A couple were told they faced a $200,000 (£146,500) medical bill when their baby was born prematurely in the US, despite them having travel insurance which covered her pregnancy.

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[–] 348 points 5 months ago (15 children)
  • [–] 35 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    why would you go there??? this couple was asking for it

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  • [–] 67 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Did you see how they were dressed my god

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  • [–] 30 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    The problem in this story wasn’t actually the US this time, it was the Swiss insurance company.

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  • [–] 108 points 5 months ago* (7 children)

    I would say the problem also was a very high medical bill of $ 200k.

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  • [–] 44 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Yes. You're right. Our healthcare system is absolutely bonkers bananas insane, and that's before you calculate in the cruelty. And as US citizen, I strongly advise everyone who isn't to avoid this country like the plague.

    However, if I travel to Switzerland or Canada or Italy or wherever, as a tourist, I am not covered if I go in the hospital. I still need to carry travel insurance, and if I don't, or if it doesn't cover something, then those countries with their modern, sensible healthcare systems will charge me out of pocket, just like an American hospital. The difference is that in America, even the citizens aren't covered by default, and the amounts are astronomical compared to other countries.

    It's a shitty system all around, and frankly, I genuinely believe that if it weren't for America's weird fetish for as much money as you can possibly choke on, we would probably have started building an actual universal healthcare system for the global community, so that you're covered by default even when traveling. But like with most things, the right wing nonsense has held us so far back that that is so unlikely as to seem utterly impossible

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  • [–] 19 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Yes if you come here to Danmark from the US you will not be covered. But if you are from a country in the EU you will in most cases be covered and don't have to pay anything for being hospitalized.

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    [–] 210 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 115 points 5 months ago (10 children)

    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.

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    [–] 103 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

    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

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  • [–] 33 points 5 months ago

    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.

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  • [–] 95 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    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.

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    [–] 76 points 5 months ago (8 children)

    Not trying to victim blame but do not go to America.

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    [–] 64 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    used to be anchor babies, now is trapped in debt babies

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  • [–] 62 points 5 months ago (6 children)

    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.

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    [–] 45 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    "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.

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    [–] 43 points 5 months ago (20 children)

    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 :(

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    [–] 42 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    Insurance company trying to evade one job it is supposed to do

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    [–] 37 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    That sucks... Born in the US....

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    [–] 36 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 24 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    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

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    [–] 36 points 5 months ago (6 children)

    The US: why is our birth rate so low? Also the US: ...

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    [–] 32 points 5 months ago (9 children)

    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.

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    [–] 30 points 5 months ago (7 children)

    I'm curious, what happens if you just don't pay? What if you just go back home and never come back?

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  • [–] 43 points 5 months ago (6 children)

    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.

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    [–] 29 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    US health insurance pulled the same shitty tactic on me with my first born.

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    [–] 29 points 5 months ago (6 children)

    So.. that baby is basically came to USA without approval? Should it be detained in the concentration camp or something?

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    [–] 24 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    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.

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    [–] 23 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    How's the US still a country, how do people just put up with it.

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    [–] 23 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

    "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.

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  • [–] 20 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Sounds like skipping the bill and never returning to the US is a great option here, tbh

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    [–] 19 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    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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    [–] 19 points 5 months ago

    That's one expensive citizenship

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