Editorial

New Zealand Woman Out Thousands of Dollars When Travel Insurance Failed to Cover Her Costs

Editorial

New Zealand resident, Bronwyn Ross, (58) spent more than 11 days in a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, only to realize later that her travel insurance wouldn’t agree to pay the bill.

While on holiday with her son to visit a family member, Ross fell ill with pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. Even though she purchased travel insurance, Ross and her family have since spent more than $10,000 on medical bills, hotel accommodations and airline re-booking charges, and they may have to pay an additional $30,000 to cover the medical flight home.

Southern Cross Travel Insurance, her insurance carrier, denied her claim, the reason being that her illness was linked to a preexisting condition, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Kane Beardsmore, Ross’s son, is fighting the issue, claiming that he possesses a letter from a physician confirming that her medical condition (COPD) was indeed not a contributing factor to the case of pneumonia. He also confirmed that her Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease has been stable while in the hospital.

According to the Sunday Star Times, Beardsmore reported that this situation has caused tremendous stress on his mother due to the amount of money they have had to pay out of pocket. He plans to fight the claim denial when they return to New Zealand.

For now, doctors have advised Ross that unless she gets a medical flight home, she will need to remain in the hospital for at least another week, at which time they expect her to be able to travel without an oxygen tank.

Read more about travel insurance in a previous article published by the Medical Tourism Magazine. International Travel Health Insurance by Jim Krampen is the Executive Officer of Seven Corners, Inc., Jim Grace, is the President & CEO of InsureMyTrip.com and Chiranth Nataraj is the Founder and President of International Services, Inc.

Source:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/83385668/Bring-mum-home-Kiwi-woman-stuck-in-Malaysian-hospital-amid-insurance-stoush


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