Hi there, I am reaching out to see if anyone who recives IVIG has travelled abroad (for an extended period of time) or worked outside of the country that they live in. I am wondering is it is possible to do so being on IVIG. I live in Canada and am hoping to work in the Netherlands, obviously paying for IVIG out of pocket is out of the question. I'm just curious if anyone has done this beofre or if anyone has any ideas. Thanks in advance!

A belated welcome to our Community, and please take a few minutes to fill out your profile page telling the story of your journey with SCLS, e.g., your medical history, how you came to be diagnosed with SCLS, your track record with episodes and treatments, and other details which may be of interest to fellow patients -- especially those also living in Ontario, or elsewhere in Canada, because we have several of them -- or relevant to the issues you raise, like this one you have now raised.  We are still learning a great deal from one another.  (Besides, it's a small world: I see that you live in Kitchener, and though I live in New York City, I happen to have close family, including retired physicians, in London, a mere 110 kilometers from you!)

I don't recall hearing from any SCLS patient who moved from one country (and health system) to another since I started this virtual community 14 years ago, so I would be very surprised to see that you get even a handful of answers to your question.  Therefore, let me provide some generic advice in case it is useful to you.

If you are looking to work in Holland and manage to get a job offer there, once you have received a written offer that spells out your compensation and benefits package, I would advise you to be frank and tell your contact in Human Resources there that you have a pre-existing medical condition, such that you would like to connect with their expert on medical benefits to discuss what arrangements can be made ahead of your arrival to ensure the continuity of your medical care in the Netherlands.

Chances are, if you move to a foreign country with a job offer and a visa that enables you to work there, you will have access to a government or private health insurance plan that would cover the needs of your pre-existing medical condition (e.g., regular infusions of IVIG) and hospitalization costs (e.g., if you should have an acute episode of SCLS).

Once you have had that conversation with HR regarding health benefits, you can also seek out advice from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ottawa, where they would be able to confirm the information you have received from the company making you the job offer.  After all, they are going to have to process your work/resident visa application anyway, so that's a great opportunity to verify what you were told by your future employer with a government representative -- before you pack up your bags and actually move to Holland.

In sum, I don't think that moving from Canada to Holland with a formal job offer and work/resident visa in hand should conflict with your goal of maintaining continuity of medical care.  But I would advise you against going to the Netherlands on a tourist visa to look for work there, because in that case you and your Ontario-based medical plan would be responsible for covering any expenses related to your medical needs while there.

Hi,

 

I live in Europe - but in Germany.

 

I strongly advice that you find someone, preferably firstly from this forum, that can can explain you, how the Netherlands health insurance system works. If you can't find a person in this forum I would advice that you search via the embassy or on the internet in official Netherlandish homepages from the government.

The problem  could be, that you need to do some extra paperwork to get your regular infusions paid in addition to a normal insurance (not necessarily extra costs). And you need to find a doctor and a place where you can get the monthly infusions 

 It would not ask your employer at first. In Europe the insurance system is more often run by the government oder government related organizations. It is rather not common that employers have their own medical plans or so.  At least in Germany it is so, and I guess, in the Netherlands, too.

Yours.

 

Andreas

Another research point: Determine whether your Canadian insurance plan covers you for out-of-country health care. If not, be sure to purchase travel insurance.

I had the misfortune of having a serious flare while outside of the US and was hospitalized for three days. I was responsible for the full hospital and physician charges.

Susan Tedrick

Thank you so much everyone for your advice! A lot to think about and to get sorted out, definitely just looking into it, for now, I haven’t booked anything ;). Unfortunately in Canada, I do not have insurance only what the government of Ontario provides (I work for the family farm, no luxury of having health insurance). I should make a point that I am considered a Dutch citizen by birth, as my mother was born in the country and is still a dutch citizen, so I will have to look into the dutch health system and who qualifies for government-provided health care and what they cover. Definitely always travel with health insurace, would never do without it WAY too much of a risk. I also have been meaning to fill out my profile a bit more as I am one of few people who was diagnosed as a kid!

Thanks again everyone!