DH in hospital on other side of world- freaking out

[Moonsick]

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.

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

Whilst it would be perfect if that were true, how can you possibly know? Please don't give the OP false expectations.

I'd try if possible to speak to the University Insurance department as soon as you can, you'd hope they'd have a 24/7 helpline.

At the same time if you feel up to it try and confirm what your bank account policy will cover, does it include business travel, I can see possible complications from the extended stay.

For now I wouldn't rush there but start to set up support in case you do need to in the coming days. Hope he picks up

Hey @Moonsick, I think there's a chance I know you. If you live in a place beginning with P and go to a class with initials CQ, I'm the women who bounces in class with way too much energy. If that is you, we can figure out a way to get in touch and maybe I can help in some way. Let me know.

I can't believe the university policy won't still cover him. That's mad.

What's were the tests / investigations for?

Moonsick, I really feel for you I have been in this situation unfortunately twice, once in SE Asia.

What type of hospital is your DH in? Local, private? Do you know if your insurance has a translation service so you can speak to the hospital to get more details.

Get back in touch with his employer, they should have insurance for their employees to travel for work, or have say your mother/friend to talk to them so no details are missed, I cannot understand how they say hes not covered by them. But when your ill, you miss things that are said.

If you know the name of the insurance company could you let us know who they are (some are better to deal with than others).

Hope it will be today your own insurance company will come back to you and have better details of whats going to happen, in the mean time try and have a plan for the children to be looked after if you do have to fly over and prepare yourself for that.

At the moment thats all you can do until you get further information, facilities in Jataka are very good.

I really know how your feeling right now, but your doing all you can and Im sure your DH knows this and its a comfort to him, but I know you just feel useless and want to get on the first plane out, but just wait a little longer for more solid info and the insurance company will guide you in the best way forward, they do this all the time.

Thinking of you OP, sorry that post was a bit disjointed

A personal medivac flight is not going to happen short term unless there is a really compelling medical reason - as others have pointed out they really are insanely expensive.

The heavy lifting will have to be done by the insurers and the UK university plus their local contacts..

Having had several experiences of UK Embassies in action due to colleague "issues" abroad I would also second the opinion that beyond a basic handhold they are not going to rush to move heaven on earth to help resolve this - you're lucky to get more than one visit/phone call, unless matters are seriously amiss. Once/if they have "touched base" they are usually content to leave matters to the local health care professionals and the insurers/employers.

Downtownabby - thats a really rude post in a be kind culture! I didn't deserve to be spoken to like that.

I actually do work in this area so do know what i am talking about. The OP said her husband was on business travel so he absolutely would be covered. The OP subsequently said he had a pre-existing condition and had extended his trip for personal which means it may now not be so certain. Either way there was no need for you to be so rude.

OP has already stated university won't pay because he extended his trip for some sight seeing. It's helpful to read the thread before posting the same comments on repeat. OP wait to see what the insurance company come back with, I wouldn't be racing to go out there - it could be something fairly easy to resolve

Agree with PPs that it’s important to be clear which insurance applies.

The pre existing symptoms/hospital investigations , if not declared, that is a big worry as the insurance may refuse the claim.

Academics extend their stays all the time to sight-see or visit friends, if the university is honestly saying one day of sight-seeing is never allowed on their insurance, they need to inform the entire university of this so other academics don't make the same mistake (e.g. if they go all the way to Japan or Australia they often combine it with annual leave). I think the uni are wrong though and it is not discounted.

How stressful for you, you poor thing. I do think jumping on a plane may not be the best, it really does depend if you could get back to back childcare for many many days. It is hard having to choose between children and husband though, I have done it myself and it does make you feel guilty, even though you haven't got many choices and can't split yourself in half!

It’s unlikely that the pre existing conditions thing will be an issue for the university insurance, as those mass business policies have different requirements. It’s essential to get this sorted with the university though. Speak to whoever you can.

The personal insurer may not accept the claim if (as seems likely) work insurance applies.

Cocunut telegraph - because i work in this area. If he is on a university trip he will be covered. He would not have been allowed to travel otherwise as the university have a duty of care to fulfil before anyone can travel.

OP has subsequently said he had extended the trip for personal reasons and had an undeclared condition which looks like why there is now a grey area.

Any employer who sends staff abroad should have medical cover for all eventualities

OP I have no advice but just wanted to wish you and your DH well.

It's bad enough when loved ones are seriously ill in hospital close by. You must be very worried and upset.

Thinking of you and your family.

Have you contacted the university yourself or has your dh made the assumption they won't help? He is an academic representing the university, they will be invested in him - contact them as soon as you can and see what they say.

I agree with those saying don't rush out there - you need to find out the situation, your energies may be better spent trying to get him home once he is well enough to travel.

You poor things, how very stressful.

Fingers crossed for you all @Moonsick

OP, the university would be really unlikely to know if he extended his visit for 24 hours. If he can, just don't mention it. The university coverage is much more likely to cover for all eventualities. I work in an academic organisation and we have really comprehensive insurance, I don't have to provide any personal medical details when I travel. Medivac has been covered in the past for one case I know of (and they were injured skiing whilst at a conference..).

emmac I've also worked in insurance in the past so know better than to assume that all policies are the same, they might be but they may not.

You didnt qualify your statement or wonder why the University would say he wasn't covered if according to you he definitely would be. The OP is in a highly emotional state and imo it's not fair to her if strangers give her wrong information.

Most posters have sensibly recommended clarifying with the University herself, hopefully she will find out that the original information provided is wrong.

Ask a friend (may be someone from his university) to collect the car from Heathrow, if that will help to stop him fretting. Hopefully you have a spare key.

This thread has totally reminded me, I am going to a conference in California later this year and then tacking on a few days in NYC to see a friend. I totally would have forgotten to get insurance, this thread has been a timely reminder.

@Belleende

He was being investigated for gastro problems, but this looks like he is bleeding from his kidneys and his blood results are off.

I have got the number of the university policy and am ringing them now too. The other policy is via our Halifax bank account (covered by Axa).

Thank you for all your help.

I am now worried he might not be covered at all now.

My mum is driving up and we are going to Heathrow to pick up the car. We only have until tomorrow afternoon to get it and I have got some friends to watch the DC. I tried to extend the parking but they wouldn't as I didn't make the booking.

I work in a university. For what it’s worth our travel insurance covers the length of a trip even if we are not working every day, most people do a bit of sight seeing on a trip. We do have to apply for it every time though, it isn’t like annual travel insurance where you are automatically covered. There is a long and tedious risk assessment form to complete for every trip. I think a lot of people forget to apply for it, to be honest.

Can Heathrow help with the car situation? They must get this sort of incident all the time.

Could you make a new booking in your own name via phone and explain the situation? I can see why they can't extend the original booking but maybe a new one would solve the issue.