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| Hefty medical bills rejected by travel insurance firms | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 8 2013, 03:11 AM (983 Views) | |
| Darcie | Jan 8 2013, 03:11 AM Post #1 |
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Skeptic
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Two Canadian seniors have been "blindsided" by $100,000-plus in U.S. medical bills, despite buying full coverage travel insurance for trips south. “It’s just been a terribly, terribly stressful few months,” said Joanne Parr, 67, of North Bay, Ont. “It just threw me for a loop totally," said John Toljanich, 74, of North Vancouver, B.C. “I am on anti-depressant pills now, for the first time ever … because of this claim Both were treated in U.S. hospitals last winter. Their illnesses were sudden and unrelated to any pre-existing conditions. Their insurance claims were denied because Parr and Toljanich each made what they call an honest mistake when answering a question on their initial application form, about past treatments for other ailments. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/01/04/bc-snowbirdinsurance.html Read, be warned and weep. When filling out an application one should carry a tape recorder and go to a company representative and ask the question and record the answers. Even then I imagine they would find a way out. One of the companies mentioned is one that I personally had to go to court against, lucky I had a friend who was a lawyer as I did not have the money to challenge the legality of their decision. |
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| goldengal | Jan 8 2013, 03:41 AM Post #2 |
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Mistress, House of Dogs
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I do not have time to read this thoroughly as I am on my way out, but this is why I say, when filling out forms for travel insurance, that I take medication prescribed when I don't - i.e. took Actonel for Osteoporosis for a few years, but because it was causing other problems, ceased. I called RBC Travel who said I could check No to the question re Osteoporosis since I do not take meds. However, my doctor pointed out technically they could get me on this. Same with Naproxen for Arthritis which I only take when I have a bout. I declare both conditions which bumps me out of the lowest price category where people take no prescription meds. Take care, Pat |
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| friendshipgal | Jan 8 2013, 04:28 AM Post #3 |
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Guess everyone wants their own Trudashians
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Interesting, I used to take Actonel but no longer, so I answer no. I also used to take Viox then later arthritec (sp.) neither of which I take now. I take 4 prescription meds which I declare. They set you up to fail on the questions and will not answer a query about the question, they say it's up to you to read carefully. I'm aware that you need to declare a change in condition after purchasing the coverage. We buy in September getting the early bird discount for a departure date of Dec. 1st. Hubby had a diagnosis which I phoned them about and declared, no meds right now but a diagnosis. It put his coverage up another $600.00 beats them refusing to pay a major bill if needed. I hope these people get a lawyer. I wonder if they can find the other people who were refused coverage and pool their legal resources/finances. |
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| Dialtone | Jan 8 2013, 04:44 AM Post #4 |
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Gold Star Member
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It's a slippery slope no matter what you answer, just how long can they go back to check records ? My wife used to take fosamax for low bone density, but stopped due to it not helping much about 10 years ago. The last time we bought travel insurance, we asked the girl who was filling out our form if this was still an issue, she said no so we didn't put it down. I suspect that had my wife broken a bone while we were in the US, the insurance wouldn't cover us and we'd be on the hook for thousands due to wrong advice by the young girl taking our application. I suspect most of us have had minor/major health issues 20 - 30 years ago, are they still on record ? How are we supposed to recall what went on 30 years ago when all records were paper and patients weren't given a copy, and doctors were gods and not to be questioned ? |
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| friendshipgal | Jan 8 2013, 04:46 AM Post #5 |
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Guess everyone wants their own Trudashians
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That's what I question too. How far back will they go before electronic records, they would have to sift through old medical files from retired doctors. That is if I could remember the name of my doctor from 40 years ago. :)- |
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| Dialtone | Jan 8 2013, 04:58 AM Post #6 |
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Gold Star Member
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I suspect the insurance companies have entire teams of moles whose exclusive function is to dig and sift through everything and anything to find a reason to not pay. It would be interesting to know if team managers get bonuses for the number of claims they disallow, saving the company millions over the course of a year has got to be worth something. |
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| Darcie | Jan 8 2013, 05:08 AM Post #7 |
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Skeptic
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DT, I figure you are correct. Part of my case for refusal was that I had a particular diagnosis that I never had in the past. No matter what my doctors said they insisted it was so. At the end of 2-1/2 years it was found that they had taken the diagnosis of someone with a very similar name (but different birth day). I came to the conclusion that it matters little how honest you are, they do their best to find an excuse as to why they will not pay. I was given costs by the court, but the stress of living with no income sure took it's toll. |
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| wildie | Jan 8 2013, 05:34 AM Post #8 |
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Veteran Member
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I read recently that we seniors are now the majority in Canada. Its about time that we demanded that legislation would be put in place to protect the public from unscrupulous insurance providers. Each and every one of these companies employs an army of lawyers, charged with preventing claims payouts. Manulife seems to be mentioned very often as a major perpetrator of unfair practices. |
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| Bitsy | Jan 8 2013, 08:45 AM Post #9 |
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Veteran Member
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Welcome tothe world of USAians and private health insurance companies. |
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| heatseeker | Jan 8 2013, 08:58 AM Post #10 |
Veteran Member
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Stuff like this is a big reason I avoid holidays in the US. Even minor medical treatments can be astronomically expensive and insurance companies are almost by definition untrustworthy. |
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| goldengal | Jan 8 2013, 09:31 AM Post #11 |
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Mistress, House of Dogs
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It has occurred to me since I marked Yes and paid a little extra, if I ever fell and broke something they could now say I said I take prescription meds and don't. Yikes! I have already paid for my trip next week. It has been about 3 years since I took Actonel. I quit because it caused the bony growths in my mouth to enlarge, and my dentist advised against it. Take care, Pat |
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| greenleaves | Jan 8 2013, 09:53 AM Post #12 |
Small Star Member
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Never buy travel medical insurance over the phone! Go to the company or deal with your travel agent so that you have a name to refer to. My late hubby and I were one of the more fortunate ones as he had an aorta aneurism while on a cruise,was taken off the ship and operated on in Spain. Our claim came to over $300,00.00. We would have lost our home if we had not had insurance. |
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| asthmaticus | Jan 8 2013, 12:42 PM Post #13 |
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Red Star Member
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One of the biggest reasons we will no longer be spending Jan, Feb, and March in Arizona anymore. |
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| Kahu | Jan 8 2013, 01:23 PM Post #14 |
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Insurance Watch NZ Consumers waiting on insurance company responses to the Christchurch earthquake rebuild can now see how different companies measure up. The latest information from Insurance Watch NZ shows that some insurance companies are progressing significantly better than others. |
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| friendshipgal | Jan 8 2013, 01:40 PM Post #15 |
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Guess everyone wants their own Trudashians
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I wonder if there's anyway to get an ins.company to clarify or tell you what they want you to say. These companies set you up to fail with their questions, and worse, will not help you or clarify the question. |
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5:46 AM Jul 14