Prescriptions/Dr Visits

We are planning a move to Shanghai in the Fall. We will have a 4 1/2 and 1 1/2 year old. We will not have company paid insurance as we do here in the US.

How do people handle prescription meds (Singulair, Flonase, Advair, Triamcinilone ointment) and the constant kiddie Dr. visits? One person told me the meds are available over-the-counter, and Dr visits are cheap, so no need for insurance. True?


Thanks,

Tim

I cannot help much but to say 'NO WAY!!'. With 2 children you should definitely get some sort of health insurance. I'm not a scare-mongerer, but kids seem to pick up every stray germ in town.. Shanghai has quite a few stray germs...

A quasi decent travel insurance is a great deal cheaper outside of the U.S. and will cover you for the basics + emergencies. For serious operations/ emergencies many of them include the option to ship you out of China to another country of your choosing (aside from the U.S of course - ridiculously expensive). If this option is available to you - I recommend you select Singapore.. the quality of medical service available there is fantastic.

Good luck & have a great relocation!

I have had a similar problem ie with insurance here(HK)but we couldn't find any insurance company that would cover a pre-existing condition. Yes- you can get over the counter drugs but for the drugs I take they are still outrageously expensive. I have a referral from a local HK Dr for the public hospital and this is supposed to be cheaper (we've only been here for 6 weeks- so I can let you know)I think the best bet is to go to a public hospital- my hubbie works in China regularly and found the hospital and drugs very cheap (but unfortunately not my drugs)and they also had an international patients doctor. Not sure if all the hospitals have international doctors.

Hi TimB,


You will need some sort of insurance especially with young children. Being a healthy adult, I am fortunately to have insurance coverage from my husband's company but sickness can occur to anyone young or old especially moving into a new city where you aren't familiar with things yet. I don't think the medication you listed above are over the counter and seeing doctors aren't cheap as you have heard. I saw a foreign doctor and his per visit are from 500yuan-1000yuan. My bill was 700yuan. The medicine he prescribed here in China was very cheap comparing to North America. However, it is chinese brands. My husband got his ear infection meds for 10yuan only.


Seeing a western doctor who caters for foreigners are costly but I find it rather smooth due to the language. If you speak Mandarin, I'm sure you really don't need to see a foreign doctor due to that. However, my friend who's a chinese Canadian and tried a local hospital where it's much cheaper and she said she'll never come back because of the way the service was and the waiting..so and so. Some weren't very good experience with cleanliness so for that reason I chose the place catered to foreigners.


I stocked up my medications to come to Shanghai. I really don't think Flonase and Singular are over the counter. It's not like in North America where you go see a section of meds and soforth over the counter here. I hope you prepare yourself before you come here and make sure all the important medicine for the family and kids are stocked. Good luck!