When the Unexpected Happens !

It must seem like awakening from a vivid nightmare to find yourself in a foreign country and be presented with a bill for $ 1.3 million Australian dollars.   That was exactly the situation faced by an Australian couple who were on holiday in Hawaii.   They were expecting the birth of a child, due in September and took the opportunity for a holiday before the responsibilities of parenthood kicked in. They were in the remote paradise of Kona when this expectant mother's water broke, resulting in an emergency flight to Honolulu, where their baby was born at twenty-six weeks and placed in intensive care.   They were warned that this high level would need to be maintained right up to the expected birth date of September 9.

This unexpected but joyous event came with bill shock !   The American health system is very different from Australia's and even if they had adequate travel insurance it would not include the birth of a baby.  There will be some limited relief from Medicaid, the US equivalent of our Medicare, but the bills continue to mount - opening an interesting can of worms !

It is not unusual for families to take an overseas holiday in the earlier months of a pregnancy and yet the unexpected can happen.  Just as in this case a massive bill can arise from an event that is not termed as an accident.  What happens if the patient is a person of limited means and unable to settle with the medical people ?

No doubt the Australian embassy will provide comfort by trying to negotiate an outcome, but the debt is subjected to American law and the costs being charged are the legitimate amounts applicable to the medical services  provided in that country.  The doctors and the hospital have every right to expect to be paid.

The fact that the patient is a visitor on an entry visa complicates the matter.  It is quite possible that leaving the country might be refused by immigration control at the airport if that bill remains unpaid, in which case finding shelter becomes a new problem.  A lot will depend on the laws in place in the individual state where this takes place and the policies of the hospital in dealing with unpaid debt. If this involves a hard line approach, the release of the child may be contingent on the bill being settled,.

In this case, it seems that family resources will come to the rescue, but it serves as a warning to others to think long and hard  about what protection can be put in place before undertaking any overseas trip where the unexpected can possibly happen.   The wise take out travel insurance, but there are limitations on the cover applicable.   It may not be possible to get cover for an event such as the early birth of a child and the costs that will involve.   Where such a risk is uninsurable, perhaps a holiday destination within Australia would be a safer option.

One of the problems is that risk varies all over the world.  The same situation of getting an unexpected debt can have very differing outcomes depending on the laws in place in the country involved, and some involve a prison term as a punishment.    Even when bankruptcy is an option, the process can take months - and even years - to legally settle.

The joy of travel has become widely available thanks to cheap airline tickets and the ever expanding resort industries and most travellers return without mishap, but leaving the protection of Australia's shores does carry risk.  The wise will take that into contention when they make travel plans !