Expert: Robert Clark - 9/2/2008

Question
QUESTION: Robert,

I would like to ask about medical care in Cayman Islands, because I live in Poland, where wide range of medical services is provided by government without explicit charges to citizens (however by charging obligatory medical premiums from each salary/wage). I am considering moving to Cayman Islands and I am trying to assess the cost of providing full-range medical care to 4-persons family.

Thus I have some specific questions:
1. if I would be working in Cayman Islands who would be paying for my medical insurance - would it be my employer or should I take care of it,
2. if I would bring my wife and children to Cayman Islands (none of them would be working in Cayman Islands) – will they be insured as part of my insurance or should I ensure them any specific medical insurance coverage,
3. is there any obligatory medical insurance (if it is obligatory – is it applicable to all persons staying in Cayman Islands or only those, who work there) or you are supposed to insure by yourself,
4. what is the cost of basic medical insurance per person per month,
5. if basic medical insurance is obligatory, then what is covered by this insurance: internist / general medician (to visit when you have simple sickness, e.g. flu), dentist, pediatrician, gynecologist, oculist, dentist, surgeon (e.g. in case of breaking leg)
6. is other specialist doctor visit (after say receiving referral from general medician) extra payable? or is it ensured in some kind of obligatory medical insurance,
7. what is the cost of hospital treatment? is it covered by any kind of insurance, or in case say of jaundice, appendicitis or serious car accident you have to pay for each day of hospital treatment and separately for each operation/surgery.

Kind regards,
Pawel

ANSWER: Pawel
I'm trying to do some research on this for you - will get back to you later.
Robert


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Robert,
Have you managed to do some research on my seven questions, which I had asked in June 2008?
Regards,
Pawel

Answer
Pawel
I'm very sorry - I had forgotten about this.  Now chased up my contacts for the required info:

1) Employer is obligated to pay 50% of any standard plan which runs $100-200. Some employers pay everything


2) They can be on your insurance and if living in Cayman and spouse not working they will need to be on your insurance by law and at your expense.  Family insurance can run $250 - $800 per month depending on your plan.  Also pre-existing conditions would also be excluded.

3) Yes the law says all individuals have to have insurance  working or not or as a dependant.  

4) CI$100-200

5) Check the website http://www.hic.ky/

6) Depends on the individual plan and carrier.

7) Ditto

Hope this helps.

Robert