Disney are great in a crisis - of course

[aussietravellers]

The hospital also, wouldn't do anything with the travel insurance. I had to pay in full. Claiming from insurance was my problem.

 

[australiankaren]

The hospital also, wouldn't do anything with the travel insurance. I had to pay in full. Claiming from insurance was my problem.

I use 1 cover...and will in future put all allergies on the form....

Sorry to hear you had issues....

 

[becpee]

I didn't get ANY back! They (insurance company) made it SO difficult, I ended up just letting it go and cancelling the claim after about 5 months. I had to get full hospital records (which I couldn't seem to get from the hospital). I had to get all Dr's records from every Dr I had seen in the previous 5 years!!!!! That includes all specialists. As part was an allergic reaction to a drug, that I hadn't put on my insurance as pre-existing (always put my peanut allergy, but not the drug allergy for some reason ).

I had told the hospital about the allergy, but they have a different name for the drug in the USA so didn't even know that they gave me the one I wrote down as allergic too. They also gave me the drug AGAIN to take home to continue until I got home after having to treat me for an allergic reaction to something they gave me. I called the pharmacy when I got back to AKL and luckily it was a british pharmacist. He asked my allergies, I told him and he said "OMG, that is what they have given you, don't touch it, it has a different name in the USA".

Anyway, the insurance companies will do all they can, make it as difficult as they can, to get out of paying out!

i still wouldn't travel without travel insurance. That was my bill after 10 hours in a US ER, what would it have been if I had to stay in there.

OMG!

 

[Minniemum]

The hospital also, wouldn't do anything with the travel insurance. I had to pay in full. Claiming from insurance was my problem.

Ouch!

 

[Franrose]

It was BUPA or MBF at the time. I have since changed, like immediately! They hadn't been a problem with small claims before that time.

With our trip last year, we signed up BUPA/MBF travel insurance as they were our health insurance company and from that I assumed they would be good. A few months in I did some googling for reviews and was amazed to see how poorly their customers rated them. Of all the companies being reviewed, there was one that stood out as a clear 'winner' (and certainly by a country mile compared to MBF), I rang them, cancelled my BUPA insurance and switched to that company. I think we were out of pocket $100 by doing that but I remember clearly thinking I did not want to be in the US being mucked around by insurance if we ever needed it and I was more than happy to pay $100 for peace of mind based on other people's experiences.

 

[Minniemum]

With our trip last year, we signed up BUPA/MBF travel insurance as they were our health insurance company and from that I assumed they would be good. A few months in I did some googling for reviews and was amazed to see how poorly their customers rated them. Of all the companies being reviewed, there was one that stood out as a clear 'winner' (and certainly by a country mile compared to MBF), I rang them, cancelled my BUPA insurance and switched to that company. I think we were out of pocket $100 by doing that but I remember clearly thinking I did not want to be in the US being mucked around by insurance if we ever needed it and I was more than happy to pay $100 for peace of mind based on other people's experiences.

And the company is.......?????

 

[Franrose]

Travel Insurance Direct. This is one of the sites I used to help with my decision, I know there was another but would have to google again! http://www.productreview.com.au/c/travel-insurance.html

 

[Franrose]

I should add though, I just checked out all their "terrible" reviews (as there seemed to be more than there were last year) and interestingly, many of them are really recent and a bit scary actually compared to the way they used to be reviewed (where the "terrible" reviews were for silly & petty things rather than genuine trouble with claims). I'll have to have a good research again to make sure they're still the best option before we buy for the next trip and right now I'm definitely not convinced. Interestingly, they've also had a change of underwriter in the last year, perhaps this is their downfall.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

The hospital also, wouldn't do anything with the travel insurance. I had to pay in full. Claiming from insurance was my problem.

That is so scary! At those rates, if I had to stay a day or two, my credit card limit wouldn't stretch far enough to cover the bill.
I've always bought travel insurance assuming everything would be a-ok should I end up in a US hospital. It never occurred to me that we'd have to settle the bill first and then chase the money from the insurance company. I wonder if all travel insurance companies work like this????

 

[Beee]

That is so scary! At those rates, if I had to stay a day or two, my credit card limit wouldn't stretch far enough to cover the bill.
I've always bought travel insurance assuming everything would be a-ok should I end up in a US hospital. It never occurred to me that we'd have to settle the bill first and then chase the money from the insurance company. I wonder if all travel insurance companies work like this????

eek, mine too I only just got a CC for this trip more to put hotel charges on but now I'm definitely going to get the limit upped - I too didn't realise quite how expensive healthcare is in the US, and I am also going to update my health insurance with my drug allergies which I hadn't even considered as pre existing conditions....what would I do without you all?!!!

On that note, workmate who spent the last week in NY was back at work yesterday - asked her if travel insurance would reimburse her for anything given the whole week 90% of NY was in lock down because of Sandy. Couldn't believe it, she said actually I forgot to get any travel insurance she is so lucky that she didn't need it

 

[WanderlustNZ]

On that note, workmate who spent the last week in NY was back at work yesterday - asked her if travel insurance would reimburse her for anything given the whole week 90% of NY was in lock down because of Sandy. Couldn't believe it, she said actually I forgot to get any travel insurance she is so lucky that she didn't need it

I can't believe anyone would travel to the US without insurance. Not only is the medical care horrendous (6 grand for one day being a classic example), but so are the sueing laws.

I read an article a few years back about Disney being extra nice to people who get hurt because they want to avoid being sued. Unfortunately I can't remember the exact details of the story (nor can I confirm it's validity), but I think someone fell down some stairs, got extra nice treatment, but were also asked to sign a waiver to say it wasn't Disney's fault.
Not to take away from Disney's lovely service, as I think the stories I have read about the way they treat people are awesome, however it's a sad state of affairs when people have to worry about being sued for the smallest things.

 

[aussietravellers]

That is so scary! At those rates, if I had to stay a day or two, my credit card limit wouldn't stretch far enough to cover the bill.
I've always bought travel insurance assuming everything would be a-ok should I end up in a US hospital. It never occurred to me that we'd have to settle the bill first and then chase the money from the insurance company. I wonder if all travel insurance companies work like this????

No most don't work that way. You pay the bill, then claim the money back. But there are some who will help you out with it.

The thing is, the travel insurance isn't like medicare, it's not a sure thing to get your money back. They wanted to go back through my records for the last 5 years, to make sure that I there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition that I hadn't told them about. It's like house or car insurance, you have to claim it back, they check the circumstances before paying.

eek, mine too I only just got a CC for this trip more to put hotel charges on but now I'm definitely going to get the limit upped - I too didn't realise quite how expensive healthcare is in the US, and I am also going to update my health insurance with my drug allergies which I hadn't even considered as pre existing conditions....what would I do without you all?!!!

On that note, workmate who spent the last week in NY was back at work yesterday - asked her if travel insurance would reimburse her for anything given the whole week 90% of NY was in lock down because of Sandy. Couldn't believe it, she said actually I forgot to get any travel insurance she is so lucky that she didn't need it

US medical expenses are the most expensive in the world! That's why when you look at the travel insurance table, they are always the most expensive to cover. The UK is good, they have a reciprocal thing with our medicare, although I have still paid minor out of pocket there and claimed it back. I had always mentioned my peanut allergy and it was exempt. If you read the fine print of policies, allergies are usually included. I usually have to get an exemption with Asthma, no policies have Asthma included without an exemption of some description (sometimes an additional fee to get it covered). Now I have been classed as high blood pressure and it's always covered if stable, but it still has to be mentioned. Don't mention it, have a problem, they find it in your medical records, they can get out of paying.

In my case, they were just stalling, trying to make it as difficult as possible, asking for records that were almost impossible to get. I could have kept going I guess, but it was months and months of trying to get enough information so I gave up and never used that company again.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

eek, mine too I only just got a CC for this trip more to put hotel charges on but now I'm definitely going to get the limit upped - I too didn't realise quite how expensive healthcare is in the US, and I am also going to update my health insurance with my drug allergies which I hadn't even considered as pre existing conditions....what would I do without you all?!!!

On that note, workmate who spent the last week in NY was back at work yesterday - asked her if travel insurance would reimburse her for anything given the whole week 90% of NY was in lock down because of Sandy. Couldn't believe it, she said actually I forgot to get any travel insurance she is so lucky that she didn't need it

Some people just are so silly. I would never travel anywhere outside of Australia without insurance.

 

[Beee]

No most don't work that way. You pay the bill, then claim the money back. But there are some who will help you out with it.

The thing is, the travel insurance isn't like medicare, it's not a sure thing to get your money back. They wanted to go back through my records for the last 5 years, to make sure that I there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition that I hadn't told them about. It's like house or car insurance, you have to claim it back, they check the circumstances before paying.

US medical expenses are the most expensive in the world! That's why when you look at the travel insurance table, they are always the most expensive to cover. The UK is good, they have a reciprocal thing with our medicare, although I have still paid minor out of pocket there and claimed it back. I had always mentioned my peanut allergy and it was exempt. If you read the fine print of policies, allergies are usually included. I usually have to get an exemption with Asthma, no policies have Asthma included without an exemption of some description (sometimes an additional fee to get it covered). Now I have been classed as high blood pressure and it's always covered if stable, but it still has to be mentioned. Don't mention it, have a problem, they find it in your medical records, they can get out of paying.

In my case, they were just stalling, trying to make it as difficult as possible, asking for records that were almost impossible to get. I could have kept going I guess, but it was months and months of trying to get enough information so I gave up and never used that company again.

I had to pay extra to be covered for my arthritis, only about $50 more so worth it for peace of mind even though it is pretty well managed at the moment. I can't remember anything about allergies being asked so will have to double check, one is voltaren and the other lignocaine which I'm pretty sure are called the same things over there but good to check before we go just to be safe, you people are a mine of information!

 

[australiankaren]

Travel Insurance Direct. This is one of the sites I used to help with my decision, I know there was another but would have to google again! http://www.productreview.com.au/c/travel-insurance.html

great...TID was who i was going to get annual from for 2013...and they have a 10% off promo code as well...bargain...thanks for the

 

[australiankaren]

so if I do have a hospital stay and its in the $$$$$$$$$$, how do we pay it on our card????
Or is it that if it reaches a certain limit the travel insurance company steps in????
Now you have me worried, i always assumed we filled in a form in the usa and our insurance took over......also car hire excess..has anyone had issues with that??

 

[Andona]

I had to pay extra to be covered for my arthritis, only about $50 more so worth it for peace of mind even though it is pretty well managed at the moment. I can't remember anything about allergies being asked so will have to double check, one is voltaren and the other lignocaine which I'm pretty sure are called the same things over there but good to check before we go just to be safe, you people are a mine of information!

Beee , do you mind telling me what kind of arthritis you have? I have a friend who had Inflammatory arthritis (not Osteo) and takes regular medication for it.theirs is also very well managed and has never caused the, to be hospitalised. I have wondered what the extra costs would be for them to have that covered as a pre-existing condition?

Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Franrose]

great...TID was who i was going to get annual from for 2013...and they have a 10% off promo code as well...bargain...thanks for the

Did you read my next posts though? Reviews raved about them this time last year... then they changed underwriters and now I am not so sure!

 

[Beee]

Beee , do you mind telling me what kind of arthritis you have? I have a friend who had Inflammatory arthritis (not Osteo) and takes regular medication for it.theirs is also very well managed and has never caused the, to be hospitalised. I have wondered what the extra costs would be for them to have that covered as a pre-existing condition?

Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I have psoriatic arthritis, basically rheumatoid arthritis with the added bonus of psoriasis...when I filled in the form I had to state if I used mobility aids, whether I'd ben hospitalised in the past 12 months and how many different medications I was taking. I don't use aids, haven't been hospitalised and only on 2 medications so I'd assume the cost would be higher or they wouldn't cover if it wasn't well managed or more severe.

 

[australiankaren]

Did you read my next posts though? Reviews raved about them this time last year... then they changed underwriters and now I am not so sure!

oh great........now who do i go with...so confused......