Interesting Medical/Insurance Information

So, as we close in on the arrival of our daughter, Olga and I have had some interesting revelations on Russian medicine and insurance.  We selected the 'premium' insurance package that would allow us to go to the American Medical Center clinic, which I openly admit was all for me given my knowledge of the Russian language.  There was a side benefit to Olga, as the care there really is very good and our insurance picked them up after the first of the year for prenatal care.  Let's start with that statement.  How in the world can the place that you go for basic medical necessities NOT be covered for prenatal care??  I guess the only way I can justify this is to think of the 'in network' and 'out of network' cases for the HMO's in the US.  Unknowingly I guess we are on the Russian equivalent of a US HMO.

Second difference.  Once Olga reached her 36th week of pregnancy she could no longer go to AMC, but rather had to select a birthing center from the list of 'approved' centers.  Olga selected one based on information provided by the center, information from the insurance company and reviews posted of services rendered.  The place she selected is known for its ability to handle any and all difficulties in births (no worries here, all looks good for us right now, but it never hurts to be covered, right?).  We were told that single-room accommodation would be requested, but not guaranteed, although we were assured that it is available most of the time.  I'm beginning to see the Soviet Machine very much at work here!

OK, here is where things get interesting.  After Olga had further conversations with the birthing center here is what we found out.  Ladies in the US, get ready.  First, there is only ONE single-occupancy room in the entire center!  Interesting.  Second, I would not be allowed to be with Olga during labor or birth....NO EXCEPTION.  Third, most likely they would take the baby directly after birth and we would not be able to see her much AND they would start her on formula.  Fourth, and this is not necessarily the fourth largest issue, if Olga was not put into the one single-person accommodation room she would be in a 5-6 person labor room.  OK, I have to admit that I've never been in labor and will never be in labor, but I can not think of one positive thing about being in a room with 4 or 5 other women in excruciating pain.  

Well, now that we have all of the facts we have decided to go to the prenatal birthing center, which sounds like a palace compared to what I have envisioned the other place to be.  Olga will be in a single room, I will be allowed to be with her for labor and birth and I will be allowed to visit from 9AM to 9PM.  All of this is very positive (I admit that I may have a different view after the actual experience of labor, but only because I'm not sure how I'll feel about my wife being in that much pain and me not being able to do anything about it), with one small exception.  Has anyone seen any mention of this being covered by insurance...anyone.....anyone?  Right, so this place is not covered on our insurance and the majority of costs are due at signing of the contract with them.  Well, at least they take credit cards!!!!  In all honesty, I don't really care what it costs.  My only desire is that Olga and our daughter are both well taken care of.

We All Have Our Faults

I'm only posting this because I found the article and some of the defenses of this archaic law quite interesting.  Could any of you in the US even imagine if this existed today in your world?  I believe it may be time for an update.  Oh yes, be sure to check out the salaries listed as well.

http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/600/42/377334.htm

Who Needs Hot Water Anyway?

Ahh Russia, the land that never ceases to amaze.  As of Monday morning the boiler was shut down in our building for 'maintenance'.  Duration is projected to be two weeks, but we shall see if that holds true.  The good news is that there was a notice posted so we were not caught entirely off guard and because Olga used to live here we knew this was coming at some point.  

This knowledge, while nice, does not stop me from wondering what causes the need for this in the year 2009.  It's not as if we live in a Soviet-era building...we believe the building is less than 10 years old.  FYI, this is not an isolated thing, as there are rolling outages throughout the country over the course of the summer.  This would also explain why the Metro has that amazing aroma by mid-June!  

The only reason that I can think of that could justify this is the fact that Moscow has the hardest water I've ever experienced, thereby causing the need to shovel out the deposits each year.  I've often considered wearing a hard hat while taking a shower to diminish the possibility of head trauma. 

Oh well, at least we have a boiler in our apartment...this was a requirement when we were looking for a place.  So I guess for the next few weeks we live in the world of 7 minute showers. I guess it could be much worse, we could be without a boiler and have to boil water in order to take warm showers.  So much to be thankful for.

May 9th - Victory Day in Russia

On May 9, 1945 the surrender document was signed by Germany, thereby formally ending WW II between the USSR and Germany.  In 1965 the USSR designated May 9th as the Victory Day holiday.  They now have a very large parade on this day that runs through the Red Square that is intended (and succeeds) to show the military might of the Russian Federation.  I have to admit, the showing is quite impressive.  Follow the link below for more information on what the parade was all about.

http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1010/42/376993.htm

We had intended on watching the parade from home, as it was invite-only at the Red Square (can you believe they left us off the list???).  Unfortunately, we ended up watching it from my private room at the American Medical Center.  The short story is that kidney stones hurt like hell and apparently I had them.  It hurt enough that I actually requested (ok, begged) Olga to call an ambulance because at that point the pain was so severe I was not sure what was going on.  

My worst nightmare was coming to fruition....'IT'S POSSIBLE THAT I MAY HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY IN RUSSIA'.  Don't get me wrong, to this point the medical care that I have received here has been very good, but I'm not giddy about going under the knife in in a country where I can understand the language, let alone in a country that I'm lucky to catch every 5th to 10th word!  Keep in mind that at this point I was looking at worst case scenario....i.e., this could be a hernia or worse yet, my appendix.  

The guys showed up in the ambulance and my loving wife says 'Oh, you're going to love these guys', as they are walking up to the building.  How's that for love and support....I believe I will remember that in late June around the time that our daughter is scheduled to arrive.  As they entered the apartment I understood...they definitely had a Russian look to them and they spoke no English (here is where it really pays to stay on the good side of ones Russian-speaking wife!).  Within minutes they assured me that it was only kidney stones and provided me with a very nice pain killer...YES!  After they phoned the AMC to ensure they had room for me they even gave us a ride in the ambulance so we didn't have to suffer through the Metro.

The stay at the AMC was quite uneventful, although I have to say the accomodations were very nice.  I had my own room and they fed me very tasty food.  I had my first ultra sound.  The guy that administered it is the same man that has done several of Olga's and I'm sure he was confused when he saw us enter the room and I jumped up on the table!  I spent the night and they released me the next morning after my second ultra sound came up clean.  All's well that ends well!

Сергиев Посад (Sergiyev Posad)

We have found ourselves with some time on our hands lately as Russia has quite a few holidays at the beginning of May.  Being as the weather has also been fantastic for the past few weeks, we decided to take a day trip to another of the Garden Ring cities, Sergiyev Posad, a few weeks ago.  This city is about 100,000 people and is located 75 kilometers north of Moscow (about 90 minutes on the elektrichka train, which is the local trains that run out of the city).

The beginning of the city was the erection of a small wooden church and monastic retreat in the early 14th century.  The kremlin walls that you see me standing in front of in one of the pictures below were built around the monastery in 1540 during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.  

I'm always amazed and impressed with the architecture and history in the cities that we go to and Sergiyev Posad didn't disappoint.  Hope you enjoy the pictures!

In Sergiyev Posad with the monastery in the background.

The Chapel-over-the-Well in Sergiyev Posad.

One of the walls inside the Assumption Cathedral.

The bell tower is in the background (88 meters tall).

In front of the Sergius Well Chapel.

At the back of the Assumption Cathedral.

With the Duck Tower in the background (you can't see it, but there actually is a duck on the top of the tower behind me!).

In front of the main entrance to the monastery at Sergiyev Posad (this is the kremlin wall).