One Ontario woman is reeling from a shocking surprise medical bill of $291,269. This large fee follows her having a cardiac arrest while staying with a friend in Florida. The event, happening on her trip, led to a two week hospitalization. Even with her travel medical insurance, her claim was denied almost a year later and she was left financially devastated.
The Florida resident, whose name has not been released, suffered the sudden cardiac episode while soaking up sun on vacation. First responders put her on a helicopter that emergency medical services rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she received lifesaving emergency care for her cardiac arrest. The 14-day admission that resulted in procedures and around-the-clock medical support needed for her path to recovery.
Pat Foran, a consumer reporter for CTV News, has been on this tragic story. He pointed out all of the issues she faced in her situation, especially the sudden denial of coverage from her insurance provider. This shocking denial has sparked a renewed debate over the reliability of third party travel medical insurance and the hurdles that travelers often encounter while traveling abroad.
Despite her efforts to navigate the insurance process, the woman found herself without financial support for the extensive medical expenses incurred during her hospitalization. Instead, she was blindsided by the claim denial. She had the foresight to purchase travel medical insurance prior to her trip.
The $291,269 amount includes the full range of expenses related to her hospital stay and treatment. This debt now weighs heavily on her shoulders. Now, she has to go about figuring out how to address this sudden and enormous new fiscal burden.
