Posted on May 23, 2023
He visited the U.S. for his daughter's wedding — and left with a $42,000 medical bill
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/05/23/ [login to see] /he-visited-the-u-s-for-his-daughters-wedding-and-left-with-a-42-000-medical-bill
Last June, Jay Comfort flew to the United States from his home in Switzerland to attend his only daughter's wedding. But the week before the ceremony — on a Friday evening — Comfort said he found himself in "excruciating pain."
"I tried to gut it out for three hours because of the insurance situation," said Comfort, a retired teacher and American citizen who has Swiss insurance.
When the pain became unbearable, Comfort called his brother, who drove him and his wife, Nazuna, a few miles to the nearest emergency department, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's hospital in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Every bump of the drive was "like someone taking something and just jabbing it into my abdomen," he said.
Last June, Jay Comfort flew to the United States from his home in Switzerland to attend his only daughter's wedding. But the week before the ceremony — on a Friday evening — Comfort said he found himself in "excruciating pain."
"I tried to gut it out for three hours because of the insurance situation," said Comfort, a retired teacher and American citizen who has Swiss insurance.
When the pain became unbearable, Comfort called his brother, who drove him and his wife, Nazuna, a few miles to the nearest emergency department, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's hospital in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Every bump of the drive was "like someone taking something and just jabbing it into my abdomen," he said.
He visited the U.S. for his daughter's wedding — and left with a $42,000 medical bill
Posted from npr.org
Switzerland
Medical
Health
Travel
Insurance
Posted 1 y ago
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And hospitals and doctors wonder why people don't want to utilize them unless it's absolutely critical shipmate PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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I (mistakenly) thought this would be covered by 'balanced billing' section of the "No Surprise Act" that went into effect at the beginning of last year (for emergency services, you must be billed at your insurances in-network rate), but after looking into the details, that doesn't appear to apply to foreign insurances. However, the Hospital would have been required to provide him with a good-faith estimate about the costs (just as if he were uninsured or self-paid) ... if he requested it (and he probably didn't realize that as many of our citizens don't realize that).
Many don't realized that the insurance they have may not cover them, or may not give them the coverage they want when outside of their country (this applies to people in the United States traveling out of the country as well) .
There are many "Visiting Foreigner" insurance plans* that are offered for people traveling outside of their country - in most cases, it's between one to two hundred dollars (for a single individual) a month (obviously it varies depending on age, number covered, length of stay, amount covered, copays, etc), but it would fall into one of those "piece of mind" things like trip insurance for a vacation.
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* Just one example - there are MANY others - https://www.imglobal.com/
Many don't realized that the insurance they have may not cover them, or may not give them the coverage they want when outside of their country (this applies to people in the United States traveling out of the country as well) .
There are many "Visiting Foreigner" insurance plans* that are offered for people traveling outside of their country - in most cases, it's between one to two hundred dollars (for a single individual) a month (obviously it varies depending on age, number covered, length of stay, amount covered, copays, etc), but it would fall into one of those "piece of mind" things like trip insurance for a vacation.
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* Just one example - there are MANY others - https://www.imglobal.com/
International Health & Travel Medical Insurance - IMG
Get quotes on travel medical insurance, international health insurance, and trip insurance. Experience more and worry less with International Medical Group.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
COL Randall C. Why I thought the UK Was Great "Socialized Medicine" Just Walk in to the Hospital and You're Good! Now If You have Insurance say Like Tricare. The Quality is Even Better.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."After his appendectomy, Comfort recalled vomiting and then waiting in a recovery room. In all, he spent about 14 hours at UPMC Williamsport before being released. He attended his daughter's wedding and, eventually, traveled back to Switzerland. Then the bill came."
..."After his appendectomy, Comfort recalled vomiting and then waiting in a recovery room. In all, he spent about 14 hours at UPMC Williamsport before being released. He attended his daughter's wedding and, eventually, traveled back to Switzerland. Then the bill came."
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