I think i am on the mend from a repiratory virus i picked up while traveling down. Still made me wonder what options there are if someone needs medical care or has an emergency while on the island

We have had to use the Mullet Bay Medical Clinic. No complaints and picked up meds at the Maho pharmacy. Check out the website for the hours for the clinic. I hope you get better soon.

Dr. Deketh behind the Maho Pharmacy.

Excellent health care available both sides, up to a point as we don't have a ton of "specialists" like many are used to. If you have concerns about major health issues, be sure to buy emergency evacuation insurance.

Dr Deketh is our family doctor taking great care of us for 10 years.

Thanks so much. I am feeling so much better today. Must have been the pain de chocolat I had from Grand Case yesterday! I will keep this on file though

Neither the hospital ER nor one of the clinics will take insurance but you can save the receipts and submit those to your insurance once you're home. Clinic visits will cost around $50. My wife suffered a dog attack a couple of years ago. We went to the Simpson Bay Clinic. The doctor said the wound was too severe for him to treat, wrapped it and sent us to the ER at the hospital....no charge! We spent an hour in the ER. Shots, stitches and really great care cost $100.

It depends on your insurance, as to whether they will pay anything or not. A few years ago when I had to go to the ER in SXM, my personal health insurance paid ZIP, but I did have travel insurance that paid everything except a $50 deductible. Now, we ALWAYS have insurance that pays for air evac. SXM hospitals are not really equipped to deal with very serious injuries...

Keep in mind that you will have to pay with a deposit at the ER before they will do anything. When I was rushed to the ER I had to put up my credit card as deposit, Before I checked out I had to make full payment which in this case received a credit for the unused balance of the deposit. Trouble is they credited the full amount and didn't charge for my stay. Didn't notice it till I got full reimbursement from my insurance back home and got a call from the hospital they forgot to charge me and asked if they could recharge my credit card. I said yes, by all means as I did get excellent care and felt obligated to make payment. Pretty cheap, $800 for ambulance ride from Red Piano, x-ray, overnight hospital stay, two consoles with doctors next day, scan and meds.

I was rushed to the ER twice and it was hours before they even asked for any information. Payment on exit is normal with no insurance coverage and yes, it was cheap!

That’s amazing. A dog attack that is so scary

You being a resident and me a tourist could have been the difference.

Not so. They had no idea who I was, they never asked, just whisked me back and took care of me. Just stating my experience.

My experience was the same as Elaine's. I had to go to the ER once for a cat bite. Payment wasn't even discussed until I was leaving. I was astounded at how inexpensive it was, considering everything they did.

Don't know, must depend upon the day, but when I went in, they wanted a credit card to begin with..

Elaine gave me the name of Dr. Deketh at Maho Clinic when I needed a physician in SXM. He was great, very professional, intelligent, and right on with his diagnosis. I am a healthcare professional and was surprised at the care I received. His staff was very friendly and courteous and he was wonderful. The bill was nothing I would have received in the US. They even called me a few days later to see if I was okay. I would not hesitate to return to see him again if needed.

Maybe they knew you were a lawyer.....

I would certainly agree that insurance payments are dependent on the type of insurance you have. I was surprised that we were reimbursed...almost did not bother to submit the bills. Funny part about it was the insurance company did not realize the bills were in guilders and paid us 1 for 1 so we actually made money on the whole experience.

Snorkeller--now, that's mean! Takes one to know one!!

Do you why lawyers never get bitten by sharks in the ocean?.........Professional Courtesy! lol

Yeah, yeah, that's an old one!!

My experience was also like Elaine's. I had to visit the ER for a severe upper respiratory infection I caught on the way down several years back. They were quite efficient, took me back, had a full exam, chest x-ray, IV meds, nebulizer treatment, and was given prescriptions to get filled at the Maho Pharmacy. ER didn't ask me for any info or for a single penny until I was checking out. The whole visit was $100. I did have trip insurance, so was later reimbursed for that $100, plus the cost of prescriptions after putting in a claim.

Upon Elaine's advice, I also saw Dr. Deketh at the Maho Clinic on 2 separate St. Maarten visits. A very kind, efficient, and caring man who took good care of me.

We always take out evacuation insurance, JIC.