Sick and Weary in the Jungle: The $63 House Call That Put My US ‘Spider-Sense’ to Shame

It was Day #3 in Bali. I had checked into my villa and was sharing space with the monkeys. But all was not well.

I was hot. I was weary. I had a cough. I had diarrhea.

My voyage to Bali spanned the course of three (3) days and four (4) countries. I started with the brisk Carolina air, landed in the frigid conditions of Munich, transitioned to the hot and sticky humidity of Bangkok, and finally, the warm and tropical habitat of Bali. My body was keeping the score of every airport, every climate shift, and every time-zone jump.

So, I had to acknowledge that I was sick and needed some sort of care. I was coughing up loogies in a color that nature never intended for the human body! I was in paradise, but miserable. And the last thing I wanted to do was navigate the medical system.

Doctor’s visits. Co-pays. Prescriptions. Would they accept my insurance?

I spent much time before I left researching and acquiring traveler’s insurance—specifically good for Americans who are traveling or living abroad. I decided on a company called Safety Wing. I had just purchased this insurance and was not especially happy about the possibility of needing it so soon.

My fever spiked and alternated with perimenopausal night sweats. I coughed and woke myself up in the middle of the night. My energy was at zero, as was my will to get out of bed. Body aches followed by chills.

It was too much. So, unsure and hesitant, I consulted Father Google. It did not take me long to discover Medisfera Health Solution. I’m going to pause here to point out a cultural difference: WhatsApp. In the States, it can feel a bit “spammy,” but abroad, it is the lifeline for official business.

I began a WhatsApp conversation with the receptionist, Natalie. I gave her my primary symptoms, all the while hoping I did not have Covid. She politely told me she needed to consult with the doctor on duty and would return soon.

Consult with the doctor? She’s building up my invoice, I thought. My US Spider-Sense was tingling.

She returned soon enough and said she suspected I had “Traveler’s Fever.” She suggested an immune booster, which was a cocktail of antibiotics, cough syrup, and a fever reducer. She gave me an option for tablets or IV. I knew the IV would kick in sooner, and I desperately wanted to feel better and see the city. So, I agreed to the IV, still unsure of what would happen next.

Natalie then obtained some pertinent information about me, including my allergies and medical history. She agreed that I would feel better sooner if we did all of my meds through the IV.

• Methylprednisolone as an anti-inflammatory.
• Paratucin for cold/flu symptoms. (Think NyQuil).
• Cefixim (Liquid equivalent) as an antibiotic.
• Vitamins C and B12.
• Paracetamol (their version of Tylenol, only stronger).

I was game for that, but I needed to know how far away they were so I could arrange transportation. Here’s the kicker: They come to you. Suddenly, my anxiety eased, and I knew I was going to be okay. But how much would all this cost? Were they taking advantage of a green traveler who was sick?

The Grand Total for Everything:

• The Private House Call Fee: Rp 150.000 ($8.98 USD)
• The Doctor Consult & Full IV Medicinal Cocktail: Rp 900.000 ($53.90 USD)
• Total Out-of-Pocket: $62.88 USD 

Shortly after the verbal agreement, a nurse named Michael showed up at my villa. He was polite, attentive, and friendly. He explained every step of what he was doing.

As this stranger in a foreign land prepared to insert a needle into my arm, my US Spider-Sense went into overdrive!

But I allowed him to continue with the process. Once he had the first IV drip going, he asked if he could sit out on the patio. I agreed. He made sure I was comfortably propped up in bed, and then he did just that. He sat on the patio, occupying himself with his cell phone, popping in every so often to check the bag and see how I was feeling.

Before you know it, I felt warm, then cool, then good, then sleepy. My stomach settled. My fever broke. The nausea left. My energy spiked.

Whatever was in the IV drip was working. At its completion, he put on another bag – a second medicinal cocktail. He went back out on the patio after being assured that I was feeling better.

After the last bag, I was feeling like a million bucks. He asked me then, and only then, about the payment. I happily handed him $65 USD. I had not made it to the money exchange yet and had no Rupiah.

Looking back (9.5 months later), I think now I could find similar remedies for a bit less, but at the time, I just wanted relief. It’s like going to the car dealership for an oil change. You may not get the absolute best price, but you know the work is going to get done correctly, and you have that implied trust.

People ask me how Safety Wing handled my claim. After years of gastric issues in the US, encompassing ER visits, doctor’s appointments, and numerous exploratory procedures, I can say that this $63 bill was the least amount I have experienced. And it was the ONLY one where the medical staff came to me. In the US, I would have paid $65 just at the pharmacy, or $40 just to sit in a waiting room. I gratefully paid in cash and did not even file a claim.

All in all, I am very happy with the medical care I received in Bali. Prayerfully, I will not need them again. Actually, I already did… but Bali Belly is a post for another day!

For now, I was off to start new adventures in The Monkey Forest.

I took one step closer to my version of Freedom.
What does Freedom look like for you?