Medical - prescriptions question

[hopers7]

Hi all,

Just a quick question re: the medicals. We have ours booked in July. My husband is prescribed medication for acid reflux...will he definitely be referred and would taking a letter from his Doctor explaining why he is prescribed the medication help?

Thanks!

[bdl123]

Hi,
This may not cause a problem at all. It all depends on the cost of the drugs in NZ and the nature of the illness. I have ulcerative colitis & take one kind of medication per day...I was referred due to future prognosis of the disease ie. it's possible I may need surgery etc etc. my hubby has hypertension & takes 1 kind of medication a day & he wasn't referred. I think with something mild like acid reflux (although I'm sure it doesn't seem mild when an attack strikes..in terms of illness/disease it is relatively complication free) I'm sure things will be fine, and even if you are referred I wouldn't imagine it causing too much of an issue. If you are using a migration agent ask them their opinion! Hope all goes well.

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[hopers7]

Originally Posted by bdl123

Hi,
This may not cause a problem at all. It all depends on the cost of the drugs in NZ and the nature of the illness. I have ulcerative colitis & take one kind of medication per day...I was referred due to future prognosis of the disease ie. it's possible I may need surgery etc etc. my hubby has hypertension & takes 1 kind of medication a day & he wasn't referred. I think with something mild like acid reflux (although I'm sure it doesn't seem mild when an attack strikes..in terms of illness/disease it is relatively complication free) I'm sure things will be fine, and even if you are referred I wouldn't imagine it causing too much of an issue. If you are using a migration agent ask them their opinion! Hope all goes well.

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Thanks for that, it's reassuring. Hopefully since it's only one medication and apparently the most prescribed in uk if he is referred then it shouldn't take too long. We're time restricted by a job offer! We haven't got a migration agent, thought we'd save the money as application seems straight forward as applying for the talent accredited employer work visa and for my hubby a partnership work visa. Fingers crossed!

[G-Mo]

Acid reflux will likely be referred to the MA. Contrary to the poster above, acid reflux is not mild and can lead to significant additional gastrointestinal issues including surgery and Barrett's esophagus (a form of cancer). Depending on the information provided, they may request an endoscopy or a colonospy or both. What medicine is he on?

[hopers7]

Originally Posted by G-Mo

Acid reflux will likely be referred to the MA. Contrary to the poster above, acid reflux is not mild and can lead to significant additional gastrointestinal issues including surgery and Barrett's esophagus (a form of cancer). Depending on the information provided, they may request an endoscopy or a colonospy or both. What medicine is he on?

Hi,

He's on 40g of esomeprazole.

[G-Mo]

Originally Posted by hopers7

Hi,

He's on 40g of esomeprazole.

I assume you mean 40mg, not 40g. Esomeprazole, also known by the brand name Nexium, is a second generation proton pump inhibitor. You should be concerned if he's regularly taking 40mg, as this is a healing dose, not a maintenance (20mg) dose. Regardless, it's a very expensive drug ($100/month) and last time I checked wasn't available in NZ; they will have an alternate, I don't know what the pricing on the NZ approved alternative will be. How old is your husband, it's foreseeable that this perscription over the cost of his lifetime could easily break the $25,000 threshold.

[hopers7]

Originally Posted by G-Mo

I assume you mean 40mg, not 40g. Esomeprazole, also known by the brand name Nexium, is a second generation proton pump inhibitor. You should be concerned if he's regularly taking 40mg, as this is a healing dose, not a maintenance (20mg) dose. Regardless, it's a very expensive drug ($100/month) and last time I checked wasn't available in NZ; they will have an alternate, I don't know what the pricing on the NZ approved alternative will be. How old is your husband, it's foreseeable that this perscription over the cost of his lifetime could easily break the $25,000 threshold.

Yes sorry, missed a key. He's 33. In 2003 he was on 30mg of lanzoprazole after the 10mg wasn't suffient. Was later prescribed omeprazole and has been on esomeprazole 40mg for about 4 years. Is funding it ourselves not an option?

The visa we're applying for is 2 years then after we'd be looking at applying for residency...

[G-Mo]

Originally Posted by hopers7

Yes sorry, missed a key. He's 33. In 2003 he was on 30mg of lanzoprazole after the 10mg wasn't suffient. Was later prescribed omeprazole and has been on esomeprazole 40mg for about 4 years. Is funding it ourselves not an option?

The visa we're applying for is 2 years then after we'd be looking at applying for residency...

No, you cannot fund it yourself, it's not even an option.

At 33, even with a projected life expectancy of 73, if the NZ equivalent is similar in cost to esomeprazole you are looking at well over $25,000.

[hopers7]

[QUOTE=G-Mo;830801]No, you cannot fund it yourself, it's not even an option.

At 33, even with a projected life expectancy of 73, if the NZ equivalent is similar in cost to esomeprazole you are looking at well over $

[G-Mo]

You should for sure apply, but, someone who has been taking a healing dose for 4 years plus has a long history of gastrointestinal issues -- your husband has G.E.R.D., not just acid reflux -- is going to be referred to the MA for sure.