Please read this about travel insurance if you're going to Greece

Tigertiger

Cautionary tale for anyone travelling to Greece:

My disabled adult son fell and broke his nose on the 5th day of our 2-week holiday in Crete. Because he was bleeding heavily, and the public ambulance would have taken 1 and a half hours to arrive, the hotel manager drove us to the nearest private clinic. There, I was asked immediately for my insurance documents ( which the manager had to drive back to the hotel to find), and paid the £75 excess on my son's policy. Also, I was strangely asked for our return flight details, which I did not have. We were told there would be nothing more to pay, and taken to a private hospital in Heraklion. Despite wanting to stay with my son, I was taken to an office by an administrator, and asked to telephone the insurance company to verify payment. Their office was closed, and I was instructed to return at the earliest opportunity the next day to try again. When I did so, I was told that the bill would be settled. An administrator told me that if it was not settled immediately, she would come to our hotel the next day. This she did, demanding cash. I had little cash, as our holiday was all-inclusive, and she refused a debit card. I had to ask my son in England to arrange a bank transfer. She said that if she did not receive this within 2 hours, she would return. However, the insurance company reconfirmed that they would settle the bill, so the transfer was not arranged. As we heard nothing for the rest of the holiday, we assumed all was well. However, on our return into Gatwick, my son was asked to go to the front of the 'plane over the loudspeaker. This involved fighting our way through 27 rows of passengers emptying their overhead lockers, being stared at, sometimes with hostility. Two Border officials were waiting for us, one curtly demanding my son's passport, and reluctantly allowing me to accompany him. We were escorted from the 'plane, When I asked for an explanation I was told none could be given. We were taken to an enclosure in full view of passengers going through passport control. Eventually, we were told we could go. The conclusion the officials reached was that the hospital bill had not yet been paid, and thus they had instructions to apprehend my son. The experience was frightening and humiliating. I would hate anyone else to suffer in this way. Please, ask your insurance company how they would act should you be taken ill. Please be sure you declare ANY existing health problems. I had done this, and given a detailed description of my son's disabilities, but this still occurred. I have written to my MP about this, but this has not yet been acknowledged.

tamiami

Don't blame them for not replying, they probably never got past the first two sentences.

Use paragraphs and shorten the letter.

Hobsons_Choice

Thanks for posting. This must have been a terrible experience for you.

richardw

Was the hotel manager a 'friend' of the clinic?

budgetflyer

They are probably on a commission or referral fee

Dimey

Appalling treatment of you by your insurance company and the hospital.

But if that's the way the Greek's get payment in the European Union then maybe the UK NHS can learn a trick or two

victor2

I think the moral of the sad story is to always take a credit card with you, which can be used to cover any unexpected expenses.
Doesn't guarantee it will, but much easier to fight about it upon your return.

Still, the insurance company should have been able to satisfy the hospital once contacted, regardless of the time or day.

Tigertiger

Thank you, everyone, for your interest and kindness . No, the manager wasn't a "friend", she was just trying to do her best. The admin wouldn't accept anything other than cash or an immediate bank transfer. Yes, this could be used as a template for treating UK " health tourists". I love Greece, but can't envisage going back until the financial crisis is over.

[Deleted User]

Tigertiger wrote: »

Cautionary tale for anyone travelling to Greece:

My disabled adult son fell and broke his nose on the 5th day of our 2-week holiday in Crete. Because he was bleeding heavily, and the public ambulance would have taken 1 and a half hours to arrive, the hotel manager drove us to the nearest private clinic. There, I was asked immediately for my insurance documents ( which the manager had to drive back to the hotel to find), and paid the £75 excess on my son's policy. Also, I was strangely asked for our return flight details, which I did not have. We were told there would be nothing more to pay, and taken to a private hospital in Heraklion. Despite wanting to stay with my son, I was taken to an office by an administrator, and asked to telephone the insurance company to verify payment. Their office was closed, and I was instructed to return at the earliest opportunity the next day to try again. When I did so, I was told that the bill would be settled. An administrator told me that if it was not settled immediately, she would come to our hotel the next day. This she did, demanding cash. I had little cash, as our holiday was all-inclusive, and she refused a debit card. I had to ask my son in England to arrange a bank transfer. She said that if she did not receive this within 2 hours, she would return. However, the insurance company reconfirmed that they would settle the bill, so the transfer was not arranged. As we heard nothing for the rest of the holiday, we assumed all was well. However, on our return into Gatwick, my son was asked to go to the front of the 'plane over the loudspeaker. This involved fighting our way through 27 rows of passengers emptying their overhead lockers, being stared at, sometimes with hostility. Two Border officials were waiting for us, one curtly demanding my son's passport, and reluctantly allowing me to accompany him. We were escorted from the 'plane, When I asked for an explanation I was told none could be given. We were taken to an enclosure in full view of passengers going through passport control. Eventually, we were told we could go. The conclusion the officials reached was that the hospital bill had not yet been paid, and thus they had instructions to apprehend my son. The experience was frightening and humiliating. I would hate anyone else to suffer in this way. Please, ask your insurance company how they would act should you be taken ill. Please be sure you declare ANY existing health problems. I had done this, and given a detailed description of my son's disabilities, but this still occurred. I have written to my MP about this, but this has not yet been acknowledged.

I find this most curious.
UK Border Officials would not become involved in what is essentially a civil issue and certainly not something as trifling as the non-payment of a hospital bill in another EU country.
I also find it hard to believe that you were only reluctantly allowed to accompany your disabled son.
Your post, along with the very first post you made on here five years ago, certainly make for interesting reading.

Pollycat

Deleted_User wrote: »

I find this most curious.
UK Border Officials would not become involved in what is essentially a civil issue and certainly not something as trifling as the non-payment of a hospital bill in another EU country.
I also find it hard to believe that you were only reluctantly allowed to accompany your disabled son.

I too find the account of the return to the UK pretty hard to swallow.

OP - if you post again - either on this thread or another - please use paragraphs as it's really difficult to read a mass of text with no spacing.