Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Go Back   Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community > Main Forums > The Off Topic Forum
Register Forum Rules FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 11-19-2014, 12:23 PM   #1
Calgary14
First Line Centre
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Exp:
Default Saskatchewan couple face $1M medical bill for US birth

http://globalnews.ca/news/1679588/dr...chewan-couple/

Interested to hear opinions on this one. In case you missed it in the news a couple from Saskatchewan gave birth prematurely while vacationing in Hawaii and have now learnt their insurance won't cover the $1M in medical bills. Now they are contemplating bankruptcy.

On one hand the couple probably shouldn't have travelled in the first place.

But on the other hand they did get insurance coverage and double checked to make sure they were in fact covered.

If anything it just goes to show you how much fine print there is for insurance policies.
Calgary14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:24 PM   #2
FlamesAddiction
Franchise Player
 
FlamesAddiction's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary14 View Post
http://globalnews.ca/news/1679588/dr...chewan-couple/

Interested to hear opinions on this one. In case you missed it in the news a couple from Saskatchewan gave birth prematurely while vacationing in Hawaii and have now learnt their insurance won't cover the $1M in medical bills. Now they are contemplating bankruptcy.

On one hand the couple probably shouldn't have travelled in the first place.

But on the other hand they did get insurance coverage and double checked to make sure they were in fact covered.

If anything it just goes to show you how much fine print there is for insurance policies.
Apparently her travel policy was expired anyway.

$1 million seems like too much, but it doesn't sound like they did their due diligence.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskat...-u-s-1.2839319
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
FlamesAddiction is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:24 PM   #3
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

Who much are babies fectching on Ebay these days?
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:25 PM   #4
Sliver
evil of fart
 
Sliver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction View Post
Apparently her travel policy was expired anyway.

$1 million seems like too much, but it doesn't sound like they did their due diligence.
Where did you hear that?
Sliver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:26 PM   #5
waner
Lifetime Suspension
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Exp:
Default

I read this and am not lawyer or doctor so maybe I am missing something but if the doctor says there was no pre-existing condition then how is it not on Blue Cross to pay up?

Are they able to just say sorry doctor we don't believe you so we say it is a pre-existing condition and you are screwed?
waner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:26 PM   #6
Finger Cookin
Franchise Player
 
Finger Cookin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Exp:
Default

I would really like to hear specifics from Blue Cross about why this was denied, and what else the couple should have down to ensure that coverage was in place and would be honored. Other than the bill being expensive, I mean.

EDIT: After reading the CBC article provided, it sounds like the issue is the 2 month stay in neonatal. Which - what should a couple do there? You couldn't insure the child for health care before birth, could you? Why would you when it was born almost 3 months prematurely?

Last edited by Finger Cookin; 11-19-2014 at 12:29 PM.
Finger Cookin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:26 PM   #7
Locke
Franchise Player
 
Locke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Income Tax Central
Exp:
Default

That is absolute batshat insanity.

Take away every other detail and this is still insane.

$1M dollars? Even if it was Donald Trump thats a lot of money for a circumstance beyond anyone's control.
__________________
The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!

This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.

The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans

If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
Locke is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Locke For This Useful Post:
Old 11-19-2014, 12:28 PM   #8
troutman
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
 
troutman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Crowsnest Pass
Exp:
Default

Kickstarter?
troutman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:28 PM   #9
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction View Post
Apparently her travel policy was expired anyway.

$1 million seems like too much, but it doesn't sound like they did their due diligence.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskat...-u-s-1.2839319

When was the child born?

Was the policy valid at the time of birth?
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:30 PM   #10
FlamesAddiction
Franchise Player
 
FlamesAddiction's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver View Post
Where did you hear that?
In the link I posted probably just before you quoted.

Blue Cross is claiming in the letter to the hospital at the bottom of the CBC story that her policy was expired.

One of the parties isn't being truthful I suppose.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
FlamesAddiction is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to FlamesAddiction For This Useful Post:
Old 11-19-2014, 12:30 PM   #11
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke View Post
That is absolute batshat insanity.

Take away every other detail and this is still insane.

$1M dollars? Even if it was Donald Trump thats a lot of money for a circumstance beyond anyone's control.

I have taken my daughter to the hospital in the US......it is insanity, lucky we were covered.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:31 PM   #12
FlamesAddiction
Franchise Player
 
FlamesAddiction's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by undercoverbrother View Post
When was the child born?

Was the policy valid at the time of birth?
It says her water broke on December 10th. Policy said to be expired on November 9th.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
FlamesAddiction is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:31 PM   #13
ken0042
Playboy Mansion Poolboy
 
ken0042's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
Exp:
Default

One interesting part- $750K of the bill was the cost of caring for their daughter. I guess technically the daughter was not listed on the policy.... not sure how one would get around that. Could you get coverage for the yet unborn child? Or was the fact that the child was biologically attached to the mother at the time of the trip, the coverage should follow?
ken0042 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:33 PM   #14
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction View Post
It says her water broke on December 10th. Policy said to be expired on November 9th.

Ah sorry missed that.


I would say that the couple should have ensured their policy was renewed, that being said I wonder if previously their policy was automatically renewed and they therefore had an expectation that it would happen this time.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:33 PM   #15
the_only_turek_fan
Lifetime Suspension
 
the_only_turek_fan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Exp:
Default

At least the child will have US Citizenship.
the_only_turek_fan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:34 PM   #16
Locke
Franchise Player
 
Locke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Income Tax Central
Exp:
Default

Forget coverage, forget about the fact that they're Canadians.

If this happened to 'Random American #68' would the cost be the same? If the answer is yes that is one very, very broken system.
__________________
The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!

This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.

The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans

If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
Locke is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Locke For This Useful Post:
Old 11-19-2014, 12:34 PM   #17
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan View Post
At least the child will have US Citizenship.

Good point, and the child is ahead of the game in the national passtime of accumulating debt.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to undercoverbrother For This Useful Post:
Old 11-19-2014, 12:35 PM   #18
Calgary14
First Line Centre
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Exp:
Default

If you're born in the US doesn't that make you a US citizen (by default)?
Calgary14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:35 PM   #19
the_only_turek_fan
Lifetime Suspension
 
the_only_turek_fan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary14 View Post
If you're born in the US doesn't that make you a US citizen (by default)?
Yes, thats my point.
the_only_turek_fan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 12:36 PM   #20
FlamesAddiction
Franchise Player
 
FlamesAddiction's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by undercoverbrother View Post
Ah sorry missed that.


I would say that the couple should have ensured their policy was renewed, that being said I wonder if previously their policy was automatically renewed and they therefore had an expectation that it would happen this time.
That, or I wouldn't put it past an insurance company to find any way possible to invalidate the policy.

I feel sorry for them either way though. If she was close to being due and something like this happened, I would probably feel less sorry that they took a vacation then, but 9 weeks premature cannot really be planned for.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
FlamesAddiction is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:24 AM.

Calgary Flames
2024-25




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright Calgarypuck 2021 | See Our Privacy Policy