Do not travel to the US
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Their baby was born in an American hospital seven weeks early, but the couple said Zurich Insurance Group refused to uphold the policy and cover their costs because the baby was not named in the document.
After a nine month legal battle, Zurich has reversed its decision and told the BBC it was sorry for the stress caused.
The unborn child that isn't allowed to have a name yet needs to be named in the document.
Sylvester said the couple "made 100% sure Issy was insured to be pregnant, and any complications involving pregnancy whilst we were abroad were covered".
Sylvester explained: "Essentially what they said is that we would have been covered had the baby not survived. But the fact was that the baby survived."
"We weren't going to be covered for that, because we didn't put his name on the insurance policy."
As someone that wouldn't choose to travel into or through the United States, I can't say I would be surprised if I got back home after this ordeal and the medical bills started showing up. US healthcare will charge for anything under the sun. I half expect visitors will be sent invoices for travelling in the vicinity of a hospital in the near future.
The insurance on question is not American, but from their home country. The ridiculous price is American though
After a nine month legal battle, Zurich has reversed its decision and told the BBC it was sorry for the stress caused.
Yeah, very sorry I'm sure. Oopsie, we accidentally fought a nine month legal battle to avoid paying out the exact thing the insurance is for
"We've now strengthened and clarified our wording and guidance so other families travelling abroad at this stage of a pregnancy do not have to go through this experience."
TLDR: the next couple is fucked
Arguing the care wasn't covered because the baby wasn't named in the insurance despite explicitly covering pregnancy-related care is ghoulish behavior. I can't fathom how you can argue that seriously and not feel like a piece of shit.
There's so, so, so, so, so much I could say about this topic.
Number 1: Why are any of you cunts even coming to the USA anymore? Sincerest apologies for victim blaming, and obviously my stupid ass has not read the article (gonna do that later).
Number 2: US healthcare costs are a scam.
Number 3: Healthcare insurance is a gamified scam.
Not trying to victim blame but do not go to America.
used to be anchor babies, now is trapped in debt babies
Just don't pay, what are they going to do?
I mean given all I hear it would not entirely surprise me that they would hold the baby hostage, at best
I love the 'Achually, you are supposed to beg the hospitals and rely on your insurance shady deals." Comments in this thread.
Just so we are clear, you know the US is the only country with running water that also charges it's citizens to remain alive, right?
This is NOT normal. Not the amount, the situation.
"I don't think we've ever sort of lost the feeling that there isn't a wolf at the door".
This captures the current American experience perfectly.
Ah yes, the United States -- Don't get sick or you will have to fight tooth and nail to get your insurance company to pay for necessary medical care. This is a story heard over and over again stateside. If the U.S. was truly the best place in the world to live, this would simply not happen. As a person who has worked in healthcare in the U.S. for over 15 years, I feel this in my bones. I am glad you could get legal help and have the right outcome based on what you paid for. I would love nothing more than to see everyone who comes to the U.S. receive medical care appropriately -- Nobody asks to get sick :(
Insurance company trying to evade one job it is supposed to do

You get hired to help out a business in a emergency situation. You do nothing and get paid month after month. A couple years go by and finally the phone rings.
Hey man, we really need you right now! Come on in!
"Claim denied, I will see you in court."
insurance
That sucks... Born in the US....
My son was born at 24 weeks. Modern NICUs are an absolute marvel. They took this tiny little guy at the cusp of viability to a healthy, happy, normal baby boy over the next three months.
The pricetag for this treatment was half a million dollars. But, fortunately, we were eligible for Medicaid. A sum that would have bankrupted us was neatly covered by the state.
Except tax payers now get to send their hard earned money directly to the leeches that work at insurance companies.
No matter if the system works out for individuals with insurance Americans get screwed with the way it is at the moment.
You all need to fight for universal health care so that shit isn't marked up 5000% so that insurances companies make billions for doing nothing but complicate everything
I was born at 28 weeks 5 decades ago.
$0 .
The US: why is our birth rate so low? Also the US: ...
That poor child will now have to suffer dual citizenship in the US. That kid's tax stuff will be a PITA when it starts working.
I'm curious, what happens if you just don't pay? What if you just go back home and never come back?
Honestly if you never go back, not much. It wouldn't even impact your credit rating, and your country likely doesn't have the means to enforce it. I could imagine you get harassed by us debt collection agencies but they can't do anything about it either. If you're never returning to the US, it's fine.
You could likely even still holiday in the USA. It won't impact your visa as it's not a criminal offence either.
I'm not a lawyer, and could be totally wrong, but I asked my dad who is also not a lawyer.
After 7 years without any payment, most debt including medical debt and standard loans are discharged. The non-payment is key. Even sending a cent will restart the obligation to that debt
US health insurance pulled the same shitty tactic on me with my first born.
So.. that baby is basically came to USA without approval? Should it be detained in the concentration camp or something?
Travel insurance is a scam. I used to pay Allianz for cancellation insurance every trip but the one time I needed to claim it they denied it.
It's not safe to travel to the US while pregnant or sick, they will take everything from you.
How's the US still a country, how do people just put up with it.
Around 50 years of near constant propaganda from our media convincing people that the government paying for anything is destructive to the economy and that taxing rich people more that poor people is not fair.
"Hey, man, we told the kid not to be born, that we couldn't afford it, but he wouldn't listen, and went and borned hisself anyhow, without any permission. So that's on him. You have to sue him.
But you can't, because he's a BABY! And you can't sue a baby! BOOM! CHECKMATE, BITCH!"
That'll work in any court in the nation. Don't even need a lawyer, save your money.
Sounds like skipping the bill and never returning to the US is a great option here, tbh
And they wonder why our population is free falling. Between trump and it's too expensive, why would the wise ones do that?
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