new zealand ambulance bill what do i do?

travelbug_3

can anyone help me?
while on holiday in new zealand i was at a hotel in auckland when i collapsed
the hotel manage called an ambulance and i was taken to an auckland hospital
i was in the hospital for 6hrs and before i was discharged i asked if they need my travel insurance because my handbag and luggage was still at the hotel

i was told by a nurse that they would have asked for it when i was admitted to hospital if they had need it

today2/11/06 i received a bill from New Zealand ambulance service for £200
to be paid by 3/11/06

i telephoned my travel insurance company about it ,they say i should have telephoned them at the time when i was in hospital
they are going to send me a claims form but they did not sound very hopeful

what do i do?
pay the bill now and hope the insurance pays out or wait until insurance is sorted out

sorry about being so long if in wrong thread please move

fabwitch_2

I also received a bill for a Ambulance journey when I was involved in a car crash. I telephoned my insurance and they told me to send the bill to them and it would be paid by my insurance. Hopefully your insurnce will pay out for you.

travelbug_3

thanks fabwitch
did you contact insurance company at time of accident or did you wait until you recieved Ambulance bill?

dunstonh

Inform the NZ ambulance service that you have passed the bill to your insurer (noting that you only got it on the 2nd) and give them the insurance company details and policy number and ask for them to corrospond with the insurer.

If the insurer comes back and says you are not covered, then you pay it. However, let it go through the insurer until you hear otherwise. Remember that the person on the phone with the insurer doesnt know if you are going to be successful in your claim or not. Dont read anything in to their non-commital. The cannot say anything on the phone which commits them to paying a claim.

How long ago was the claimable event?

travelbug_3

thanks dunstonh
i used the new zealand ambulance on Friday 13th october 2006
i will send insurance company details and policy number to new zealand ambulance service,
and wait until i hear from insurance company
thankyou for you reply it's helped alot

dunstonh

The event is not that long ago and the bill is only £200. Refusing the claim, then dealing with your inevitable complaint would cost more than paying it (a complaint to the ombudsman costs the insurer over £300 for every complaint).

Insurance companies are not normally unreasonable unless they smell a rat.

fabwitch_2

My insurance company was aware of the car crash I was involved in and when I received the Ambulance bill I rang them as I never heard of Ambulances charging. My insurance compny was great and as I said I just sent the bill onto them and they paid it.

suffolkb

Not NZ,but I came off my motorbike in London,near to a police station. I asked where the hospital was and as it was less than a mile,I said I`d walk. The police said that they had to get me an ambulance which took me on a terrifying journey through the rush hour. Then I got a bill for the ambulance I hadn`t wanted. I ignored it and heard nothing else.

paulboy83

You should really tell them you have been admitted to hospital at or as close to the time as you can no matter what the hospital says, so they can (Should they wish) turn your claim down, however if they do that, put in a written complaint to the insurer as the chances are they will pay out as its cheaper than going to the ombudsman.

kiwifruit_2

was it the St Johns ambulance service or the Hospitals???? I agree with the other posters - contact the ambulance service and let them know whats happened....they will be really reasonable about it all....

doshi

My arm decided to disconnect itself from my body while caving earlier this year in NZ... anyway, i went to hospital after signing the forms and stuff and was expecting a bill for the X-rays but luckily for me it did not arrive.I guess the ambulance service in NZ are more proficient!