Gilltaz

I have recently returned from our family holiday in Florida. Unfortunately whilst in florida I was hospitalized for 2 days after sustaining a slipped disc (diagnosed on MRI Scan) My insurance company have today declined the claim because I had visited my GP with back pain and was awaiting an assessment.

I will of course appeal as my previous back pain was absolutely nothing like my experience and I obviously didnt have a slipped disc .

My concern is now what happens. I certainly do not have what probably will be in excess of £20k. What do American hospitals usually do in these circumstances. What can I expect


My experience was appalling. on a trolley in the ER for nearly 24 hours then transferred on the trolley to a ward, remained on the trolley ( for 36 hours)still no beds. No assistance with personal hygiene the whole time I was in. Any way any advice would be really appreciated

Duncan Roberts

Are you in the US? If you are, you're most likely pretty screwed. You may win an appeal but it's not going to be easy or any guarantee. You will be billed, you will have to call the hospital to see if you can work out a reduced price and payment plan. They can send your account to a collections agency if you don't come to some agreement, all the associated bad stuff with that will come with it. They may also sue you but unlikely.

GeoffM

Was it a UK insurance company, covering your holiday to the US, and you're now back in the UK (which is how I read it)? If so then you need to get back to the GP for advice. He may be able to write to your insurers indicating that your back pain was unlikely related to a later slipped disc - if, indeed, it was unrelated. He may have to refer you to a specialist. All of this may cost money - not £20k but unlikely to be free. Whether you could then claim that back off the insurance company should you win, probably not - unless you sued them. But you need to prove your suspicion that the back pain was unrelated to the slipped disc.

Did the US hospital give you a bill?

Englishtart

Welcome to BE Gilltaz.

Good advice by previous posters, first thing I would do is go back to your GP and get something in writing. Good luck!

Jerseygirl

Welcome to BE.

Did you notify the insurance company of the back pain? I presume this was after you'd taken out the travel insurance. When I booked UK travel insurance for my MIL last year it said to notify them if there were any health related issues needing medical attention.

Gilltaz

Thanks all.

Yes I am in the Uk and it was a UK insurance policy. I did inform them that I had had some back pain and was waiting assessment. I paid the hospital $750which they said was 10% of the bill after 2 hour in the ER

What would they likey do given that I am in the UK??

Jerseygirl

I hope you informed them in writing...if so I don't see how they can refuse to pay unless there are applicable 'get out clauses' in the policy.

I'm sorry I have don't know the answer to your question.

Duncan Roberts

Keep sending you bills and maybe sell the debt to a UK collections agency.

British Consul

Call a Case Manager at the British Consulate in Orlando or Miami (tel: 001 407 254 3300 or 001 305 374 3500 - select the EMERGENCY hospitalisation option). They will provide advice on what actions you can take.

Dean

goldenstate31

thats the most important thing.
what happened after you informed them? i.e.what did they say?
did you get the persons name of who you informed?
it really rests on this. I have no idea what the law in the U.S regarding verbal contracts are? but I know for sure in the UK a verbal agreement, is as good as a written one.
best of luck

Jerseygirl

It's proving the verbal agreement that's the problem. How do you do that if it's over the phone and if the conversation hasn't been recorded?

chartreuse

There's every chance it was recorded, though, "for quality and training purposes". A civil suit would be on balance of probabilities and a judge might draw his own inferences should the recording not be available.

Not that it might necessarily come to that - there's a big difference between a company employee lying on the phone with a customer and perjuring themselves in court.