Emergency medical travel claim:repayment of non sterling transaction fee?

Hoenir

Voyager2002 said:

This sounds like a good reason not to use AXA for travel insurance: the most basic thing one would expect from them is to authorise necessary treatment in an emergency.

As in the USA. You won't be touched until you pay the money. Speed as they say is of the essence. Nothing to do with treatment authorisation. 

kezzygirl

LightFlare said:

kezzygirl said:

Brie said:

Don't know for sure as that will be somewhere in their T&Cs but i'd be making a list of every single little expense that results from this right down to parking at the hospital and getting a coffee from a machine in the caff.

And I hope he makes a full recovery - these things are so scary but modern medicine is great.

I even had to go buy him dinner as their restaurant had closed believe it or not. Quick stop at the 7/11 for a hot cheese toasty and some dried fruit and drinks! 

I appreciate there may have not been much choice, but I would definitely research dietary advice following a heart attack

Hope he gets well soon 

Have u been to a 7/11 in thailand? If you have, you will know there really is not much choice other than toasties or noodles of which I was unable to suss out the ingredients. He hadn't eaten since that morning so it was a case of needs must.

kezzygirl

Voyager2002 said:

What a dreadful experience!

This sounds like a good reason not to use AXA for travel insurance: the most basic thing one would expect from them is to authorise necessary treatment in an emergency.

I do hope that you will make a complaint about the delay in liaising with the hospital and preferably involve the Ombudsman. I mean, the next person might find their credit card was blocked and that could prove fatal!

Absolutely, I hadnt thought of that. 

kezzygirl

Hoenir said:

Voyager2002 said:

This sounds like a good reason not to use AXA for travel insurance: the most basic thing one would expect from them is to authorise necessary treatment in an emergency.

As in the USA. You won't be touched until you pay the money. Speed as they say is of the essence. Nothing to do with treatment authorisation. 

Terrible isn't it? They had no compassion at all, makes me so grateful for our nhs, seriously.

kezzygirl

Voyager2002 said:

What a dreadful experience!

This sounds like a good reason not to use AXA for travel insurance: the most basic thing one would expect from them is to authorise necessary treatment in an emergency.

I do hope that you will make a complaint about the delay in liaising with the hospital and preferably involve the Ombudsman. I mean, the next person might find their credit card was blocked and that could prove fatal!

They even said on the phone that they were waiting to see if the private hospital is the most suitable for his needs, or if the local government run one was. The government run hospital were unable to perform angioplasty and that was what was needed. Imagine if we had waited for insurance and their medical team to make a decision 😔

Angelica123

Sounds like a really scary experience. Glad your husband got the help that he needed. And though your insurance experience hasn't been ideal - definitely great that you had it. 

When it comes to the non-sterling transaction fees, it would be up to the discretion of the insurance company. I don't think they would necessarily obliged to pay it as they could argue that there are credit cards like Halifax Clarity that don't charge any fees. 

silvercar

I recently needed hospital treatment in Canada. Luckily they will treat you once you have signed that you will pay if your insurance doesn’t. On return to the Uk I submitted all the bills to my insurer, it turns out they have negotiators abroad that them negotiate reductions on the invoices. So it’s hardly surprising that some places demand payment up front, as otherwise they are at the liberty of these insurance negotiators! I was annoyed as I had been treated very well and it was a lot cheaper than if I had been treated in neighbouring USA.

DullGreyGuy

It also tends to depend on the sums involved, its one thing to be asked to pay the £4,250 deposit its another thing to be asked to pay the £1.5m that one stroke customer cost a travel insurer. It can be quicker and easier for all concerned for the insured to pay more modest amounts and be refunded than it is to wait for an insurer to be able to do an international bank transfer, for it to arrive at the other end and the hospitals accounts department confirm receipt etc. 

Voyager2002

Hoenir said:

Voyager2002 said:

This sounds like a good reason not to use AXA for travel insurance: the most basic thing one would expect from them is to authorise necessary treatment in an emergency.

As in the USA. You won't be touched until you pay the money. Speed as they say is of the essence. Nothing to do with treatment authorisation. 

Authorisation from an insurance company means that they confirm to the hospital that they are going to pay for the treatment. In an emergency situation that has to happen as rapidly as possible.

Voyager2002

kezzygirl said:

Voyager2002 said:

What a dreadful experience!

This sounds like a good reason not to use AXA for travel insurance: the most basic thing one would expect from them is to authorise necessary treatment in an emergency.

I do hope that you will make a complaint about the delay in liaising with the hospital and preferably involve the Ombudsman. I mean, the next person might find their credit card was blocked and that could prove fatal!

They even said on the phone that they were waiting to see if the private hospital is the most suitable for his needs, or if the local government run one was. The government run hospital were unable to perform angioplasty and that was what was needed. Imagine if we had waited for insurance and their medical team to make a decision 😔

Appalling!

That is the kind of thing that should be mentioned on review sites, instead of all these stupid five-star reviews from people who found it easy to pay the premium.