Is it just me, or..........
07 January 2015, 04:11 PM
#1
Is it just me, or..........
Now I KNOW I'm a curmudgeonly old git, but stop me if you think I'm wrong.
Just recently, I've read of a young couple going on holiday to the USA, she was heavily pregnant and, of course, the baby came prematurely.
They are now stuck over there as they seemingly cannot pay the hospital charges.
And yesterday, the parents of a local lad, asking folk on TV to put into a fund to bring some young man back from Thailand, where's he'd gone WITHOUT insurance and fallen ill to some disease that paralysed part of his body, already running up medical charges of £17,000.
Is it stupidity or greed makes someone go abroad with either no, or insufficient insurance to get them home if the worst happens?
And why SHOULD we, as a nation, be asked to give charity to get them home?
Just recently, I've read of a young couple going on holiday to the USA, she was heavily pregnant and, of course, the baby came prematurely.
They are now stuck over there as they seemingly cannot pay the hospital charges.
And yesterday, the parents of a local lad, asking folk on TV to put into a fund to bring some young man back from Thailand, where's he'd gone WITHOUT insurance and fallen ill to some disease that paralysed part of his body, already running up medical charges of £17,000.
Is it stupidity or greed makes someone go abroad with either no, or insufficient insurance to get them home if the worst happens?
And why SHOULD we, as a nation, be asked to give charity to get them home?
07 January 2015, 04:34 PM
#6
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Now I KNOW I'm a curmudgeonly old git, but stop me if you think I'm wrong.
Just recently, I've read of a young couple going on holiday to the USA, she was heavily pregnant and, of course, the baby came prematurely.
They are now stuck over there as they seemingly cannot pay the hospital charges.
Just recently, I've read of a young couple going on holiday to the USA, she was heavily pregnant and, of course, the baby came prematurely.
They are now stuck over there as they seemingly cannot pay the hospital charges.
They just need some mental help as they chose to call the kid "Dax". Sounds like something out of Star Wars...
07 January 2015, 05:09 PM
#7
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We NEVER travel without adequate insurance, more fool anyone who does. Came in really useful when we got caught in the ash cloud episode.
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07 January 2015, 05:13 PM
#9
The couple that had the baby were covered by their insurance for all the medical expenses. They will have to submit a claim on their return. The additional £130k costs were their cost of living out there for the unexpected 11 weeks that were NOT covered by their insurance. I would imagine no holiday insurance policy would cover this.
But quite rightly said though, personally I would not even consider going to the US when my wife was 29 weeks pregnant. That's just stupid!
But quite rightly said though, personally I would not even consider going to the US when my wife was 29 weeks pregnant. That's just stupid!
07 January 2015, 05:50 PM
#10
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no but I like your sense of humour. We were stuck in an all inclusive for a whole 5 days and it didn't cost us a penny/euro. Others in the hotel weren't so lucky, it was costing them a fortune, the hotel bumped up all their prices once the delays began, probably to cover our costs
07 January 2015, 07:03 PM
#13
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07 January 2015, 10:02 PM
#15
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That's about what we pay for the two of us but it doesn't include dangerous sports, too old for that these days.
08 January 2015, 03:24 AM
#18
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Yes, yes, I know, very sad that I know that
There's also this story from my cold part of NA: http://globalnews.ca/news/1679588/dr...chewan-couple/
Personally I'd not do any out of country travelling when one has a pregnant partner, unless there is some absolute dire need. I "get" wanting a sun break before the baby arrives, but as can be seen, if something unexpected does happen, it can strain the finances.
If you travel without adequate insurance then I think you're rather foolish. If for whatever reason you decide to travel without any at all, don't expect sympathy if something happens and you rack up massive bills.
Having said that, the price of healthcare in the US is crazy, and it's one massive reason I'd not want to relocate there, lest the company happens to provide a fantastic package, even then, if you find yourself out of work, you're stuffed.
Not sure what Canada is like, without coverage I mean. I've always had OHIP (think Ontario based NHS), and for a short while, coverage via work healthcare plans, so perhaps it's just as expensive as the US, but I have a feeling that's not the case.
10 January 2015, 12:42 AM
#19
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The same thought crossed my mind.....ok so it's really early but **** happens.
It didn't help that the photo in the paper showed the pleading look on their faces that made me feel less not more charitable.
I'd rather give my charitable donations to something a little bit more worthy ..........harsh of me perhaps but that's how I felt about "their plight"
It didn't help that the photo in the paper showed the pleading look on their faces that made me feel less not more charitable.
I'd rather give my charitable donations to something a little bit more worthy ..........harsh of me perhaps but that's how I felt about "their plight"