A family from Warrington is grappling with a staggering medical bill exceeding £27,000 after their grandmother, Margaret Houghton, fell seriously ill during a holiday in Egypt. The 65-year-old was diagnosed with pneumonia while travelling with her husband, three grandchildren, and daughter. Unfortunately, the family has discovered that their travel insurance will not cover the majority of her medical expenses due to the failure to disclose certain pre-existing health conditions when applying for coverage.
The strains of this financial burden have sent shockwaves through the family, exacerbated by the potential for ongoing hospitalisation. Medical professionals have advised that Margaret may require an additional two weeks of treatment due to complications arising from a bacterial infection, pushing the total costs even higher. Daughter-in-law Aileen Houghton articulated the family’s distress, revealing that the insurance provider, No Limits, which specialises in covering medical conditions for holidaymakers, found discrepancies in the information provided. Aileen stated, “My sister-in-law filled in all the travel insurance to the best of her knowledge… they’ve said she’s paid £165 and if the conditions were on it, it would have been £245.”
The family’s plight raises significant concerns about the importance of full disclosure when obtaining insurance coverage. Aileen specifically mentioned that several of Margaret's conditions—such as atrial fibrillation, fibromyalgia, and depression—were not reported, despite their relevance to her health. This miscommunication has left the Houghton family scrambling to raise the funds needed to settle the outstanding bills, which are now deemed beyond their financial means.
This instance echoes a broader issue affecting many travellers. For example, a family from West Sussex recently faced a £100,000 bill when their daughter suffered a brain haemorrhage in South Africa, attributed to the insurer, Axa, invalidating their policy due to incorrect information during the application process. Similarly, Fiona McCusker-Rae from Oldham is contending with a £50,000 medical bill after falling ill in Turkey, as her policy was also invalidated for not disclosing a liver disease.
The consequences of non-disclosure can be severe. Dr Paul Beven, managing director of Healix Risk Rating, emphasised the potentially catastrophic financial impacts of failing to declare pre-existing medical conditions, warning that it could lead to bankruptcy. The experience of Juliet Taylor, who faced a £30,500 bill while on holiday in Cape Verde due to a similar oversight involving a prescription for sleeping tablets, further underscores this reality.
Insurers often maintain that every detail matters, asserting that even seemingly minor health issues should be disclosed. In one notable case, a couple received a £58,000 hospital bill after the wife forgot to mention mild osteoarthritis on their insurance application. Axa halved the payout, illustrating the potential pitfalls that await travellers who are not meticulously thorough in their disclosures.
As the Houghton family continues to confront this challenging situation, it serves as a stark reminder of the paramount importance of transparency when dealing with travel insurance. The hope is that their story will encourage others to exercise caution in declaring health conditions to prevent unfortunate financial consequences.
Source: Noah Wire Services