Canadian couple tripped up by travel health insurance questionnaire over Florida trip

"In the last two (2) years, have you been prescribed or received treatment for and/or been hospitalized (as an in-patient or seen in the emergency department) and/or been prescribed or taken medication for any of the following conditions: diverticular disorder or gastrointestinal bleeding?"

Bill Jennings' insurance company claims he gave an incorrect answer to this question. That cost Jennings and his wife Tracy $346,000.

Another case of medical insurance malpractice in the United States? Yes, but the catch is that the Jennings couple are Canadian.

One incorrect perception is that Canadians don't have to worry about paperwork or misleading insurance questionnaires or huge health care bills. Well, they don't … unless they visit the United States.

Canadians are normally in rather good shape if something bad happens health-wise when traveling within Canada. True, a hiccup or two between provinces can happen, but these are fender-benders compared to the driving 90 mph while texting accidents of getting sick in the United States.

The Jennings couple live in Gold River, British Columbia, and bought travel health insurance while visiting Florida. Sure enough, Bill suffers a heart attack. Now Manulife, the insurance company, wants the Jennings to pay.

In typical American style, when the hospital found out the Jennings didn't have insurance, the hospital reduced the bill to $160,000. The Jennings do have insurance for when they are in British Columbia, and thought they had insurance outside the province.

Increased travel between Canada and the United States is a strong goal of CanadianCrossing.com. If/when Obamacare comes to the masses, the two countries should work out a better system of dealing with Canadians who travel to the United States.

Comments

[Inurance Kitchener]

What an interesting story. Does stuff like this happen often or is this couple's story a rare case? I have never heard of problems like this before. Guess I better read up on my insurance policies.

[Chad]

This does happen quite often though not to this extreme. If you get sick and can make it back home, you're in good shape. But if you can't leave the States, you're subject to its lack of mercy when you get sick.

[miami]

Interesting story. Does things this occur often or is this married couple's story a unusual case? I have never observed of issues like this before. Think I better study up on my plans.

[business insurance]

Everybody should have a special insurance called "travel insurance" while traveling out of its own country. That's the way things go on all over the world. I don't know why it should be different between the States and Canada.

[Robert]

Nice post.Thanks, Travel health insurance is compulsory. Insurance provide protection with guaranteed benefits.