a long story.
Hope you heal quickly and keep up the good works!
Nancy, leave it to you to turn a painful mishap into an educational experience. Please be careful though, because this was not an easy learning experience.
I had a very similar experience with surgery at Hospital da Luz in Lisboa. Mine was a laparoscopy with biopsy (fortunately all clear) that cost 5600 euros with a night in the hospital in a private room with husband staying as well. They even came in and made up the pull out couch for him! I just arrived in Portugal in March so it was my first medical experience. I have read many good accounts of the (private) medical care here and it was excellent.
To me, a victim of the American "healthcare" system, this all seems like an impossible fantasy. Unbelievable how much we pay here, and with just about the worst outcomes in the developed world. Now I'm even more consumed with jealousy about your life than I already was! :-)
Rose, will be thinking of you during our Italian travels
I’m wishing you a very speedy recovery Nancy. Thank you for the details concerning your hospital experience. Before I moved to Portugal I fell on my hand and did not go to emergency because I thought nothing was broken cause I could move my fingers. But after a year, when my hands still hurt , I finally got an x-ray and was told that my hand had been broken in many places, including my thumb. Still, I think I would rather suffer than get fixed properly in the hospital I have extreme hospital version. Then last December I went back to the US and fell in the airport. I made it home with a lot of pain and went straight to emergency where they took an x-ray and told me I was fine and should take Tylenol. Months later in Portugal, I went to a Doctor who read my x-ray and informed me that I actually fractured my hip. So even though I did go to the hospital, I didn’t get fixed properly. So that’s my broken bones story. I’m 70 with osteoporosis and I try hard not to fall down. But damn it …..
Have a wonderful, safe visit to Italy!
That's a heck of an experience - poor you
What a helluva journey.
Glad you had a positive experience! I had hernia surgery at CUF in Santarém in September, and also had a very good experience. I'm a retired nurse anesthesiologist, so I come at it with some knowledge of how things should work. I was generally impressed with my care. I did note that in both human and veterinary medicine in Portugal, there are a *lot* of extra visits expected. I had surgery on Thursday, and the surgeon wanted to see me on Monday, then a week later, then two weeks after that, then a month after that. In truth, since I had no complications, the only strictly necessary visit was the two week one to remove staples (don't get me started on surgeons using staples that have to be removed, instead of buried, absorbable sutures that don't). Had a similar experience with my dog's recent surgery. I ended up canceling the 30 day visit, since I was 100% healed and absolutely fine. It was also somewhat amusing - the anesthetist (as MD anesthesia providers call themselves here) initially told me she would do a spinal for my hernia surgery. I gave her a perplexed look, and she asked why. I told her that if I'd gone to literally *any* general surgeon anywhere in the US and told them I was going to give my patient a spinal for a 20 minute hernia procedure, they'd look at me like I'd just flown in from the moons of Pluto. In the end, since I expressed the desire not to spend the night, she ended up doing a general instead of the spinal. Is it "wrong" to do a spinal for a hernia procedure? No, of course not. There are a thousand ways to do any anesthetic. Just a huge cultural difference.
Out of network (chargemaster) rate for outpatient operating room alone is $10,000/hr in the US so your 4x looks on the mark.
Over the last few years we've had a broken wrist (your surgery, next day), a broken elbow (no surgery) and severe road rash (18 wound care visits and counting) through the public system. Quite satisfied with the level of care (much better than in the US hospital system) and at a total cost of 18E.
Maybe we are sensitized now, but the number of slings and casts we see aournd suggests orthopedics is a specialty much in demand here.
how do you not repair a broken elbow? The top of my bone was displaced to my tricep about 2" above where it was supposed to be. The xrays are on my site.
I remember those xrays. Yowza, looked like you had gotten a transplant from 3CPO.
Some fractures are non-displaced, and then a sling or cast might be okay, checked regularly for not becoming displaced.
Great storytelling - though I am sorry you had to go through the discomfort of breaking a bone. I had an intestinal resection after diverticulitis in 2/24 at CUF and likewise it was service and excellent - a wonderful surgeon and nursing staff. And no payment necessary from me. I would never have had this care at this price in Manhattan.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and a wonderful trip to Italy. I've heard nothing but good feedback about the private medical system in Portugal. Good to hear your experience was mostly positive. I always say if the Americans can't fault it, it must be good :)
Glad to hear you had an all-round good experience. Enjoy your holiday. :) When I fell and broke my wrist (6 weeks after I had my 1st knee replacement surgery at CUF Coimbra) I was sent by a private doctor to the ER at Coimbra Hospital. From the moment I entered to when I went home, took a total of 3 hours. (Filling in forms, seeing ER nurse and doctor and then assigned an on-call Orthopaedic Surgeon). My experience with the Ortho was not great as they pulled my hand and arm in different directions "to re-align the bones"! Afterwards a plaster cast. Sadly that was the wrong direction to take and 6 months later I had to have surgery to fix my arm. This was done by a wonderful Hand/Wrist Surgeon at Santa Filomena Hospital In Coimbra. I was in Hospital 4 nights (as I am high risk for bloodclots with a history of DVT. It was an all round good experience. I also had my 2nd knee replacement there, done by Dr Andre Bahute. I can honestly recommend Sanfil Coimbra. It is cheaper than other private Hospitals and has agreements with medical insurance companies, where claims are paid directly to hospitals. There are so many wonderful specialists in Coimbra.
Good to hear the experience was good and that you are on the mend, Nancy.
The important lesson is really : Do have a medical insurance with good coverage! It may be pricey, but it is not expensive. What is really expensive is to not be insured.
And bear with the burocrazy (intentional spelling), you can not change it so just live with it and comply.
Stay on your feet and remember to have fun,
/ Goran N
Glad you are doing well, very impressed with how expeditious everything was for you. By the way the new nurse was practicing on you as that’s how they learn and she was good to get another nurse and not try a third time.💕🤗🤗
I found it "concerning" that as she jabbed me the second time, she said, "Just so you know, I freak out when someone has to do this to me. The last time I needed a blood tes,t I had my father go along and hold my hand." Hmmm....
Nancy- thank you for the insight into med care in Portugal. I’m so glad it went well and quickly so you can enjoy Italia! My knee surgery had been delayed by 2 weeks due to insurance issues 😫 of course. My mom is still telling everyone who will listen about her wondrous trip to VRSA. Happy Turkey Day to you all and Onyx
I hope you heal up quick!
Thank you for sharing your experience! Wow, not that I ever want to go through that, but knowing they handled it as well as they did is comforting. Sorry it happened ;(.