Primary medical care on Maui is awesome (insurance, to buy)

[winkosmosis]

One of my favorite things about Maui is medical care. One thing is the doctors here seem way better/smarter than in Houston. They think about things like antibiotic resistance and radiation exposure, which doesn't seem to be typical for the industry as a whole. When I broke my finger, the doctor MacGyvered a temporary splint from a piece of aluminum and some foam... and I didn't even get a bill for it.

Another is that everything is convenient. I can always get an appointment the same day. Finding an "in network" provider is easy because everybody accepts all insurance (there are only like 2 companies plus Kaiser with their own clinics). Also, because it's a small island everything is close. I go to an urgent care place a few blocks away, and they're open every day of the year.

Dentistry is good too... I got my gums trimmed back with some kind of laser from the future.

I have no experience with the hospital though. Obviously the facilities can't be as well equipped as on Oahu so for big things they fly people over. But primary care on this island is great.

Oh, one thing I do know about the hospital, because I know a couple nurses, is that the nurses at Maui Memorial are hot.

[hanana123]

Hi Winkosmosis,
Thanks for the great info. I'm just wondering if you know how maternity care and maternity care insurance are in Maui. I want to move to Maui (well, I have to clear all kind of obstacles to make it happen though...), and am hoping to have a baby there. Now I am in California, and have an insurance that covers Maternity care, but when I move to Maui, I have to find a new insurance in Hawaii (I am self-employed). Some people told me Hawaii has a great insurance that covers maternity care, but I am not sure if it's something provided by the state or private insurance companies. I called Blue Cross Anthem, and they seem to have something, but it's not that great - it has a huge deductible and is expensive. I've been researching a lot, but when it comes to medical insurance, it's very complicated and hard to find useful information...

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by hanana123

Hi Winkosmosis,
Thanks for the great info. I'm just wondering if you know how maternity care and maternity care insurance are in Maui. I want to move to Maui (well, I have to clear all kind of obstacles to make it happen though...), and am hoping to have a baby there. Now I am in California, and have an insurance that covers Maternity care, but when I move to Maui, I have to find a new insurance in Hawaii (I am self-employed). Some people told me Hawaii has a great insurance that covers maternity care, but I am not sure if it's something provided by the state or private insurance companies. I called Blue Cross Anthem, and they seem to have something, but it's not that great - it has a huge deductible and is expensive. I've been researching a lot, but when it comes to medical insurance, it's very complicated and hard to find useful information...

Didn't you say in another thread you aren't moving to Maui for at least 10 years - and you've also said you are in your late 30's - you probably got to get going on that babymaking thing pretty soon - just saying . Have the baby in Los Angeles - then decide if you want to make the move. If you or the baby have a serious complication, you don't want to be in Maui.

Regarding Wink's post - there are decent Primary Care Physician options in Oahu and Maui. Less so in Kauai and the Big Island - those islands attract fewer doctors as the pay is far less on those islands but still have to maintain high fixed costs like malpractice. If you need a specialist - the options get fewer and fewer on all the outer islands.

The issues one tends to have is when a person has serious health issues - like a heart attack. Maui Medical can stabilize you - even take care of you if not a serious heart attack - but, if you need surgery - or have other serious conditions or complications - the outer islands aren't equipped for that type of care. In those cases - you need to get airlifted - time is critical in those situations (let alone the cost).

[winkosmosis]

Yep, that's why I was specific about primary care vs hospital.


I have no idea about the maternity stuff. I assume you just need to buy individual insurance, in which case it's just like anywhere else

[hanana123]

Hi whtviper1,

Yes, I said so because of our dog. But some solution came up, and we might be able to move. Yes, I am pretty old, but what if we can't have a baby? Are we going to wait until I become 43 years old and finally give up on having a baby? I wanted to know what the options are. I know... it's not easy for people like us to move to Maui, and we will probably end up waiting for the next 10 years, or probably it won't happen. I just wanted to know how the situation in Maui is.

winkosmosis,

Thanks for your reply. I will keep on researching.

[aqua0]

If all you need is basic care like treating a broken finger, you're lucky.

It's when you require a specialist in something that is less common that forces you to look to the mainland for treatment. And that's only after they figure out what exactly it is you have, which may not always be easy in Maui.

[heartpa]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

The issues one tends to have is when a person has serious health issues - like a heart attack. Maui Medical can stabilize you - even take care of you if not a serious heart attack - but, if you need surgery - or have other serious conditions or complications - the outer islands aren't equipped for that type of care. In those cases - you need to get airlifted - time is critical in those situations (let alone the cost).

Like to confirm that Maui Memorial now have 2 excellent cardiac surgeons operating and a team of cardiologists that can provide emergency cardiac care like opening your blocked arteries so Maui residents and visitors no longer need to fly to Oahu and lose heart muscle or suffer the consequences of waiting for definitive treatment. In the past 2 weeks alone, Maui Memorial did 9 heart surgeries- coronary bypasses & valve replacements. The program is ramping up headed by a veteran surgeon well known from Oahu and a second veteran surgeon from a major midwest medical center.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by heartpa

Like to confirm that Maui Memorial now have 2 excellent cardiac surgeons operating and a team of cardiologists that can provide emergency cardiac care like opening your blocked arteries so Maui residents and visitors no longer need to fly to Oahu and lose heart muscle or suffer the consequences of waiting for definitive treatment. In the past 2 weeks alone, Maui Memorial did 9 heart surgeries- coronary bypasses & valve replacements. The program is ramping up headed by a veteran surgeon well known from Oahu and a second veteran surgeon from a major midwest medical center.

Any chance you'd want to provide some real names and facts?

[PaliPatty]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

Any chance you'd want to provide some real names and facts?

Here ya go:

Maui Gets New Cardiac Surgeon, Dr. Michael H. Dang | Maui Now

Michael Dang is an excellent CT surgeon and yes, I know this from personal experience.
I'm not sure how long he'll be practicing, however---he graduated from medical school nearly 45 years ago and when he left Queens the word was that he was heading towards retirement.
MMMC's program is less than a year old, I believe.
Sorry, but if possible I would take my cardiac needs to Oahu. Experience in doing such procedures (and caring for those patients post-op which is equally important) counts bigtime in my book.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by PaliPatty

Here ya go:

I'm not sure how long he'll be practicing, however---he graduated from medical school nearly 45 years ago and when he left Queens the word was that he was heading towards retirement.
.

Isn't there a mandatory retirement age - or no?