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Do I need medical insurance to enter Ukraine?

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ukraine
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I guess I make no bones about it. Bribery is a way of life, in all forms and manners in the FSU. It may be a bad word here, but it is simply the way things get done in Ukraine, they way everything gets done. Yes the Dr.s are horribly underpaid and more or less "forced" into taking cash paymets under the table in order to survive. The same reason the mail carrier shakes down my MIL for the Hryvinia equivilent of a dollar to deliver her pension check. He and his family would starve on what he is paid. Evryone accepts it as a way of life. A cost of doing business.

That said, yes, medicines and such are mush cheaper in Ukraine. When we visit we bring a large suitcase full of gifts which are things we can buy cheap here (clothes, shoes, socks, underwear, etc) and return with it filled with things we can buy cheap there...contact lenses, medicines, even band aids and q-tips which are much cheaper in Ukraine. Used to bring back cigarettes at 80 cents a pack also, but now I quit smoking. I consider it our contribution to international trade. :)

Gary, you are 100000000000000000% right, what Gary says here is pretty much the way it is in Ukraine. My spouse was Ophthalmologist in Ukraine and is now in process of working as Dr here in USA, and is amazed at the difference in the way it is so expensive here for same drugs or treatments that in Ukraine or kopeks! For example you buy anything you want or need over the counter in the pharmacy in Ukraine, for about 5-10 times less, same exact stuff that you would have to buy here in USA with prescription and pay 10-20 times as much.

And there is no insurance coverage recognized like Gary says, which it is a waste of your time and a joke to worry about having it in Ukraine, they will only relate to cold hard cash. Gary bribe is such a harsh word here, in reference to the medical professionals of Ukraine. But true, many Dr work in public clinic or polyclinic, then supplement their meager salaries from government by pushing cash paying(bribes)customers to front of line and get immediate attention, and the more you pay the more you get. There are private clinics which you must realize, most of those are not free and they charge, they also work on a commission and salary like Dr in USA do, thus most Ukrainians cannot afford the private clinics and do not use them only the super rich of Ukraine can afford them.

And Gary is right about how crappy a clinic or hospital can look, from WW1 days field hospital to something modern. I have seen some pretty disgusting stuff, and true to his word, Gary is right on about how when you go in the hospital there you have to have your family come care with you and stay with you and do all the nursing duties literally, or either you will have to hire or pay someone, otherwise you are on your own to lay in your bed and heal on your own accord, there is little in the way of after operation care! 10000000000% right in what you describe there Gary. Most people there are written off for dead after 50 anyway!

Bottom line is, if you have the cash and can pay you will get what you want and need other wise it is no where near the level of a USA clinic and neither is the service, not that they cannot take care or you and treat you, just there is no incentive to do it unless they are paid that cash tip(bribe). :thumbs:

VERMONT! I Reject Your Reality...and Substitute My Own!

Gary And Alla

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