Claiming medical expenses

A snowHead

I have never had to claim on a travel insurance policy for anything, so I do not really know the procedures.

What I would like to know from those who have had the unfortune to make a claim, was how the claim was paid. Did you pay it all, and then claim it back from an insurer with a receipt?

The reason I ask, is that the medical expenses can sometimes quote figures of £2-£5 million upper limit on medical expenses. Do you have to have a credit card with that kind of limit, before you can get a receipt for payment?

Is it possible to send the bill direct to the insurer, with you paying the excess?

How does it work, and what kind of excess do you normally travel with? - I note that the base level excess on winter sports travel is £250 for the advertised dog tag insurance on snowheads.

Anyone ever made a claim for £5 million medical expenses?

A snowHead

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, I could not see where to post this!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Bigtipper, you would need to contact your insurers in order to claim as soon as possible after your medical incident. When my hubby was injured, no medical bills or ambulance charges were paid by us, it was all dealt with by our insurers (Direct Travel). I did need to pay and claim for other things such as hotel near the hospital, re-booked ferries etc. Excess was only around £50, and was waived with the European Health Insurance card.
No-one could possibly have a credit card with that sort of limit.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Bigtipper, actually, since it very much affects skiers, I think you've chosen the right forum. snowHead

I agree with Hells Bells that you would need to contact your insurer as soon as possible, so that they can be involved in what is done - otherwise you may have a very hard time claiming. When I ruptured my Achilles tendon at Alpe D'Huez, both the doctor's fees and the prescriptions had to be paid for up front - and were claimed back later. however things like taxi costs and additional air tickets were picked up directly by the insurer. In the case of a major accident, my guess is that all cover would be picked up by the insurer directly, provided they were in the picture from the start. I can't remember my excess at the moment, but £250 seems reasonable. I strongly recommend that you have some sort of contingency funding (eg through a credit card) to cover you for things like medical expenses up front. I would suggest £2k - but other sHs will no doubt offer their opinions.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Bigtipper Its difficult to give you any sort of comprehensive answer to your question as it depends on why you are claiming, the type of policy you have taken out and its small print.

I have only had the misfortune to claim once on a travel insurance policy and it wasn't ski related. Reading the small print on my policy I had to notify the insurers within 60 days of any potential claim and all documents had to be sent to them by recorded delivery. Unfortunately I was midway through a round the world trip so I just paid for the medical expenses myself and notified them by e:mail of my claim telling them that they would get the supporting documents on my return 6 months later. On my return I sent of my full claim and docs and within 14 days I had a cheque in my hands without any quibble!

In any event my claim was ony small as all I has was an appointment with a consultant, an injection - in the bum no less Embarassed

- and a couple of repeat prescriptions.

However I am also aware of another claim made by my Grandmother following a fall on holiday. She was on a cruise with her sister and she ended up breaking her hip. After a couple of days in hospital stabilising her hip the insurance company paid all hospital bills, arranged for a nurse to be flown out from the UK and escort her back to the UK on a prearranged flight where she took up three seats and a private ambulance to met her at the airport and bring her back to the local hospital. All she needed to pay was her excess and give her credit card details to the hospital when she arrived as she couldn't confirm her insurance details there and then as they were at the hotel!

£5million in expenses is for circumstances when (fingers crossed it never happens) you have a serious and life threatening injury abroad as the medical costs of carrying out any immediate and on-going surgery along with repatriation can soon add up!!!!

You'll need to Register first of course.

I always use DogTag and have only made claims from injuries in France. Most hospital costs are covered by producing an Ehic card. Piste rescue and ambulance covered by credit card.
Notified DogTag as soon as practically possible claim form filled in and received a cheque within 2 weeks, happily before I received my Credit card statement Very Happy

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

When i am skiing I always carry a copy of my insurance certificate with me and a credit card. If you are going to be kept in hospital you should make connact with your Insurance company as soon as possible, some hospitals will do this for you if you have Insurance details on you. Its a good idea to have your EHIC card on you as if you are in a state hospital this sometimes covers most of the costs incurred.

After all it is free

I can speak for a couple of hospital visits in the US (although I was walk in on both occasions). Knowing the level of likely medical expenses (high even for simple things like stitches) I called the insurer 24 hr helpline prior to treatment, got a reference number from them then referred them and the hospital to each other. This avoided any need to pay up or offer the hospital my credit card.

The 2 occasions I have had to be repatriated I've then negotiated the assistance myself with input from medical professionals.

So it sounds like most people need to make a phone call to the insurance company when a potential medical claim arises to authorize treatment. It would be useful if you had a credit card, issued by the insurance company, which was authorized when you made that phone call for sundry expenses.

Obviously, any insurance company would not pay out on everything. So it would be just like a normal credit card, except that it would only work if you validated it in an emergency. The negotiation on what was relevant or not to a claim, and the excess on the policy payment, would come out of the credit card agreement.

In the event of you being found unconscious, and no other persons known to you or your insurance policy present, presumably a dog tag/not yet authorised insurance credit card might be useful around your neck.

The reason insurance companies do not do this is due to the moral hazard risk. People would run up huge credit card bills, and then default on the payment. (as there would be a dispute over who was liable)

This would mean that the insurance policy would be slightly more expensive than those that left you to pick up the tab, and try to reclaim it.

I can't see any insurance company doing this, but I could see people buying such policies at the right price.

rolling eyes

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

For minor issues, pay up front and claim back.

For a major hospital stay, pass all your insurance documents to the hospital and call / get someone less broken to call your insurer's emergency medical assistance number. It should then all get sorted direct.

Simples.

snow reports

Bigtipper,
Main points as everyone else has said:
Get hold of the insurance Co as soon as possible
Keep record of details of accident/illness/etc
ALWAYS keep receipts

Here is a form that you may want to print off and take with you
It’s for the Italian system
Not sure if this is what you'd need I other countries, someone else will be able to advise

Wayne, a very useful document.

Help!!

Claiming medical expenses

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