Claiming on insurance

Hi,

A rather sad ask here. My sister and brother-in-law flew out to Florida a couple of weeks ago, two days later she had a massive stroke and is in intensive care over there.

We've ascertained that all is fine with medical cover, but its very uncertain how long she will be out there.

I've managed to find out that the insurance will arrange for some kind of accommodation for my bro in law, and am trying to find out whether they will also cover a car for the period after their holiday date ends. Also trying to find out how it works about re-arranging flights and so on. Also, he's on meds for high BP - he did take more meds than he needed, but they will only last about an extra week. Does anyone know if insurers cover arranging for more meds?

I know, I need to ask the insurers and I will be doing (they've agreed to talk to me, it's easier from here), but I was just wondering if anyone here has had experience of this kind of thing and what to expect????

[buns]

Firstly, my thoughts are with you - having suffered a stroke myself, I know what will be going through everybody's minds at this time and what a shock this will be to all involved.

My strong advice would be to actually discuss with the insurance company precisely what is covered by your sister's policy and more importantly whether there are any financial limits to benefits offered under the policy she holds.

Once armed with this info, you and your brother in law can start to decide how to deal with the coming days and possibly weeks.

I will say having a stroke was a wake up call for not only me, but also Mrs Buns and my immediate family. Over time i have regained much of my abilities, but still take things easy and do not put myself into situations that will cause me to get stressed out - this included arranging subsequent travel insurance which is, as you can imagine, much more expensive than before.

All the very best for working things out

buns

Many thanks for your advice and kind words Buns. You're right, it's a real shock, an everyday shock, but huge nonetheless. I'm so glad to hear how far your recovery has come, and also that you're still travelling! That's something my brother-in-law is assuming can't continue, and of course if way in the future, if at all, but I hands considered it would be possible,

I've now sent to insurers a barrage of questions. I do know that the policy mentions cover of 5,000,000, but will have to wait for their reply to now find out about the other elements. Have to say they have, so far, been extremely helpful. And I'm very grateful for that.

As an aside, I was talking to my sister, a few months back. She was taking out insurance for this trip. My brother-in-law said she didn't need to mention his diabetes and that he's on meds for his BP, I almost yelled at her. No!!!!! Tell them everything cow, if you don't and you break your leg, you won't be covered..... I never imagined his would happen though. But I suppose nobody ever does.

Sorry to hear about your sister. Hopefully she did complete the travel insurance fully and correctly so that they are adequately covered.

I used to work in aeromedicine. When she is well enough to fly the insurance company can arrange for a medical repatriation company to organise her transfer home- either direct to a UK hospital of her own home if she is wel enough. This may be in an air ambulance or, more likely, with a medic escourt on a commercial flight. The insurers should also be able to arrange for supplies of her husbands medicines to be courriered out urgently.

Many thanks Maximus. It's good to have some info about what is and isn't
possible or likely. My brother in law wants to make an appointment out there to get meds, but I told him to wait until we get a reply from the insurers. it's quite possible the meds he takes are not known in the U.S. or at least not by the same name, but also I'm mindful that a consultation could be costly, and that's without whatever the meds will cost.

I cannot add to the advice already given but felt I wanted to say how very sorry I am and to hope everything is soon sorted with a happy outcome.

I only had a broken wrist to sort out with insurers whilst in the States and even that was unbelievable stressful.
You are all in my thoughts.

I hope your SiL makes a full recovery. It is very stressful when a loved one falls ill when away.

When my Mum was taken ill a few years ago in Tunisia the insurance company were great from paying the hospital bills directly to sending a Doctor out from the the UK to assess her before repatriation. There had made preliminary arrangements for a full medi-vac flight but in the end she was fine to fly on a normal plane - accompanied by the Doctor - and then by people carrier from MAN to Teesside. The Doctor then stayed with her until she was assessed by the hospital - they had arranged admission previously. There was absolutely no attempt to try and avoid paying any expenses - other than the excess.

Thomas Cook were also great with the rep checking with my Dad how she was and letting him stay an extra 10 days in the complex for free.

When Mum and Dad were arranging insurance Dad had to insist that all mums pre-existing conditions were properly recorded despite the call handler saying some conditions didn't need to be as they wouldn't affect the quote. Which is technically correct but not totally reassuring so you did the right thing by telling your BiL and SiL to disclose everything.


I did have a chuckle at your typo though. I assume it was a typo ...

... I almost yelled at her. No!!!!! Tell them everything cow...

Thanks everyone, for your input and kind words.



Oh - and yes, I did do a typo tonty!!!!

Thanks everyone, for your input and kind words.



Oh - and yes, I did do a typo tonty!!!!

In sure once you SiL recovers and you show her this thread she'll have a good chuckle!

My sister, but yes, she would certainly laugh at my error. Just blame it on the iPad!!!!

So sorry to hear about your sister Clare, do hope she pulls through and you get her home safe.

Nothing to add about the insurance but I do declare all our medical bits and just received our renewel this week and they have changed several covers saying they are not now including mugging or hijacking, don't know if this is the norm. Not that I would want either of these things to occur but people do get mugged, may have to have a look around.

All the best for the outcome. Regards Linda

I've just spoken again to the insurers -we're almost on first- name terms now - they tell me that getting more meds for my brother in law is not covered, because he isn't ill! They appreciate that he needs to continue his meds so are advising he pays and then tries to claim back.

Now, I have no idea what a consultation with a doctor will cost, let alone what the meds themselves will cost, so am wondering about the possibility of approaching his GP, asking him if he can help and them maybe Fed-exng meds out to him. I don't know if his GP will oblige but more importantly, I don't know if there are regs that would prevent DHL sending them. Does anyone know?????

In the US, many of our prescription meds are available over the counter. It will be worth his while popping into Walgreens (or similar) with his meds and asking the pharmacist for advice. Most meds have 2 names; the "fancy marketing name" and then the "actual medical stuff", so the marketing names may well be different but the active ingredients will be the same.
Best of luck at this trying time....

You are not supposed to send UK issued medicines out of the country. When I was a GP practice manager we were once asked to issue a prescription for someone who was out of the country so the patients mother could get the drugs and then send them and we checked with Boots and they told us that it wasn't allowed on an NHS prescription. Of course if we hadn't been told the circumstances we would have just issued a repeat prescription as normal!

What I would suggest is getting your BiL to talk to the pharmacist at the US hospital to see if (a) the medication or equivalent is available in the US and (b) the easiest way of then getting it.

It will be easier if he has the original box with the UK pharmacists label with his name on it.

Thanks again tonty. I guess I'm not surprised there are regs around this kind of thing. I'll pass along your suggestion to him. At best, it might help get round the issue. At worst, it'll provide a little distraction.

I would also reccomen visiting a pharmacy in the states.
Hope you manage to get things sorte and your sister is better soon.

When we were in New Jersey in May, we had to go to see an eye consultant. OH has a degenerative eye condition and it had suddenly got worse. As it's pre-existing, we declare it but can't claim so we just had to bite the bullet and pay. Fantastic service, eye scans, photos, tests, extensive medical history, then a good half hour with the head man who was brilliant and took us through the scans and results, explaining more than we'd been told in the last 15 years with three different consultants in three different counties in England.

I had visions of needing a second mortgage. The cost? $160. Total. The end. We were astonished. This may not tell you anything I realise, as your BIL is not in New Jersey but maybe it's not as expensive to see medical folk as we all fear.

I do hope all goes well for your sister.

That's somewhat surprising whiterose! My BIL asked today how much a consult will be (he's made an appointment but hadn't previously asked!) and wa s told $120. Not great but, as you say, not as much as we had feared. He had already spoken to the medical staff on the ICUwhere my sister is, they didn't recognise the name of his mess (didn't surprise me) but they did look up the generic and there's a similar one in the US, again, unsurprisingly. It's still prescription only though, so he will need to have a consult.

Today, my sister is starting to speak. My BIL facetimed me while on the ward, so I was able to speak to her, althoughI couldn't understand her. It's progress though.

Glad to hear there has been some positive progress with your sister.

Not at all surprised the medicines need a prescription as they are potent substances and usually require monitoring.

Sorry the insurance company will not courier mess out. He is insured as well after all. My policy states it will do this if needed.

This may answer some questions:
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail ... escription

Never been asked to do this myself.

[buns]

Today, my sister is starting to speak. My BIL facetimed me while on the ward, so I was able to speak to her, althoughI couldn't understand her. It's progress though.

Good to learn that there is progress; hope that continues.

buns

Thanks Maximus, though I notice it mentions it can take as long as a month for stuff to get through!!!! I did point out to the insurers that my BIL is also on the policy, but their stance is that he isn't I'll. Although kindly said, it's hard to understand their point of view.

Not going to harp on about this, except to say that my BIL is being told a couple of doctors treating her think she may well be fit to fly in a few days. They're saying this would be with some kind of medi-air and seem to think he will be able to fly on it too, though at the moment nothing is certain. Interestingly though, they also say that they would be able to take just one bag. I know they flew out with 2 bags each, so have contacted the insurers (my daily contact!) to try and clarify their protocol for this. But it set me thinking.... I know there's some kind of service that can home can use to send bags back home - has anyone here ever used such a service and if so, what did you think of it.

So sorry to hear about your sister it must be so difficult for you all, but on a positive you have a wealth of advice and knowledge here to help you. If you are still wondering about getting the additional bags home I have friends who for various reasons use this service, two companies I am aware of are called"Follow my bag" and "Send my bag" but I am sure there are others. They seem to be very happy with the service although your Insurance Company must have dealt with this situation many times before and be able to help you as well.

Thanks Jacki and you're right, the wealth of knowledge on this forum has been really helpful. It always is!

Thanks for the sites for sending luggage - I had a feeling that was something that had been on here before, but couldn't remember for sure.

I am a UK registered paramedic but live in California.

What are the drug needed - some here are available over the counter that are prescription in the UK.

There are lots of avenues available to get prescriptions filled whilst here. CVS/Walgreens for example have walk in clinics who tend to be very helpful. A faxed/emailed prescription from his UK doctor maybe sufficient for them to issue the medication.

I am also a pilot and worked as a paramedic at a major London airport. I might be out of touch with some current procedures but if needed I am sure I can find out most things.

Also contact the consulate and make them aware of the situation and get some help with things.

Save EVERY receipt for ANYTHING at this time.

If she is 'ready' to fly home PLEASE ensure that the fitness to fly examination/documentation is completed by a doctor who HAS AVIATION KNOWLEDGE! I cannot stress this enough! Subjecting a patient to cabin pressures, limited medical care options and timings is EXTREMELY understood by even (normally) very competent doctors.

PM me if you wish.

W.

Hi Pilot,

We did go down the route of trying to get a prescription faxed over and were told, very firmly, that a UK-issued script is not acceptable, we were told this from several quarters! In the event, my sister was air ambulanced back (at 10,000 feet) to the UK at the end of last week, so my BIL didn't actually run out of his meds.

In connection with the flight, I can't comment on whether the doctors signing her off as fit to fly did have aviation knowledge. Although in connection with that, we did find out something that's made us uneasy. When she got to A & E this end, we found that there had been some liaison between the insurers and doctors in hospitals at both ends. What was unsettling is that the doctor this end has said that they didn't want to accept her until a period of 3 weeks after the stroke happened (she came back a little over two weeks afterwards). As well as that, there was someone else repatriated on the same flight who had been involved in a serious car accident and whose father was insisting she was flown back. Reading between the lines, we think the insurers were trying to contain costs, which I do understand, but why did they not take any notice of medics on this side of the pond too?

Now back in the UK, and my BIL is distinctly unimpressed. I get that staff need to do their own assessment, but it does seem little notice is being taken of the extensive reports that came back with her. So far, no assessment for physio or speech, my BIL feels she's gone backwards. There's a meeting tomorrow which my MIL has asked me to attend. I'm not sure what I can do, except try to calm him down and try to focus on my sister....,

Thanks for your input pilot. And thanks everyone for listening....