I've got the same 'free' travel insurance as this guy, a warning to us all
George ‘Dougie’ Keiller fell ill on his flight over to the Philippines and ended up on life-support.
read more here .. http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/...ospital-bill-/
I've got the same 'free' travel insurance as this guy
George ‘Dougie’ Keiller fell ill on his flight over to the Philippines and ended up on life-support.
read more here .. http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/...ospital-bill-/
Yes, a good cautionary tale, especially for us older codgers on here.
I didn't used to bother with travel insurance, but I certainly do now...and a proper separate policy.
You can very quickly become bankrupt if sick in the Phils...if not dead.
i think he's lucky its only £4k and not £40k+
I'm amazed they accepted him for treatment at all, without first having an agreement to pay, by a recognised insurance company.
They've probably just drained his credit card, with the rest put on account....to follow.
and always declare every med condition you have, they are happy to take your cash, but will look for anything you didn't declare to void your claim
Spot-on correct Stewart.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, check your insurance for repatriation cover!
Off the shelf cover is no good if you have health issues.
Keith - Administrator
Quite right, Health issues or not you should go through these freebie policies with a fine tooth combOriginally Posted by Win2Win
The guy is a complete fool - it says he was hospitalised twice in the year
Total chump. His MP is working on it though - doubtless the taxpayer will end up forking the bill to get this idiot home.
The newspaper account says that his fiancee took him to their hotel and then to the hospital. He says the medical staff and doctors in the UK hospital told him that there was no problem with him flying over to the Philippines. Seems unlikely but maybe they assumed that the combination of a long flight , tropical climate and attentions of a filipina fiancee would ensure that he wouldn't be back for treatment in their ward again.
These "free" insurance policies with this kind of bank account are pretty useless. Certainly no replacement for a proper policy.
If he's a member of FilUK, we'll no doubt be getting a report in due course.
............................................... that's one of the MAIN reasons I'd never so much as contemplate settling in the Philippines.
... health insurance would cost me a fortune.
there you go, there is nothing as free travel insurance, it will only cover the basics, yes you must shop around for what you are looking for, but when someone offers you it free if you have this bank account and so on, you pay for what you get
Awful situation for this guy, but at least he got treatment.
I take out an annual policy for Rose and myself - £100 or so for global cover. Even if you fall ill travelling within the EU they won't repatriate you without cover, they will just treat you locally - sometimes very well, sometimes not so well.
the story has made it to the mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ical-bill.html
maybe rbs will pay up now, i've got the same free insurance cover with my bank account to and they never asked me about any pre-existing conditions
It's all in the small print
i never signed anything also its not really free your paying for it
Never thought of that Michael but I will in future.I've said it before and I'll say it again, check your insurance for repatriation cover!
Andy, Saga insurance do it on every policy, but it is a little more expensive, it won't break the bank though!Never thought of that Michael but I will in future.
but remember even though you may have insurance the hospital usually want you to pay the bill first then YOU have to claim it back from the insurance company so please be aware. Its better to have a credit card with you with a big credit limit just in case anything should happen to you. They always want a deposit before they will accept you - the dollar talks over here.
Every time
If you read the T&C, this free insurance is nowhere near enough to cover people with existing conditions, or end up with something really serious wrong with them. It is only useful for small things such as lost luggage, and a sprained ankle. This is why experts tell people to ignore free insurance, and purchase full cover.the story has made it to the mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ical-bill.html
maybe rbs will pay up now
Companies such as Flexicover cover for existing conditions. Yes it costs more, but you are gambling with your health if you do not cover yourself.
Keith - Administrator
It's also worth checking out what your insurance company's meaning of existing conditions.
For some it's taking meds and or receiving on going treatment which makes sense.
I know of an insurance company who class a past condition of which you are no longer taking treatment and consultation for yet they will still class it as an existing condition.
It is always wise to ask.
I got some update thru expats in cdo Right now, the issue/s haven't been resolved yet. They are still in Polymedic Plaza. "Bills have reached beyond 300,000.00 pesos and they have only paid 89,000."
"Urgent concerns as of the moment is the medicine which would cost 500php/daily."
Asked for the list of meds, here they are:
ipatropium + salbutamol (combivent) 500mcg/2.5mg @ Php 47.20 each (4x/day)
amiodarone (cordarone) 200mg tablet @ Php 88.60 each (once a day)
vildagliptin ( galvus) 50mg tablet - 2 tabs per day @ Php30.00
spirolactone ( aldactone) 25 mg tablet 2x a day @ Php 17.50 each
TMZ ( Vastarel MR) 35 mg tablet 2 tabs per day @30.00
2 SPIRIVA RESPIMAT 2.5mcg/ puff. Php 3,360
Hopefully no member of the Forum would find themselves in this situation. There are common sense posts on THIS thread about travel insurance; and entire health checklist threads covering before- and after- travelling to the Philippines. In the last update ( February ; http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....to-Philippines
( #8 )
), I made these points :-
• Most of the 120,000 or so reported visits by British tourists each year to the Philippines are trouble free.
• However, in the event of falling ill, treatment and repatriation could be expensive without comprehensive insurance. Insurance might also not cover an illness for which recommended precautions to avoid it had not been taken, or if a pre – existing illness was not declared . Airlines give advice on general health requirements / exclusions.
• Good advice is available from pharmacists, GPs and travel health clinics. This Forum Heath Issues section also has threads on a number of serious conditions. Visit your doctor / practice nurse several weeks before travel. Remember also to read the health checklist AFTER travelling ( http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....he-Philippines ).
This patient “ stranded “ in a CDO hospital is claimed to be running up medical bills at a rate of £ 150 / day. The true cost of a hospital bed in the UK – free at the point of use under the NHS - could well be four times this amount.
The clues to his illness lie in the name. CHRONIC ( persistent, long-standing ) OBSTRUCTIVE ( due to narrowed air passages from inflammation ) PULMONARY ( affecting lungs ) DISEASE ( usually combined chronic bronchitis / inflamed large airways, and emphysema / damaged small airways ).
COPD is common ( affecting around 3 million in UK ), and is due to smoking and/or other air pollution. If you have COPD then it MUST be declared ; you should carry any medicines in your hand luggage ; if it’s severe enough to need long term oxygen treatment the airline needs to be informed.
Treatment does not cure COPD. This Scots patient is younger ( 59 ) than the average age at diagnosis ( and was in a UK hospital twice last year for COPD ).
From the list of medications provided in the last post, it seems he is being treated for more than COPD ! The drugs include bronchodilators ( widening the air passages : ipratropium and salbutamol, Spiriva Respimat ) ; a drug for abnormal heart rhythm ( Amiodarone ) ; a drug for angina ( TMZ ) ; an antidiabetic drug ( Vildagliptin ) ; and diuretic ( Spironolactone ). The quoted costs are similar to those in the UK ( IF you had to pay for them ).
Had he revealed his pre-existing medical condition(s) his insurance premium would have been higher, but a fraction of the costs he is now being expected to meet.
hi guys, i'm George Keiller, i'd like to explain about my insurance policy, its not purchased, its a benefit i have with my bank account. when travelling, i simply go to the bank and ask for a tavel insurance policy, When i did it for this trip, the bank had no policies in stock, i was given a number to call, i called that number and was given an emergency number to call if i had any problems during mt travel, and told i was covered to travel, there was no questionaire and no questions asked, also no terms and conditions given to me, the insurance company is Direct Line Insurance, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland, where my bank account is
Doc Alan, The only medication i'm on at home, is Levothyroxine, i have 3 inhalers, they told me the left side of my heart was slightly damaged, but no medication was required, i am on no other medication at home, George Keiller
maybe its in the small print, but if you'd read the original report properly, you'd have seen i was not issued with a policy as there were none in stock, i was given a number to call if i had any problems, no questionaire, no terms and conditions and no questions asked, i'm not an experienced traveller, and trusted the guy when he told me i was covered to go
its nice to read your smart know it all comments, i'm not an inexperienced traveller and took a bank worker at his word, i may have got things wrong, but it is down to ignorance on my part, unfunny and uncalled for comments
Hi Dougie
I hope it all works out for you. We've all done silly things, me included.
Regards
Mark
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