Potential refusal of medical treatment without substantial payment (despite having insurance)?

NoodleDoodleMan

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Is it not standard practice for the hospital to contact the insurance company to confirm the patient is covered for medical treatment charges ?

That's what the solo traveller expected but the hospital refused to do so. 

I was just curious to understand why this particular hospital was being so difficult.

Since this is a second hand story there may be more to it than we are being told ?

katejo

NoodleDoodleMan said:

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Is it not standard practice for the hospital to contact the insurance company to confirm the patient is covered for medical treatment charges ?

That's what the solo traveller expected but the hospital refused to do so. 

I was just curious to understand why this particular hospital was being so difficult.

Since this is a second hand story there may be more to it than we are being told ?

Possibly yes

DullGreyGuy

NoodleDoodleMan said:

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Is it not standard practice for the hospital to contact the insurance company to confirm the patient is covered for medical treatment charges ?

That's what the solo traveller expected but the hospital refused to do so. 

I was just curious to understand why this particular hospital was being so difficult.

Since this is a second hand story there may be more to it than we are being told ?

Also a secondhand story but in the case of a relative the hospital said they had bad experiences of the insurer in question not paying or paying only after excessive delays and as such they won't extend credit to them/give them payment terms and so either the insurer or the insured must pay up front if they want treatment at their facility.

NoodleDoodleMan

DullGreyGuy said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Is it not standard practice for the hospital to contact the insurance company to confirm the patient is covered for medical treatment charges ?

That's what the solo traveller expected but the hospital refused to do so. 

I was just curious to understand why this particular hospital was being so difficult.

Since this is a second hand story there may be more to it than we are being told ?

Also a secondhand story but in the case of a relative the hospital said they had bad experiences of the insurer in question not paying or paying only after excessive delays and as such they won't extend credit to them/give them payment terms and so either the insurer or the insured must pay up front if they want treatment at their facility.

That sounds as if it could be a likely scenario in this case.

Without knowing specific details it's conjecture to assume the hospital is completely in the wrong.

The insurer may not be one of the reliable major league UK operators ?

katejo

NoodleDoodleMan said:

DullGreyGuy said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Is it not standard practice for the hospital to contact the insurance company to confirm the patient is covered for medical treatment charges ?

That's what the solo traveller expected but the hospital refused to do so. 

I was just curious to understand why this particular hospital was being so difficult.

Since this is a second hand story there may be more to it than we are being told ?

Also a secondhand story but in the case of a relative the hospital said they had bad experiences of the insurer in question not paying or paying only after excessive delays and as such they won't extend credit to them/give them payment terms and so either the insurer or the insured must pay up front if they want treatment at their facility.

That sounds as if it could be a likely scenario in this case.

Without knowing specific details it's conjecture to assume the hospital is completely in the wrong.

The insurer may not be one of the reliable major league UK operators ?

The patient was from the USA not the UK. 

Mands

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

DullGreyGuy said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Is it not standard practice for the hospital to contact the insurance company to confirm the patient is covered for medical treatment charges ?

That's what the solo traveller expected but the hospital refused to do so. 

I was just curious to understand why this particular hospital was being so difficult.

Since this is a second hand story there may be more to it than we are being told ?

Also a secondhand story but in the case of a relative the hospital said they had bad experiences of the insurer in question not paying or paying only after excessive delays and as such they won't extend credit to them/give them payment terms and so either the insurer or the insured must pay up front if they want treatment at their facility.

That sounds as if it could be a likely scenario in this case.

Without knowing specific details it's conjecture to assume the hospital is completely in the wrong.

The insurer may not be one of the reliable major league UK operators ?

The patient was from the USA not the UK. 

Can you provide a link to the original article you read? I imagine it would answer many of the questions being asked in the thread. 

katejo

Mands said:

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

DullGreyGuy said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

katejo said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Is it not standard practice for the hospital to contact the insurance company to confirm the patient is covered for medical treatment charges ?

That's what the solo traveller expected but the hospital refused to do so. 

I was just curious to understand why this particular hospital was being so difficult.

Since this is a second hand story there may be more to it than we are being told ?

Also a secondhand story but in the case of a relative the hospital said they had bad experiences of the insurer in question not paying or paying only after excessive delays and as such they won't extend credit to them/give them payment terms and so either the insurer or the insured must pay up front if they want treatment at their facility.

That sounds as if it could be a likely scenario in this case.

Without knowing specific details it's conjecture to assume the hospital is completely in the wrong.

The insurer may not be one of the reliable major league UK operators ?

The patient was from the USA not the UK. 

Can you provide a link to the original article you read? I imagine it would answer many of the questions being asked in the thread. 

It wasn't an article. It was just a concern raised on a FB women's solo travel group. I may not be able to find the discussion now. 

sheramber

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/in-hospital-abroad

Make sure you have enough money or a credit card with you. You will often have to pay upfront for medical care abroad, even if you are fully insured.

katejo

sheramber said:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/in-hospital-abroad

Make sure you have enough money or a credit card with you. You will often have to pay upfront for medical care abroad, even if you are fully insured.

I have just found the original FB query and more details have been added since I first read it. The person  found that neither her cruise line (Norwegian) nor the Panama hospital was prepared to liaise with her insurer. The onus was on her to pay up and claim back . Her bills were $23000 to the hospital and $9000 to Norwegian Cruises but the credit limit on her CC was insufficient to prove she could pay $25000 (which the hospital required before starting any treatment)  She had further CC cards at home so had to ask a friend to go to her house and take photos of her credit card numbers. She still has further expenses incurred to get her safely home. I only have 1 fully paid off credit card and the max value is below this. 

Hoenir

katejo said:

sheramber said:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/in-hospital-abroad

Make sure you have enough money or a credit card with you. You will often have to pay upfront for medical care abroad, even if you are fully insured.

The person  found that neither her cruise line (Norwegian) nor the Panama hospital was prepared to liaise with her insurer. 

Doesn't explain the lack of action by the insurer. They'll have an emergency 24/7 hotline.