What are their options?

[sbpebbles]

Right now my daughter and my mother are in Orlando visiting my sister...My daughter has since gotten ill and they are not suppose to come home until Saturday but the insurance I have only lets my daughter be seen in Wisconsin..my mother has tried everything she can but sounds like my daughter might need a doctor..What options do they have if they need to come home early? Can they just try to fly standby? My daughter is 7 and didn't do too well on the plane (issues with the cabin pressure since she's got severe asthma) so I don't prefer she sit alone...Or can they talk to SW, their airline, explain the situation and hopefully get an earlier flight? I've never had to leave a vacation early so I'm not sure how it works..I'd appreciate any help! TIA

 

[monarchsfan16]

Usually insurance will cover out of network in an emergency, i.e, the emergency room.

That being said, SWA is (typically) a very user friendly airline. Have your mom call them. We've now dealt with a couple situations when flying SWA, and they really went above and beyond. But you have to call. That being said, depending on what type of illness it is, they may not want her on the plane.

 

[seashoreCM]

The small question is about being able to stand by for an earlier flight.

The big question is being admitted to the plane being ill.

You must follow the procedures your insurance company gives. Sometimes the insurance covers only if it was an emergency room visit.

 

[sbpebbles]

well i can almost guarantee that the insurance will not cover anything out of state..if they can't fly they have no other way home since they don't have enough funds to drive home..i guess we will see how today goes and I'll give SW a call and see what they recommend..thanks

 

[ironz]

You need to call your insurance carrier, too, because as another poster said, most insurance will cover out of network in case of emergent care. For instance, if she had an injury like a broken leg, do you really have insurance that would only cover it if you had to transport her without being seen or the leg stabilized by a doc all the way from FL to WI?

OR...have her go to an urgent care center and see if you can pay out of pocket...some places may have arrangements where the fees are less if you are paying up front, or on a sliding scale.

If she is sick/contagious (like the flu), taking her on a plane isn't the best idea.

 

[sbpebbles]

i have tried to call the insurance company but no one is in until Monday..so i called a hospital in FL and they said we can just be billed and pay outta pocket..I am on hold with SW to see if we can get them home sooner since her fever has broken..cross our fingers they will let them come home and hopefully it won't break the bank since they only paid $70 RT for the tix..thanks again everyone!

 

[Hannathy]

Wow if your DD is so sick she needs to see a DR you feel it is OK to load her onto a plane filled with other people and fly hours home!!! There is so much wrong with this picture. If she is that sick she shouldn't be on a plane for her good and for heavens sake for the other 100 people!. Next if she is that sick that she needs to be flown home immediately you won't spring the $50 bucks to go to a Doc in the box?

Quit looking at the money. If she is that sick go to a walk in clinic, it is an expense that comes with having kids. If she isn't sick enough to look past the $50 or less dollars to go to a Dr then she isn't sick enough to have to be flown home immediately.

 

[sbpebbles]

Wow if your DD is so sick she needs to see a DR you feel it is OK to load her onto a plane filled with other people and fly hours home!!! There is so much wrong with this picture. If she is that sick she shouldn't be on a plane for her good and for heavens sake for the other 100 people!. Next if she is that sick that she needs to be flown home immediately you won't spring the $50 bucks to go to a Doc in the box?

Quit looking at the money. If she is that sick go to a walk in clinic, it is an expense that comes with having kids. If she isn't sick enough to look past the $50 or less dollars to go to a Dr then she isn't sick enough to have to be flown home immediately.

Well I'm sorry but I do not have the extra $50 and to be clear it would be more to bring them home early than the whole fight originally cost..They have decided to stay in FL and if she does not feel better by Monday she will just go to the Take Care Clinic..I am not exactly sure how sick she is I just know that my mother said she thought she needed a doctor..wow there is no pixie dust on the transportation board at all, not even for a sick child..thanks to those who helped!

 

[Hannathy]

Which is why I said if she needed a DR go to a walk in clinic. The one I took my DS to when his Dr was closed was $43. I have insurance but the Insurance clinic was closed and I felt he needed seen so I paid OOP.

I'm sorry if you don't like my opinion but I do not think the airline should wave fees for something that could be taken care of for $50. I also don't think a child so sick she needs to be flown home with who knows what should be infecting an entire plane full of innocent people.

 

[prncess674]

SWA does not charge a change fee you just pay the difference in fare. Most other airlines charge a $150 change fee plus the difference in fare.

 

[livndisney]

If she needs a Dr. here is a place right around the corner from DTD

http://www.centracare.org/Locations/LakeBuenaVista/tabid/14614/Default.aspx

I think they also list this info in the rooms at Disney. They may even be able to provide a ride to the clinic.

(not advertising, just found it on a search engine.)

 

[DebbieB]

You said she had problems with cabin pressure and severe asthma, adding illness to it might make her very sick on the flight. If they have to make an emergency landing and she has to be rushed to a hospital who knows where, you may have huge expenses. I would get her cleared by a doctor in Florida before she flies home sick. I would also check with your insurance, there should be some provision for emergency care, otherwise no one should leave the state.

 

[sbpebbles]

You said she had problems with cabin pressure and severe asthma, adding illness to it might make her very sick on the flight. If they have to make an emergency landing and she has to be rushed to a hospital who knows where, you may have huge expenses. I would get her cleared by a doctor in Florida before she flies home sick. I would also check with your insurance, there should be some provision for emergency care, otherwise no one should leave the state.

Yes thank you, I plan on making that call first thing Monday morning..

 

[sbpebbles]

If she needs a Dr. here is a place right around the corner from DTD

http://www.centracare.org/Locations/LakeBuenaVista/tabid/14614/Default.aspx

I think they also list this info in the rooms at Disney. They may even be able to provide a ride to the clinic.

(not advertising, just found it on a search engine.)

They are not staying at disney..this was not a disney trip, unlike most ppl, my sister lives in FL so they went to visit her..but thanks

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes thank you, I plan on making that call first thing Monday morning..

Did you try your insurance company's website?

 

[angwill]

I am glad to hear you won't have her flying sick. The pressure in the cabin could cause serious issues for your DD between the asthma, the fever, and/or any congestion. I have allergies and sinus issues and if I fly my sinuses close up completely from the pressure. I would fear what that could do to an sick asthmatic with the pressure on her airways.

I am not trying to get down on you, and you may not have though it all through, but personally I would also worry that if she has something like swine flu and their is anyone with an immune system issue on the plane like a make a wish child you never know if someone could die from being exposed to DD.

I know money is tight for everyone but if you can find a place that would bill you and you could pay payments over time that might be a better decision especially if your DD needs to see a doctor now.

Also keep in mind your DM might be freaking out over nothing. I had an aunt freak when my son broke out from hives due to ragweed. She called me and had me drive 1 1/2 hours to get DS and take him to the emergency room because she refused to believe it was only hives and he needed benedryl. She insisted he had the measles. lol

 

[msmayor]

Unless the health care plan is severely restrictive, I have NEVER seen a plan that does not allow emergent care anywhere. Even out of the country my own health insurance will cover costs medically necessary to stabilize my health under the normal provisions of the plan.

I am very surprised that there is not a 24-hour staffed emergency number to obtain coverage information or approvals. Health issues can occur anytime; not just during "normal business hours".

 

[sbpebbles]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has responded..Today has been a very crazy day trying to figure out what we're going to do..Her fever has finally broken and is down to 99.8, it was up to 102..and she's stopped puking for now..so now she's just got the cough..I hate to say it but she'll have to fly by Sat either way cough or no cough..My mother said there were a lot of ppl on the flight TO Orlando who were coughing..I'm not worried about the swine flu(not gonna go into detail or argument about this, i'm just not concerned)...so if i find out they refuse boarding to my daughter due to a cough then I will question it...Let's just hope she's feeling better by then..Lots of rest and liquids..she's suppose to be out seeing the sights and instead is stuck at my sister's house dealing with this..but thanks everyone for the advice, good and what i thought not so good lol..been a very stressful day..i plan on calling the insurance company Monday and questioning why no one is around on the weekends (it's a government run program) so you would think someone would be there to answer questions 24/7, not just Mon-Fri 9-6..so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! God Bless