k_sheep
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Inspired by a recent post about an experience claiming travel insurance, figured I'd put my 2c in here about my experience claiming under Commonwealth bank credit card insurance.
In September I had a 3 week trip to Europe for 2 conferences with some holidays between and at either end (good luck I say to my accountant to figure out how much of the trip is tax deductible haha!).
In the between part, developed stomach pain during a 90 minute flight into Belgrade. Worsened to the point mr k_sheep summoned the FA and we decided to be met by medical staff on arrival. Medicos came on and ushered me into ambulance. Off to the local government hospital where I suspect I looked a bit like a drug seeker - my observations and bloods were all normal. I actually self discharged because I could see what was happening and I was desperate for some paracetamol (they told me they had given me pain relief - but it was just omeprazole - it's handy being medical myself).
Paracetamol made it bearable overnight but I quickly realised I would max out my dose by 11am and wouldn't be able to deal. Phoned travel insurance at 7am local time asking for advice; they didn't have a list of recommended hospitals in Belgrade but the paramedic I spoke to said they would ask their contacts who they would recommend and email me (since I don't have roaming on my phone - I used skype to call). They also said just phone an ambulance if you need. No email back by 10 so I just googled and went to a private hospital based on the UK gov recommendations.
Rock up at 11am asking where emergency was - they didn't actually have emergency department but saw I was a bit distressed to actually managed to get a surgeon to see me in outpatients almost immediately. Imaging done, into emergency surgery for dead gallbladder and small bowel obstruction and next thing I knew it was 5pm in a private hospital room. Emailed insurance to say I'd ended up here - they said good, that was one that they were actually going to recommend. Hospital didn't accept travel insurance so we just paid and figured we'd claim back later.
I did the travel insurance claim once I got back home (kept my original flights because it was recommended not to travel long haul for about 10 days, which lined up close enough). They paid within I think 10 days, zero questions asked. They paid
- hospital bill
- pharmac_ bills after (which included antibiotics and pain relief, I even bought more paracetamol about a week later and they paid that too)
- 3 nights hotel for mr k_sheep while I was still in hospital (expensive at last minute!)
- our cancelled train trip from Belgrade
- our replacement flight from Belgrade to Dubrovnik
- my conference fee which I missed (ended up being close to $2k AUD)
No clarification or anything required, though I did have to sign a release for my GP to release my medical records. I should have included all my 80c tram tickets I used to get to and from hospitals lol, along with the (highly expensive) taxis my travel companions had to get from airport to hospital then back to hotels - I thought they would be way more picky. Had to pay the $500 excess for cancellation (for the conference) but no excess for the medical stuff.
Wholeheartedly recommend. I thought there would be way more arguments and stuff and they would argue I saw my GP for stomach pain 5 years ago or something so it was pre-existing ... but nothing.
In September I had a 3 week trip to Europe for 2 conferences with some holidays between and at either end (good luck I say to my accountant to figure out how much of the trip is tax deductible haha!).
In the between part, developed stomach pain during a 90 minute flight into Belgrade. Worsened to the point mr k_sheep summoned the FA and we decided to be met by medical staff on arrival. Medicos came on and ushered me into ambulance. Off to the local government hospital where I suspect I looked a bit like a drug seeker - my observations and bloods were all normal. I actually self discharged because I could see what was happening and I was desperate for some paracetamol (they told me they had given me pain relief - but it was just omeprazole - it's handy being medical myself).
Paracetamol made it bearable overnight but I quickly realised I would max out my dose by 11am and wouldn't be able to deal. Phoned travel insurance at 7am local time asking for advice; they didn't have a list of recommended hospitals in Belgrade but the paramedic I spoke to said they would ask their contacts who they would recommend and email me (since I don't have roaming on my phone - I used skype to call). They also said just phone an ambulance if you need. No email back by 10 so I just googled and went to a private hospital based on the UK gov recommendations.
Rock up at 11am asking where emergency was - they didn't actually have emergency department but saw I was a bit distressed to actually managed to get a surgeon to see me in outpatients almost immediately. Imaging done, into emergency surgery for dead gallbladder and small bowel obstruction and next thing I knew it was 5pm in a private hospital room. Emailed insurance to say I'd ended up here - they said good, that was one that they were actually going to recommend. Hospital didn't accept travel insurance so we just paid and figured we'd claim back later.
I did the travel insurance claim once I got back home (kept my original flights because it was recommended not to travel long haul for about 10 days, which lined up close enough). They paid within I think 10 days, zero questions asked. They paid
- hospital bill
- pharmac_ bills after (which included antibiotics and pain relief, I even bought more paracetamol about a week later and they paid that too)
- 3 nights hotel for mr k_sheep while I was still in hospital (expensive at last minute!)
- our cancelled train trip from Belgrade
- our replacement flight from Belgrade to Dubrovnik
- my conference fee which I missed (ended up being close to $2k AUD)
No clarification or anything required, though I did have to sign a release for my GP to release my medical records. I should have included all my 80c tram tickets I used to get to and from hospitals lol, along with the (highly expensive) taxis my travel companions had to get from airport to hospital then back to hotels - I thought they would be way more picky. Had to pay the $500 excess for cancellation (for the conference) but no excess for the medical stuff.
Wholeheartedly recommend. I thought there would be way more arguments and stuff and they would argue I saw my GP for stomach pain 5 years ago or something so it was pre-existing ... but nothing.
)
I figured even a few months' of the $35 fee is still cheaper with the forex saving.
