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Original poster

DH in hospital on other side of world- freaking out

199 replies

Moonsick · 01/03/2020 07:03

DH texted me two hours ago to tell me he has been taken to intensive care, he needed travel insurance details. He is in Jakarta.

He has been progressively worse all week, in pain and then blood in his urine.

I have been up for days with two sick kids and my brain isn't working properly, it's just spinning in panicky circles.

Don't really know what to do, just crying to my mum atm like the adult I am. Kids will be up in an hour or so, so need to calm down so I don't freak them out.

OP posts:
EmmaC78 · 01/03/2020 08:52

You need to contact the university again and ask for exact details of why he is not covered. It seems unlikely he is not covered unless he hasn't declared a pre-existing condition to them or he extended his trip himself for extra time in Jakarta ( although this doesn't sound like the case).

Etinox · 01/03/2020 08:53

Kick up hell with the university.

MyDaughtersLeftFoot · 01/03/2020 08:53

@AdriannaP that’s wonderful that you know what the impact of the cost of last minute flights to Indonesia would have on OPs finances. Seriously there’s always one.

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General health
astuz · 01/03/2020 08:55

Is he a member of a professional body? Mine has a helpline and a hardship fund etc., so it might be worth contacting them - they might be able to pay for a flight out there if the insurers don't cough up. A medevac would probably be better, but that might be too expensive for a hardship fund to cover.

AdriannaP · 01/03/2020 08:57

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whoseafraidofnaomiwolf · 01/03/2020 08:57

Oh gosh Moonsick, I've nothing to add to the wise words of pp, but am here to virtual hand-hold. Crossing everything for you that whatever is causing your DH's illness resolves speedily. Flowers

AdriannaP · 01/03/2020 08:58

£500-600 is not huge debt 🙄

MyOtherProfile · 01/03/2020 08:59

Definitely push it with the university. Hope it turns out to be nothing serious

Ivebeentohellanditscalledikea · 01/03/2020 09:00

@AdriannaP it is if you haven't got it. I couldn't find that for a last min flight.

Guacamole · 01/03/2020 09:00

@AdriannaP seriously, was that necessary. Why are you suspicious of the OP’s DH to assume that? Try and be helpful, the OP is distressed. Your post is not helpful.

Whoever said contact DHs professional body is also on to something, and actually maybe his union of be is a member of one.

tegucigalpa13 · 01/03/2020 09:00

The Embassy will have a duty consular officer on call 24/7 for emergencies. This is a genuine emergency so I would call them. They may have contacts at the hospital.

StealthMama · 01/03/2020 09:03

You should call university on his behalf and ask them to explain what he is or isn't covered for.

But a) he is covered for treatment b) you are covered for travel and c) if he has internal bleeding then hospital is the best place, no one is likely to want to medevac him unless it's stopped, there's a diagnosis and he's stable.

Stay calm, the right things are happening. Jakarta isn't totally backwards he should be well cared for x

Original poster
Moonsick · 01/03/2020 09:05

He is fretting about the car which is in a long stay car park at Heathrow. Trying to work out the logistics.

He extended his trip by one day to sight see, that's why he isn't covered by the university. He has spent the last week in meetings and just wanted a day to see some of Jakarta.

I called his sister who is a nurse who talked me down. Letting his friends know.

OP posts:
Toomanycats99 · 01/03/2020 09:06

If he is mid investigations then potentially they would say no cover if not declared.

Aragog · 01/03/2020 09:08

He wasn't 100% when he left, he had been having some investigations but they had ruled out anything urgent or serious and he hadn't been diagnosed with anything.

It might be because of this that the standard university insurance won't cover it. If he'd had hospital investigations and not declared it beforehand then insurance can, and often do, refuse to pay out. A basic work M place insurance is possibly less likely to cover that situation

When I was having medical investigations I had to declare it to be covered for that or anything that could be even vaguely related. Even more an official diagnosis. It was one of the questions on the insurance application.

Aragog · 01/03/2020 09:10

@AdriannaP

I'm not sure your posts are helpful.
If someone doesn't have a spare £600 then they don't have it. And it wouldn't just be flights - it would require accommodation costs too plus other related expenses. Not everyone has spare cash handy. Not everyone has access to loans and overdrafts either.

Also you are wrong that all workplace insurance will cover all circumstances.

spongedog · 01/03/2020 09:11

We had a similar situation years ago - my dad was in a coma and was brought home by air ambulance but after weeks of treatment. I would hold off rushing out there, until it is clearer what long term treatment would be required.

The British consulate were OK - kind, there, offering translation services, but not going to rush to the hospital for general visiting. So perhaps a local colleague could help there. Just for small change for drinks, snacks, phone card etc.

I am very puzzled by the university stance - you will need to speak to someone senior about that. I am confused why you mentioned your travel insurance through the bank. If this is a work trip (and often covers small time extensions) he will be covered by work.

The waiting for news is the worst. I was working in another continent and had to wait over a week to fly home because the situation was uncertain. I really hope you start to hear more positive news soon, x

ChipotleBlessing · 01/03/2020 09:11

I have been in a very similar situation with my DH. Firstly, expect very limited assistance from the embassy. Basically nothing useful, but they may visit your DH in hospital once.

Your DH needs to be absolutely clear on what the university have said. He should be completely covered by their business travel insurance and he may have misunderstood something because he is unwell. Can you speak to them directly?

Do your bank account insurance company know that he was there on business and that his employer has business insurance? They may suddenly start refusing a claim if they find this out, so you need to get this straight from the start.

You cannot sort out a medevac flight. They are insanely expensive, you’ll only be able to do it with the insurance company paying. They may fund one later if his condition improves but he is still unwell, but as he is in ICU they are very unlikely to do this now.

Do you know any of his colleagues? I’d contact some and ask them to speak to the research partners in Jakarta to see if anyone can visit your DH. You can send the colleagues money via transfer wise so that they can buy him anything he needs.

Good luck.

ChipotleBlessing · 01/03/2020 09:14

I’d be very surprised if a one day extension actually excluded him from insurance. That is absolutely normal for business travel. Ask to see a copy of the policy. Ask his union for support with this.

frumpety · 01/03/2020 09:17

Can you ask his sister to ring the hospital and see if she can work out what is happening ? They may only be able to give very limited info over the phone, but if he is awake he could give them permission to speak to her.

DowntownAbby · 01/03/2020 09:18

@EmmaC78

He will be covered under theit policy so any medical treatment must be paid for under that. The University will send people overseas all the time so they will have a process that will kick off as soon as you or your husband contact them.

You cannot possibly know that!

What a ridiculous post.

Hopingtobeamum · 01/03/2020 09:24

Sure it's already been mentioned but his employers should have a travel insurance company who will take care of issues such as this. Usually they operate on 24/7 basis. They should take care of everything.
Also look to the British embassy as a worst case scenario.
Good luck

TaggieOHara · 01/03/2020 09:25

Op - I haven’t read all the previous posts, but wanted to post to say to contact the university now. Email the head of department now to get things started (they may well be on email over the weekend). University travel insurance is very comprehensive and the travel agents and university administrators will be able to help you. In a similar situation last year, the insurance flew out a colleague’s wife to China, organised repatriation and extensive rehabilitation in the UK. He recovered fully and felt that his treatment was better than if he had just been treated in this country (although it was obviously super stressful at the time). Take care and good luck.

Awks · 01/03/2020 09:26

His uni should have alone working policy that covers this sort of thing. Do you know his line managers contact details - get in touch and ask for a copy and what their next steps are for putting the policy/procedures in place . Hope he's ok and you get a plan in place xx

ineedaholidaynow · 01/03/2020 09:27

Had you informed the insurance company about his medical investigations and tests before he went on the trip?

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