Need some serious help re Medical Bills in Tenerife

VICKITREASURE

Didn't know where to post this one guys but I need some serious help here!
To cut a long story short my Father In Law is in Hospital in Tenerife after suffering a serious illness whilst on holiday, he has some Travel Insurance which we thought until now covered his medical costs while in Private hospital.
We had a call from the Insurance company this afternoon to tell us that due to an undisclosed medical condition they have revoked the cover!
Basically he has racked up an enormous medical bill and none of us have any way to pay it!!
We were hoping that the insurance company were going to get him home next week but now they are not offering financial assistance how can we get him home?
Mother in law has flown home now and has told us that dads passport is with the hospital!
I'm hoping that there may be someone on here that can offer us some help and advice here as we are DESPERATELY worried
Please someone?
:-(

kara7758

What a dreadful situation!
All I can suggest is that you contact the British Consul in Tenerife.
I found these details on the internet for you to contact them.


https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-madrid/office/british-consulate-santa-cruz-de-tenerife


Wishing your dad a speedy recovery and hope all gets resolved.

whitewing

I'd also see if his travel insurance was part of a professional body or association and see if there is any advice from them.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I used to work in travel insurance.

First thing you need to do is follow their complaints procedure. This should be clearly stated on the policy wording or, if you call them, they are required to tell you. It's usually to ask that it be reconsidered. They should also tell you exactly what the next stage is.

See the GP. If, at the time of booking and taking out insurance, the condition was stable and had been for a considerable period, and the GP clearly states this, that will help. Any consultant involved could also confirm this. An unpredicted acute exacerbation of a normally stable chronic condition can be accepted as a reasonable claim in some cases.

It would be useful (if sneaky) to request a quote for the condition under the guise of being a new applicant. If they offer to provide cover, that gives you the ability to argue that, had it been declared at the time of policy inception, it would have been accepted.


However, if it transpires that the insurance was taken out later, perhaps after a hospital admission, or that he was clearly very unwell, etc, this won't be as simple. In that case, I can't advise you further, other than to go through the complaints procedure and take advice from other posters.


Hope this helps and he makes a good recovery.

Murphy2011

What is the medical condition?

VICKITREASURE

Thanks for all your replies!
It's COPD he has, his initial diagnosis was Pneumonia, now they are saying that it was exacerbated by his underlying condition of COPD,
Natwest told us that he was covered last week after the initial diagnosis and told the Hospital in Tenerife this, they gave consent for the care plan!
I had a call to say don't worry about anything we are covering all the financial costs.
I really can't see how Natwest can say they are covering one minute and go back on it the next!
So wrong!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

VICKITREASURE wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies!
It's COPD he has, his initial diagnosis was Pneumonia, now they are saying that it was exacerbated by his underlying condition of COPD,
Natwest told us that he was covered last week after the initial diagnosis and told the Hospital in Tenerife this, they gave consent for the care plan!
I had a call to say don't worry about anything we are covering all the financial costs.
I really can't see how Natwest can say they are covering one minute and go back on it the next!
So wrong!

You'll be able to get info from his GP and consultant confirming it was stable, then. And it should be clear from the medical reports at the hospital whether it's pneumonia from an infection.

I won't say it's guaranteed to be successful, but people live with copd for years without it noticeably worsening, only to be knocked by a sudden flare or infection. Insurers know this.

I know it's a difficult time, but depending on where he got the insurance from, he should have been told to check the policy and declare any medical conditions. He should also have checked with the GP/consultant that he was safe to fly - which means there should be a record of this. All help your case.

He will be getting as good treatment as he would here - I understand your worry about costs and probably just want to get him home, but it's not worth taking risks in putting him on a flight if he's not fit to do so yet.

Get on to the insurers first thing. There is precedent for these decisions being reversed - I did it quite a few times when I was head of a section specialising in medical claims and, although that was the 1990s, it hasn't changed that much in terms of law; if, on the balance of probabilities, he was fit to fly and cover would have been offered had the condition as it was at the time of booking/policy inception, there's a good case for making payment.

Good luck.


ETA: the decision changed most likely because they only discovered later that he had a copd diagnosis.

VICKITREASURE

Jojo you are a star xxx

Ps they knew he had COPD

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

VICKITREASURE wrote: »

Jojo you are a star xxx

Ps they knew he had COPD

And offered cover? All the more power to you.


Glad to help if I can.

JIL

I am not sure if a EHIC was completed. I also have read he is getting private treatment but there is a phone number on this page of the overseas health team, they must have come up with scenarios like yours and may be able to help?http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx
They helped a few years ago when a friends husband had a heart attack and needed surgery in Spain.

VICKITREASURE

They have a EHIC but as they thought their Travel Insurance covered them so they were taken to the nearest hospital which is Private.
I will call the overseas health team for advice tomorrow.
Many Thanks JIL xx