Insurers should be required to list the statics for the number of accepted and rejected claims on the policy website. Currently there is no way to tell which insurance is more or less likely to screw you.
What travel insurance really means
51–60 of 186 posts
Re: What travel insurance really means
#52There's no way a 5 day hospital stay in Bali (excluding surgery) costs $22,000. That sounds way too crazy. No way the locals can pay for something like that.
The locals in the US can't afford the full-charge rate for hospital care, either. That doesn't stop it from being the rate actually billed before any discounts the particular patient may be qualified for, and, as such, the rate charged to someone who has the misfortune of not being qualified for any discounts.
Re: What travel insurance really means
#53There's no way a 5 day hospital stay in Bali (excluding surgery) costs $22,000. That sounds way too crazy. No way the locals can pay for something like that.
Singapore, not Bali.
Re: What travel insurance really means
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
This person is in the UK, I can't speak for the UK but in the US you can contact the Department of Insurance for your state if you have issues with insurance companies. They are responsible for regulating insurance companies and making sure their actions are within the bounds of the law.
I meant during the thing. Like you don't talk to the police without a lawyer present, maybe you shouldn't talk to the insurer without a professional present.
It's probably best to start by trying to work with them in good faith. But figure out within 24-48 hours what they intend to cover. If you can't get that specific for lack of information feel them out. If they're being difficult at all, speak with an attorney.
Re: What travel insurance really means
#55When our daughter visited Bali with a friend last year she was also in a motorbike crash. I guess a lot of people think it will be fun to ride a motorbike in Bali. Her hand was badly cut and needed stitches. We had to transfer the cash to her friend's debit account so it could be paid out on the spot, but once that was done the ER docs did a great job sewing her up, and $700 seemed like a hell of a bargain compared t…
I'm very suspicious that the article mentions $22,000 hospital bed cost for 5 nights stay (excluding surgery).
That hospital stay was in Singapore, not Indonesia (where he got told to take a taxi to the hospital, rather than 'wait' for an ambulance, and that the surgeons felt that he needed urgent surgery, but there was no-one around that night, and there was a holiday tomorrow, so 'day after tomorrow... maybe').
Re: What travel insurance really means
#56From his telling, the company was not very communicative when he contacted them, but, fundamentally, saying he should fly back to the UK for treatment and they'll cover the flight does not seem unreasonable. He complains that "unless you are injured so horrifically that you cannot survive another moment without life saving surgery, odds are they’ll just tell you to fly home and have the surgery for free." But, to me,…
>this is exactly what travel insurance is (which is why it's so cheap)
And that's one of the huge issues!! Very often people don't read their policies so they have misunderstandings about their coverage!! This is a big problem!
I always read all of my policies, I suggest everyone else does the same. I want to be very clear what losses are covered and what my deductible will be before any losses occur. In fact, for legal documents, insurance policies are pretty easy to understand.
I really wish he included the text of his policy.
While I have sympathy for him, I think he got himself into a pickle when he flew to Singapore than claimed he was unable to fly. Yes, Singapore is a million times closer to Indonesia than the UK, but he should have known if he left Indonesia the insurance company would have expected him to return to the UK.
Re: What travel insurance really means
#57This is why I'm an expat in the philippines.
I don't understand. Is the difference that surgeons are available on national holidays there?
Re: What travel insurance really means
#58When our daughter visited Bali with a friend last year she was also in a motorbike crash. I guess a lot of people think it will be fun to ride a motorbike in Bali. Her hand was badly cut and needed stitches. We had to transfer the cash to her friend's debit account so it could be paid out on the spot, but once that was done the ER docs did a great job sewing her up, and $700 seemed like a hell of a bargain compared t…
"I guess a lot of people think it will be fun to ride a motorbike in Bali." --
I am from California, but I live in Vietnam now for nearly two years. Riding a motorbike here is almost a necessary part of the culture. I've also been to Bali, which has a similar, but not as extreme culture.
Unless you have prior expert experience on two wheels (I raced bicycles for 8 years and have ridden motorcycles on all terrains, for 10), or you are just really talented, the last thing you should do is get on two wheels in countries like these. You'll get injured or killed at some point.
I have World Nomads insurance and I really hope to not have to use it, ever.
Re: What travel insurance really means
#59From his telling, the company was not very communicative when he contacted them, but, fundamentally, saying he should fly back to the UK for treatment and they'll cover the flight does not seem unreasonable. He complains that "unless you are injured so horrifically that you cannot survive another moment without life saving surgery, odds are they’ll just tell you to fly home and have the surgery for free." But, to me,…
>this is exactly what travel insurance is (which is why it's so cheap) And that's one of the huge issues!! Very often people don't read their policies so they have misunderstandings about their coverage!! This is a big problem! I always read all of my policies, I suggest everyone else does the same. I want to be very clear what losses are covered and what my deductible will be before any losses occur. In fact, for le…
To be sure, travel insurance is very often a very good idea.
But it's travel insurance not "whole-world, any hospital, health insurance" (which I am sure you can buy, but not at the same price).
Re: What travel insurance really means
#60When our daughter visited Bali with a friend last year she was also in a motorbike crash. I guess a lot of people think it will be fun to ride a motorbike in Bali. Her hand was badly cut and needed stitches. We had to transfer the cash to her friend's debit account so it could be paid out on the spot, but once that was done the ER docs did a great job sewing her up, and $700 seemed like a hell of a bargain compared t…
I'm very suspicious that the article mentions $22,000 hospital bed cost for 5 nights stay (excluding surgery).
In Singapore, with first-rate hospitals, and the highest cost of living in the world? That's not even a little surprising.