EK: Medical Benefits off duty abroad
 

When you leave Dubai to go on vacation in a country other than your home country, do you top up with any kind of medical travel insurance, or do you rely on EK to fork out the bill...?

The reality is that you should. Emirates will say that medical care abroad is pay and claim. The stark reality is that it is always denied. I personally have sought medical attention on 3 occasions when abroad and each time have had the claim rejected.
Medical benefits exists for the purpose of rejecting as many claims as possible and therefore saving as much money as possible.

We always got private travel health insurance, especially for skiing etc hols.

That said it hasn't been much of problem this year as I got virtually no leave:ugh:

As to Medical Benefits, whomever came up with the title must have a dark sense of humour.
In our time in EK I have been notified of charges and salary deduction accruing from a visit to one particular hospital in DXB. Sounds fair? Well it would have been ok had any of my family actually been to said hospital!

The mission statement Drop Kick alluded to is spot on.

Strange you started this topic. I have been trying to call that department since yesterday and they refuse to answer the phone. :=

Don t worry you can always make an appointment with the clinic when you get back:ugh::ugh:

Don't bother phoning. Go in. They'll HATE you for it and if you query anything, or try and argue the point, they'll claim you've been harassing them. I speak from experience. Be ready to have their superior come as witness the discussion.

After my little encounter, I strolled into Fleet to mention the fuss and was told by the Fleet manager that it was normal..

Can anyone recommend a good travel insurance company for airline employees?

EK: Medical Benefits off duty abroad
 

Most travel agents will sell you a policy for about AED150 that will cover you for the holiday.

There are lots around, but I use RSA in DXB and do it on-line. When I've had queries they have been pretty helpful.

Being paying and claiming for years for various scrapes overseas by Fam and myself...always paid.

Nothing major though.

f.

World nomad travel insurance

Tested very recently .

I would rather spend 60 USD on a 2 weeks holiday (peace of mind) than having to enjoy the ( medical benefits )

If you have family that live outside of Dubai are they covered by your medical.

BDD

family overseas covered? depends on whether they have a UAE residence visa or not and whether the treatment in in- or out-patient, as I recall.

I am just about to sign the Bananas clan up with Baymac. It certainly looks ok on paper. Does anyone have any practical experience of them and care to share an opinion or two?:ok:

Had minor scrapes overseas, and claims always paid. Also, a very major event which was almost impossible to pay due to amount, Medical benefits contacted hospital and set up direct billing so I didn't need to pay a cent.

Same as Fliion.

Got screwed once for having a breast scan during summer school holidays abroad without asking for permission in advance.

They wouldn't pay it despite being cheaper than in DXB.

I don't work for EK but have been using World Nomads for travel insurance for almost a decade without issues. They cover you worldwide including the US but will not cover your stated country of residence. If you do not require US coverage the rates are cheaper. I had a few claims and no issues with payment.

Along with free "housing" and loss of licence pay out that no one ever gets paid, the medical coverage is a brochure item currently deemed necessary to attract new staff. It may've cost a bit to set up but that doesn't they have to incur ongoing expenses by paying people out. As long as the new suckers think they're covered and how wonderful this opportunity is, the system is serving its purpose.


The "chauffeur driven limo" scam is another example. Realit - a couple of meydan inmates on the way home:




http://i.bullfax.com/imgs/8e9d1c7a6f...39e92a609e.jpg