to think you don't go on holiday whilst having a high risk pregnancy and without adequate insurance

[Defenderwife]

Woman gives birth after food poisoning whilst on holiday in the Dominic Republic.

She had a cervical cerclage so knew she had a high risk pregnancy.

Her insurance didn't cover her entire pregnancy.

They are now stranded with a premature baby in a foreign country with no financial help and are relying on donations and GoFundMe.

I have made a donation but inside I feel almost angry. Why on earth have they let themselves be in this situation? That poor poor child.

If that's true super mum that's exactly what we were referring to earlier - then they don't need to pay it at all. As long as care is provided and they can get home.

No glee here....

She had no insurance it expired whilst there. Stupid in any circumstance....but when heavily pregnant downright ignorant. Advised to go to an alternative hospital apparently but are staying where they are whilst the donations flood in.

Huge reminder for everyone to check out their cover prior to travel. I work in the travel industry and see people cut corners constantly.

lush what happens here in the us is that they would put the bill on the UK government who would reject it so the hospital would then go after the patient. If you have no insurance and no assets you would have coverage via Medicare as its pregnancy related. The care is excellent but they would most probably have to change hospitals. If you have assets they would go after you and you would be looking at selling everything and declaring bankruptcy to close it down.

Is it possible the fact the holiday wasn't due to finish until after the policy cover for the pregnancy expired (post-29 weeks) has voided the cover they had anyway? A bit like a visa or passport, don't you need insurance that covers the entirety of the trip. If the mother had broken her leg, I doubt they'd have paid as she was only insured up to 29 weeks.

Unpaid medical bills are the number one cause of personal bankruptcy in the US.

The baby isn't going to have treatment withdrawn without money though.
They are at a public children's hospital.

There is only the word of the parents, who are asking for money for private, that the public hospital is below par.

There aren't any pictures of her in the new hospital, so the claims of it being unsanitary can't be backed up at the moment can they?

I am not gleeful.

I just think the parents need to take some responsibility.

They could have made this a publicity campaign for not taking risks with insurance. They could have said "don't let what happened to us happen to you". With that kind of approach I might even have donated and shared it on Facebook to remind others.

Instead it was all Big Evil Company did Bad Things.

Wanttobesupermum I had medical treatment in the U.S. And the bill was sent to my UK home (obviously they treated us without anything upfront) it said at the bottom of the letter "please note we do not chase debts outside of the U.S."

don't forget they'd return to the UK- making them bankrupt in DR is meaningless and making them bankrupt in the UK is technically possible but not at all worthwhile. It would be written off.

It is only a debt- they haven't committed a crime or anything. That's why I've been saying for 7 pages of they can get her treated and home they'll likely to safe.

They're in dispute with the insurance company though. They're not going to admit publicly they made a mistake. They really would be idiots to do that. C'mon, be realistic

Seriously, Libraries? A more moderately worded appeal and you 'might even have donated'?

lush around here if you are from the UK they wouldn't release you until payment is made. Some of the NyC hospitals accept Medicare and would put expenses through that to recover costs. I can only assume that's what they did with your case. I've known hospitals go after foreigners.

Multivac- maybe. I put a fiver in the tin for a colleagues brother who had to be airlifted home after a skiing accident and wasn't insured properly. I am not talking about moderate wording; I am talking about admitting your own involvement in your situation.

EHIC only work in Europe, and they don't cover you - you still need travel insurance.
www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/EEAcountries.aspx

It will cover ytou for necessary medical care only, not repatriation, or hotels for family etc

TBF it does sound like public hospitals could be a bit grim...
www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-dominican-republic-hospitals

Libraries - you realise, don't you, that you are saying that you distinguish between the worthy unfortunate and the unworthy unfortunate - and on grounds of rhetoric? Because a thoughtful awareness raising campaign rather than a panicked plea for hospital fees wouldn't change the circumstances of this case in the least.

Of course, a day or two after giving birth prematurely, including an emergency c-section, I must say that I was totally in the right place to spearhead a thoughtful awareness-raising campaign about the importance of robust insurance (or, conversely, to mastermind a massive money-making scam based on manipulating the good will of strangers). I was making entirely rational decisions all round, really, thanks to the marvellously restorative sleep I was getting, along with the complete lack of impact that pregnancy and childbirth had on me physically and mentally; and naturally, by then the babies barely took any of my attention at all. I was, essentially, a PR company's dream.

That wasn't what I was saying at all. But you know, if it makes you feel better.

Somewhere in the small print of the policy, it will say how weeks of pregnancy are calculated (probably tied into EDD) and will also say how days are calculated & what time it is (usually London time).

Insurance policies are different to other contracts as the whole policy is void if you gave any incorrect information. For example, with your contents insurance, you say you have windows locks when you don't. You're burgled & the burgler gets in by crow barring the door. The fact that you didn't have windows locks would appear to be irrelevant as the windows weren't used. But it isn't irrelevant as the entire policy is void so the insurance company won't pay out.

I don't need to feel better, Libraries. That is what you were saying: 'had they presented it differently, I might have responded to their appeal'.

I haven't donated, and am comfortable with that. I really don't need to claim that it's because the couple haven't been humble enough.

Thatsnot - That's why I'm wondering whether the whole 29/not 29 weeks is a red-herring. The failure to disclose pregnancy complications or planning a trip that was due tovend after 29 weeks may have invalidated the whole policy.

Oh FFS. I didn't say they hadn't been humble enough. Give over.

Sorry - I really don't need to claim it's because the couple hasn't owned responsibility.

Better?

I was in hospital in NyC! 9th avenue. God it was hideous.

The failure to disclose pregnancy complications or planning a trip that was due to end after 29 weeks may have invalidated the whole policy

That's precisely the thought which occurred to me ... I guess the best they can hope for is that it isn't so

Of course if the insurers do pay out, that rather begs the question of what they'll do with all the donated money, doesn't it??

Puzzled - they will use it to buy booze and fags and lottery tickets. And handbags. Obviously.