A heart attack abroad and Bupa travel insurance

Illovogirl

I am highlighting this case for 2 reasons: i) for advice of how best to proceed; ii) to report my experience of the service of a well-respected health and insurance provider.


I had a heart attack two weeks ago in Auckland. I am 50, a former international sportsman, of previous good health and remain active running 3 or 4 times a week. I collapsed while running on June 7, lost consciousness, but was very fortunate to have expert medical help around me when it happened. I was in hospital within half-an-hour. An MI was diagnosed and the angiogram revealed a 90% blockage to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) - the so-called Widow Maker. Two stents were fitted. I was released several days later to follow a supervised rehabilitation programme and under instruction not to return to the UK until after a follow-up consultation with the cardiologist on July 8.
The cardiologist says I am not fit to fly until one month after my release from hospital. In the meantime, I have registered with a local GP to whom I make regular visits for vital signs and medication monitoring.


I am self-employed and at the time of my heart attack was working in New Zealand on a short-term contract in a professional role. Despite having fulfilled just half of my commitments, my employer kindly agreed to cover my accommodation and expense costs until my scheduled departure (June 22).
I have a travel insurance policy with Bupa which, I have now learned, is sub-contracted to Travel Guard. Having checked my medical history with my UK-based GP the insurer agrees the policy is fully valid.


Earlier this week, Travel Guard sent a so-called fit-to-fly document to my Auckland GP. He endorsed the recommendation of the cardiologist and provided the specialist’s medical report to support this. It says I shall not be fit to fly until July 11.


The insurer was made aware of my case within hours of my hospital admission. Their treatment of me has been shabby and, on occasions, rude and insensitive. The timing of last night’s events suggests they are also bullying.
Last night (June 21) – and less than 24 hours before my scheduled flight home - Travel Guard called me to say their “medical experts” had rejected the opinion of the cardiologist and GP who are treating me. Travel Guard’s view is that I am fit to fly immediately. They instructed me to take my scheduled flight home today. Given that their call came late on a Saturday evening there was no time for me to consult either my GP or cardiologist.


For the record, the instruction to fly back immediately came with the offer of no medical in-flight supervision or even an upgrade in flight class – the scheduled flying time (including stopover at LA) for my flight from Auckland to London is 32 hours
In the last few hours I have been involved in heated telephonic exchanges and Travel Guard have finally softened their stance a little: they have agreed to extend my stay until Tuesday (June 24) so that my case can be “re-reviewed”.


Had I stepped on to the flight today then the insurer’s only exposure would have been to costs for GP visits and blood tests taken following my release from the cardiac unit (less than £200). All costs incurred during my hospital stay are covered by a mutual arrangement between UK and NZ governments which benefits citizens of both countries.
I have a wife and two children of school age at home in the UK and am anxious to return to them. However, it has been stressed by the cardiologist and GP in Auckland that the best chance of a full recovery is by staying here until they deem me fit to fly. With this in mind, I am determined to follow their advice rather than that of the insurer’s “medical experts” who know me only as a reference number and from reports provided by my carers. It is a reasonable conclusion that the opinion of the “medical experts” at Bupa / Travel Guard is driven more by commercial concerns than any they may (or may not) have for my well-being.


At the risk of sounding emotional, I have just been through the first major medical crisis of my life. I have been told that carefully-monitored rehabilitation in a relaxed, stress-free environment is crucial over the coming weeks. Bupa / Travel Guard’s insensitive and ham-fisted approach has ensured it is proving the complete antithesis of that.

katejo

No

I am not a doctor but my instinct is No. BUPA may have taken this from qualified doctors but they haven't treated you. Would BUPA pay out if you had another heart attack on the plane (while travelling against medical advice)?