Coma patient £33,000 bill to fly home

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
So the family of a girl in a coma have had to pay £33,000 to fly her home from Spain. Absolute nightmare.

I cannot see anywhere in the article on the BBC news about whether she had travel insurance.
I thought every traveller must take out insurance.
It makes me wonder if standard travel insurance covers such a situation. If not, that's a big problem.
 

Domestically US air ambulance ride in helicopter to a hospital run about $15-30,000. What's the conversion to dollars?

I guess the patient should look for a medi vac clause in their policy.
 
@WhatInThe is correct. I belong to the AirMedCare network. For $60 a year, I don't have to pay for any life flight. Best $60 I ever spent, considering the $30,000 price tag otherwise. A person in a bad accident has no say so in the matter, even if they could object to being life-flighted. If medical personnel determine you have to be life-flighted, off you go, whether you can afford to pay the bill nor not. Granted, they're trying to save your life, but I'm not convinced that being life-flighted is always necessary.
 

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Just don`t ever get sick or injured in Mexico and have to get back home to the States. Our daughter`s friend just went to Meico for dental work.Had a massive heart attack during treatment.Wife had to call in the U.S. Embassy to get him out of hospital-they paid $200,000 to get him out and have him flown to Florida (he lives in California) He has now been released and is home but everyone is being very tight lipped about his condition. It was a nightmare for sure.
 
There's no leagal requirement to take out travel Insurance.. altho' I wish there was tbh... so many people think nothing will happen to them just to save a few pounds

I'm astounded by this story. The parents knew the teenager had chronic kidney disease, yet still didn't take out travel Insurance...which would be imperative IMO.. albeit more expensive than a normal Holiday policy...and while there the daughter collapsed with Pneumonia.. and is now in an induced Coma...

The cost of the hospital fees are 3,000 euros per day... the cost of the medical flight home will be £24,000 ...

The family are now reliant on Go -fund-me donations which have surpassed £50k... but what a terrible family... knowing your child has a life threatening disease and not spending the money for travel insurance..

I know this hospital very well indeed..
Vithas Xanit International Hospital, it's an excellent hospital.. and is the hospital where my daughter had her surgery when her fingers. were torn off.. but in Spain there is no nursing care to be spoken off.. Spain treats your condition with excellent Doctors but the after care is carried out by the families, and is expected that the families do everything for the patient. that is ....all the washing, the feeding, the auxiliary care etc..

I just feel these people put their Daughters life at risk leaving her at the mercy of strangers to pay for her medical treatment , her care, and flight home... when for just a few pounds they could have insured her for a medical emergency
 
hollydolly said:
I just feel these people put their Daughters life at risk leaving her at the mercy of strangers to pay for her medical treatment , her care, and flight home... when for just a few pounds they could have insured her for a medical emergency
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The little bit I’ve read here, the family are at fault for not buying insurance. Shame on them. I wouldn’t be donating to that GFM.
 
As mentioned, Mexico and travel insurance are tricky situations. My DD’s friend had to use them and she had to be really assertive to make them transport her husband back to Canada. He survived and is doing well.

This probably is the usual scenario in any non-English primary language country.

Even though it’s a short drive for me across the border to the US, I wouldn’t even do it for a few minutes without insurance. Many like to just do a quick shopping trip. A medical emergency in the wrong country can wipe you out financially.
 

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