Pre existing medical conditions

[eksi]

Hi All,

Has anybody moved from their home country to the UAE with a pre existing medical condition. If, it wasn't covered by Private medical cover, how have you or your spouse etc managed to continue with your treatment in the UAE? Does the Government Health Card provide UAE residents with care or is your care/treatment paid for by yourself?

I would really appreciate any help on this subject. I am going around in circles and we just need to know whether there is an option available for us moving from the UK.

Thank you !

[wandabug]

I am on long term meds. I visit my doc in UK once a year and he gives me a prescription for a year supply. I am not covered by my insurance here and it would cost me £400 a month if I paid in Dubai whereas it costs me £7 a year on the good old NHS. My meds are on the UAE Restricted list so I had to get a copy of my prescription attested in the UK first. If you need details on how to do this let me know.

[eksi]

Thank you so much for your reply. We are currently living in the UK using the NHS, and my wife is under going Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. My wife's main treatment will be completed by Christmas, however there will be on going scans and tablet form chemo for her in the future. We just want to know if any of this treatment would be covered using the Government Health card or just to return to the UK every few months for treatment and scans etc. If we have to do this, well fair enough. Does the Nhs know that you are living in the UAE? I just can't believe that the number of people moving to the UAE from overseas, that we seem to be the only ones who are in this situation. My wife will not be covered ny BUPA etc, as they are only after making money etc.

Any info that will help us would be grateully received. My wife thinks that there isnt a a way around and keeps blaming herself for a missed opportunity. But as I have said to her, we cant be the only people ever to find ourselves in this position.

looking forward to hearing from you. If you prefer to PM that would be great. Again thank you

eksi

Originally Posted by wandabug

I am on long term meds. I visit my doc in UK once a year and he gives me a prescription for a year supply. I am not covered by my insurance here and it would cost me £400 a month if I paid in Dubai whereas it costs me £7 a year on the good old NHS. My meds are on the UAE Restricted list so I had to get a copy of my prescription attested in the UK first. If you need details on how to do this let me know.

[wonderwoman]

Originally Posted by wandabug

I am on long term meds. I visit my doc in UK once a year and he gives me a prescription for a year supply. I am not covered by my insurance here and it would cost me £400 a month if I paid in Dubai whereas it costs me £7 a year on the good old NHS. My meds are on the UAE Restricted list so I had to get a copy of my prescription attested in the UK first. If you need details on how to do this let me know.

hi wandabug could you tell me how you go about this im on long term meds i will be here full time from december

thanks

[wandabug]

Originally Posted by wonderwoman

hi wandabug could you tell me how you go about this im on long term meds i will be here full time from december

thanks

If your drugs are on the restricted list you can bring them into the country with prior permission from the UAE Embassy (see below). Banned drugs (notably Codein based meds) cannot be bought in even with an attested prescription.

http://www.moh.gov.ae/admincp/assets...ted%202007.pdf

Take the prescription and a copy of it to a solicitor. Ask him to certify the copy. He should only charge you £5.
Then send the certified copy to The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Milton Keynes and include a stamped addressed envelope to the UAE Embassy London and one to yourself. Cost £20.
The FCO will stamp the copy prescription and forward it to the UAE Embassy for you to be attested by them.
The UAE Embassy will post it back to you.
The whole process only takes a few days although it may take a little longer as the Embassy will close for EID soon and there a few holidays in December as well.
All details are on FCO and UAE Embassy London websites.

[wandabug]

Hi Eksi,

Did you get my messages??

x

[eksi]

Yes I did thanks! I dosent look very positive then? If my wife needs to return to uk every few weeks we may not have the option to go to Dubai. I cant believe that there is very little medical care for someone with a pre existing illness. I would have thought the Government Health card was in place to help patients with illnesses etc.

I think my wife and I need to rethink things...as the UAE dosent leave is with many options [if any]

Thanks again

Originally Posted by wandabug

Hi Eksi,

Did you get my messages??

x

[wonderwoman]

thanks this has been a good help

[eksi]

I guess we will have to use our health service back in the UK, if there is nothing available in the UAE.

Looks like we are the only people to be entering the UAE with a pre exiting medical condition? Ive contacted UAE hospitals and the Government Dept via email, and still waiting to get a reply!

Thanks for your help any how.

Originally Posted by wonderwoman

thanks this has been a good help

[Canuck_Sens]

How would you go about using your health care back in UK? In Canada if you leave the country for more than 6 months you lose your health care benefits. Don't you have a similar rule there?

I dont know, this is a very sensitive topic. I would not bring anybody to UAE under chemo or that kind of treatment. She will be in remission after awhile but will have to undergo some checks and family support is crucial during the whole thing. I also have no clue whatsoever of the facilities that UAE has for cancer treatment if needed.

For foreigners, we get a private health card sponsored by the company. You might want to check what they cover. I do not think t they will cover pre-existing medical condition. I would be really surprised if they do.

Let me know how it goes. It is an interesting topic.