Esilef Posted September 5, 2013 #1 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Recently on a trip to Hawaii I was badly injured and needed to go to hospital x 3 times. The American hospital system cost over $10000 USD. I had travel insurrance and every month I am still getting demand letters. I'm concerned with boarding an American cruise ship in Australian water with this amount still owing. Could I get arrested or refused access to the ship? Seriously I paid my travel insurance why can't they pay my hospital bills??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjc1111 Posted September 5, 2013 #2 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Sounds like a complicated situation. Perhaps someone here can help, but you might want to seek out resolution through legal representation if you haven't done that yet, especially if you are battling with the travel insurance company. Sorry for your injury and I hope you are doing better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkrebs Posted September 6, 2013 #3 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Did you file the bills with the insurance company. Read your contract,. My brother had to pay his bill and then they reimbursed him. No you want get arrested, but they sure as heck are dinging your credit score. Remember none of these ships are registered in the US so are not American ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SissasMomE Posted September 6, 2013 #4 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Recently on a trip to Hawaii I was badly injured and needed to go to hospital x 3 times. The American hospital system cost over $10000 USD. I had travel insurrance and every month I am still getting demand letters. I'm concerned with boarding an American cruise ship in Australian water with this amount still owing. Could I get arrested or refused access to the ship? Seriously I paid my travel insurance why can't they pay my hospital bills??? We do not have debtor's prisons in America anymore. You are safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmak315 Posted September 6, 2013 #5 Share Posted September 6, 2013 No worries - if everyone in the US who owed a hospital bill went to prison, we would need a LOT more prisons. I wouldn't sweat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Cruz Chic Posted September 6, 2013 #6 Share Posted September 6, 2013 It sounds as if you haven't filed with your health insurance. Have you filed with them? Did you get a EOB (explanation of benefits? Thats the first steps in getting your travel insurance to pay your bills. I think there may be more to the story. *** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matj2000 Posted September 6, 2013 #7 Share Posted September 6, 2013 This really is not the place to look for that type of info.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted September 6, 2013 #8 Share Posted September 6, 2013 What American ship are you boarding in Australia? If its an RCI ship, it's not American flagged. Go and enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesr3939 Posted September 6, 2013 #9 Share Posted September 6, 2013 If you paid the cruise fare they won't care. They can't run your credit report unless you give them permission so there is no way they can find out and if they do run it then I wouldn't worry about that $$$ as you will have plenty to pay it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted September 6, 2013 #10 Share Posted September 6, 2013 We do not have debtor's prisons in America anymore. You are safe. :D:D:D And if we did they would be full of the "middle class"...No worries OP their not looking for you getting on/off a cruise ship ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted September 6, 2013 Author #11 Share Posted September 6, 2013 As soon as the Accident happened my dad was on the phone to the issurrance company. Details were logged and medical treatment approved. It's now been 5 months and I have constantly had to scan in the invoices and send them to the insurrance company. I have followed every step they have told me to but still they are dragging out payment. I hate owing money and owing $10k to the US hospital system is a lot. I really want this finalised by the time we cruise. I don't understand the US hospital system. Legal advice maybe needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zigggypup Posted September 6, 2013 #12 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Arrested for what? Do you know of any warrants that have been issued for your arrest? Not paying a bill is a civil matter, not criminal. But hide a handcuff key in your shorts just in case :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwm51 Posted September 6, 2013 #13 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Only if the company takes legal action against you!:( EVEN THEN that's an iffy proposition...;) I wouldn't unnecessarily worry about this!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted September 6, 2013 Author #14 Share Posted September 6, 2013 It sounds as if you haven't filed with your health insurance. Have you filed with them? Did you get a EOB (explanation of benefits? Thats the first steps in getting your travel insurance to pay your bills. I think there may be more to the story. *** The issue is that my private health insurrance is Australian but the expense occurred in the USA. Only travel insurrance covers you for overseas medical. I think part of the issue is the differing procedures and policies between the 2 countries. What makes me cry is that if the accident happened in Australia it would have cost $0 due to the Medicare cover & private ambulance cover. At least we can still go on our cruise.... Drat the insurance company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmpressofPurple Posted September 6, 2013 #15 Share Posted September 6, 2013 What makes me cry is that we don't have Aussie-type medical coverage in the u.s. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esilef Posted September 6, 2013 Author #16 Share Posted September 6, 2013 What makes me cry is that we don't have Aussie-type medical coverage in the u.s. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app I just wonder how many Americans are forced to go without medical treatment due to the cost. The cost could cause deaths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coralc Posted September 6, 2013 #17 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Did you have travel insurance? Or was it included in your cruise fare? If you didn't....you might ask your regular medical how much is covered out of the country. Only some private medical insurance policies or travel insurance will cover US patients out of the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted September 6, 2013 #18 Share Posted September 6, 2013 No worries - if everyone in the US who owed a hospital bill went to prison, we would need a LOT more prisons. I wouldn't sweat it. Ironically in prison we'd get FREE healthcare! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah@Sea Posted September 6, 2013 #19 Share Posted September 6, 2013 As soon as the Accident happened my dad was on the phone to the issurrance company. Details were logged and medical treatment approved. It's now been 5 months and I have constantly had to scan in the invoices and send them to the insurrance company. I have followed every step they have told me to but still they are dragging out payment. I hate owing money and owing $10k to the US hospital system is a lot. I really want this finalised by the time we cruise. I don't understand the US hospital system. Legal advice maybe needed. Story of my life....if I may offer this ...ask for an itemized statement might widdle that bill down a few thousand by questioning what they actually billed for...but really is the travel ins company saying what the hang up in processing it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted September 6, 2013 #20 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Ironically in prison we'd get FREE healthcare! Ain't that the truth :D And to the OP - no I wouldn't worry about being arrested for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizziedi Posted September 6, 2013 #21 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Did you have travel insurance? Or was it included in your cruise fare? If you didn't....you might ask your regular medical how much is covered out of the country. Only some private medical insurance policies or travel insurance will cover US patients out of the country. In a nutshell, in Australia, travel insurance does not form part of your cruise fare, you have to seek out travel insurance. Most cruisers tend to buy online travel insurance for each cruise they take or in our case we take an annual overseas travel policy for $390 which covers us for all travel to almost anywhere on the world (Egypt at the moment wouldn't be covered) for the year. Some cruisers/travellers rely on the insurance provided by their credit card provider (there are a couple of qualifications needed for this and one is they must have paid the majority of their fares with their credit card). We prefer to have the back-up of an independent policy. Every policy itemises its limit on each "procedure" and whilst I dont know what the OP went through I would be surprised if $10,000 wasn't covered. Cheers Di Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3littlepigs Posted September 6, 2013 #22 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Recently on a trip to Hawaii I was badly injured and needed to go to hospital x 3 times. The American hospital system cost over $10000 USD. I had travel insurrance and every month I am still getting demand letters. I'm concerned with boarding an American cruise ship in Australian water with this amount still owing. Could I get arrested or refused access to the ship? Seriously I paid my travel insurance why can't they pay my hospital bills??? Ring the insurance company and ask what is causing the payment to be held up. Once you have that information attend to it straight away so thy can process the payment. If they can't tell you what the problem is or are just procrastinating tell them you will be referring the matter to the Insurance Ombudsman...then do just that. The office Of the Ombudsman will take up your case. We have had a number of claims on a number of different travel insurance companies over the years and always found them prompt and helpful. Nobody here can tell you why the insurance company has delayed payment...the only one who knows why is the insurance company. Go straight to the horses mouth :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_G Posted September 6, 2013 #23 Share Posted September 6, 2013 What makes me cry is that we don't have Aussie-type medical coverage in the u.s. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app What makes me cry is people think there exists such a thing as free health care. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken076 Posted September 6, 2013 #24 Share Posted September 6, 2013 The issue is that my private health insurrance is Australian but the expense occurred in the USA. Only travel insurrance covers you for overseas medical. I think part of the issue is the differing procedures and policies between the 2 countries. What makes me cry is that if the accident happened in Australia it would have cost $0 due to the Medicare cover & private ambulance cover. At least we can still go on our cruise.... Drat the insurance company Esilef -- Does your Australian Policy specifically include "out of country" medical coverage? If NOT, does it state that you are covered at a lower coverage for "out of Network" treatment, that might cover you wherever you're treated? ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeachChik Posted September 6, 2013 #25 Share Posted September 6, 2013 What makes me cry is people think there exists such a thing as free health care. :D I don't think anyone thinks it is free however IMO other countries have a better system then the US. No one should have to go in debt for the rest of their life to receive necessary medical treatment. Even having good insurance, I still pay a lot out of pocket each year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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