Will yiz pay for our holiday, will yiz?

CelticRambler · 01-01-2015 07:26PM #1

Is this the latest internet "thing" - crowd-funding your holiday with a poor-me story?

UK couple stranded in the US for the next three months

OK, so babies come early, but it doesn't cost tens of thousands to post a box of clothes to NY, and why are they looking for 130 grand for "potential" costs when they haven't even contacted their insurance company yet? :mad:

Besides, they're hardly "stranded" - have people forgotten that there are still boats that sail across the Atlantic even if you can't fly?

And if the baby's in hospital and (presumably) being looked after by doctors and nurses, why can't one of them come home and go back to work, instead of them looking for money to fly their families out to the States?

Buona Fortuna · 01-01-2015 07:31PM

Perhaps we should make this a stickie?

SEPT 23 1989 · 01-01-2015 07:33PM

Amos and Johnston

mad muffin · 01-01-2015 07:37PM

I shall play secret millionaire and donate them all the monies they need!

they called their baby, Dax…

Huh?! What was that, you said?!

I said. They called their baby, Dax.

DAX?! DAX?!

:eek:

*withdraws all monies* :mad:

The Peanut · 01-01-2015 07:38PM

Who in their right mind planning for the arrival of a baby travels to the States for 5 days when they have no money?

Birneybau · 01-01-2015 07:43PM

The Peanut wrote: »

Who in their right mind planning for the arrival of a baby travels to the States for 5 days when they have no money?

Asylum seekers.

Gmol · 01-01-2015 07:44PM

11 week early baby is unexpected, it's also a bloody scary time (have first-hand experience of this). Not a nice position for them to be in especially with the frightening cost of US medical bills

The Peanut · 01-01-2015 07:44PM

Birneybau wrote: »

Asylum seekers.

Exactly. A modern spin on it.

UCDVet · 01-01-2015 07:48PM

Who cares?

The US based hospital has no ability to collect from people not living or working in the US. Rip up the bill, fly home to the UK, forget about it. You'll never hear another thing about it.

IF, and it's a really, really unlikely if, IF - you get a court summons in the UK - go to court. Explain what happened to the judge, that you pay UK taxes for UK health care and don't want to see your life destroyed because of the madness that is the US health care system.

The Peanut · 01-01-2015 07:48PM

Gmol wrote: »

11 week early baby is unexpected, it's also a bloody scary time (have first-hand experience of this). Not a nice position for them to be in especially with the frightening cost of US medical bills

Agreed, it's not nice. Don't agree with the whole begging tone though. Let someone else do the fund-raising but don't play the "we have no money card" when they've flogged an amount on a trip abroad.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 01-01-2015 07:52PM

It's the latest craze. There was a recent story on my FB page sbout an irish family at the same thing. They were in Spain when their father got sick and had to be hospitalised and the family were plastered over FB looking for money for them all to stay...now this was a man in his late 60's who was on holiday with his wife and grown up children and their children. I realise they were upset that their dad was ill and wanted to be near him but it was ridiculous that they expected every one else to fund their stay. Needless to say I unfriended the person I knew rather than see their sob story all over the place.

Toots · 01-01-2015 08:02PM

Gmol wrote: »

11 week early baby is unexpected, it's also a bloody scary time (have first-hand experience of this). Not a nice position for them to be in especially with the frightening cost of US medical bills

I completely agree, however if I was planning a trans-atlantic holiday while I was was 29 weeks pregnant, I'd sure as hell be making sure my travel insurance would cover if anything happened while I was away. I feel sorry for them, it's an awful situation to be in, and looking for help with the medical bill would be one thing. But asking people to pony up so they can fly their family out there is taking the complete piss.

cloud493 · 01-01-2015 08:09PM

Although they shoulda planned ahead, thats a pretty **** and scary situation to find yourself in.

JaseBelleVie · 01-01-2015 08:11PM

Welcome to the American Health Care System!

Come for the theme parks and eagles, stay for the $130,000 f*cking aspirin.

DebDynamite · 01-01-2015 08:20PM

The couple say they're not sure if the insurance will cover them...you'd think they'd find out first before making a public appeal.

UCDVet · 01-01-2015 08:28PM

JaseHeath wrote: »

Welcome to the American Health Care System!

Come for the theme parks and eagles, stay for the $130,000 f*cking aspirin.

In fairness, the system isn't so bad as people portray it. Here, we pay a lot in taxes and are given a reasonable level of medical care. Over there, you'd pay less in taxes, and then also be expected to pay for health insurance. If you don't/can't afford health insurance, sure, it sucks. But if you have health insurance, it's not so bad.

These people should of had insurance that would cover them in the US given their medical condition - or they shouldn't have travelled their.

I spent a few years in the US while working full-time. My health care experiences were all very good. I paid less for health insurance compared to the private (VHI) insurance I have now and actually going to a doctor was much easier. I could go straight to a specialist, if I wanted, and I'd just show my insurance card + pay $20 USD. I didn't have to collect receipts or mail it in or any of that. I will say, VHI has always been easy to work with, I haven't had any problems, but compared to doing nothing, it's a lot of hassle.

In Ireland, I'd pay 60 EUR, get a sent to a specialist, pay 180 EUR. And for some reason, the process always ends up taking at least a day or two for the first doc to setup things with the second. Then when I'm done with the doctors, I'd fill out 4 pages of paper-work, get a stamp, address an envelope, mail it, wait a few weeks, then get repaid some amount (180-200 EUR or so).

Also, maybe I just have bad luck, but every time I go to a doctor in Dublin they are late by at least 15 minutes. Often times more. It feels like everything is understaffed or over-utilized; but maybe that's just a city thing and not an Ireland thing?

JaseBelleVie · 01-01-2015 08:41PM

UCDVet wrote: »

In fairness, the system isn't so bad as people portray it. Here, we pay a lot in taxes and are given a reasonable level of medical care. Over there, you'd pay less in taxes, and then also be expected to pay for health insurance. If you don't/can't afford health insurance, sure, it sucks. But if you have health insurance, it's not so bad.

These people should of had insurance that would cover them in the US given their medical condition - or they shouldn't have travelled their.

I spent a few years in the US while working full-time. My health care experiences were all very good. I paid less for health insurance compared to the private (VHI) insurance I have now and actually going to a doctor was much easier. I could go straight to a specialist, if I wanted, and I'd just show my insurance card + pay $20 USD. I didn't have to collect receipts or mail it in or any of that. I will say, VHI has always been easy to work with, I haven't had any problems, but compared to doing nothing, it's a lot of hassle.

In Ireland, I'd pay 60 EUR, get a sent to a specialist, pay 180 EUR. And for some reason, the process always ends up taking at least a day or two for the first doc to setup things with the second. Then when I'm done with the doctors, I'd fill out 4 pages of paper-work, get a stamp, address an envelope, mail it, wait a few weeks, then get repaid some amount (180-200 EUR or so).

Also, maybe I just have bad luck, but every time I go to a doctor in Dublin they are late by at least 15 minutes. Often times more. It feels like everything is understaffed or over-utilized; but maybe that's just a city thing and not an Ireland thing?

Even those with insurance can get shafted in a big way. There are numerous documentaries and horror stories about the American Healthcare/Health-Insurance System. And not just the vastly inferior Michael Moore romp Sicko. While Sicko is effective and probably mostly genuine, it goes for gimmicks and tugs at the heartstrings way too many times.

The American system of healthcare/insurance is a basket case. One thing I'll always have admiration for Obama is trying to get healthcare improved in America.

UCDVet · 01-01-2015 08:49PM

JaseHeath wrote: »

Even those with insurance can get shafted in a big way. There are numerous documentaries and horror stories about the American Healthcare/Health-Insurance System. And not just the vastly inferior Michael Moore romp Sicko. While Sicko is effective and probably mostly genuine, it goes for gimmicks and tugs at the heartstrings way too many times.

The American system of healthcare/insurance is a basket case. One thing I'll always have admiration for Obama is trying to get healthcare improved in America.

No doubt those extreme cases happen. Of course, I'm sure you could find some equivalent cases of patients getting shafted in Ireland too.

Anyway, I'm not trying to claim that the US system is better or that it doesn't have a lot of problems. It does. But having a child in the US doesn't typically come with life crippling debt.

Health care is now mandatory in the US for residents. So, showing up without health care when you're expecting a baby, or really, just travelling to the US and not having coverage of your own isn't really a reflection on the US health care system.

You're not playing by the rules. The rules are, you need health insurance.
https://www.healthcare.gov/fees-exemptions/fee-for-not-being-covered/

mikeym · 01-01-2015 08:52PM

I thought heavily pregnant women shouldnt travel on airplanes.

Macker2001 · 01-01-2015 08:55PM

How were you paying less than your VHI Ours was 1400 a month for a couple and a newborn it's that a year here or pretty close.

01-01-2015 09:10PM

CelticRambler wrote: »

Besides, they're hardly "stranded" - have people forgotten that there are still boats that sail across the Atlantic even if you can't fly?

Do any of them take passengers? I thought that they're all freight these days, unless they're expected to sleep with the crew.

Capt'n Midnight · 01-01-2015 09:17PM

CelticRambler wrote: »

Besides, they're hardly "stranded" - have people forgotten that there are still boats that sail across the Atlantic even if you can't fly?

Planes are far cheaper

UCDVet wrote: »

In fairness, the system isn't so bad as people portray it. Here, we pay a lot in taxes and are given a reasonable level of medical care. Over there, you'd pay less in taxes, and then also be expected to pay for health insurance. If you don't/can't afford health insurance, sure, it sucks. But if you have health insurance, it's not so bad.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100840148

Bankruptcies resulting from unpaid medical bills will affect nearly 2 million people this year—making health care the No. 1 cause of such filings, and outpacing bankruptcies due to credit-card bills or unpaid mortgages, according to new data. And even having health insurance doesn't buffer consumers against financial hardship
...
Even outside of bankruptcy, about 56 million adults—more than 20 percent of the population between the ages of 19 and 64—will still struggle with health-care-related bills this year, according to NerdWallet Health.

And if you think only Americans without health insurance face financial troubles, think again. NerdWallet estimates nearly 10 million adults with year-round health-insurance coverage will still accumulate medical bills that they can't pay off this year.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/02/18/medical-bankruptcies-are-still-problem-here-what-to-expect/

According to a 2013 study by NerdWallet Health, unpaid medical bills are expected to be the No.1 cause of bankruptcy filings, surpassing both credit card and mortgage debt.
...
“It’s not just the medical bills it’s really everything around the bills that insurance won’t cover,” says Ethan Austin, co-founder of Internet-based fundraising service GiveForward. He says 78% of people that file for medical bankruptcy had insurance.

Capt'n Midnight · 01-01-2015 09:26PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Do any of them take passengers? I thought that they're all freight these days, unless they're expected to sleep with the crew.

Cargo Ships that take passengers cost far more than airfare.
http://www.cruisepeople.co.uk/transat.htm

1. How much will it cost me to cross the Atlantic? Firstly, you shouldn't think of sea travel as a way to beat an air fare - it isn't. But unlike flying, it can be a richly rewarding experience. You should expect to pay a minimum of about $1,700 per person

This is what the journey would be like http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/1904223/Cruising-on-a-North-Atlantic-freighter.html NB, you would need insurance

cassid · 01-01-2015 09:29PM

The insurance probably won't pay for the medical bill. My friend had a baby in the USA at 23 weeks and the bill was over slightly over 1 million dollars.

The Ronald Mc D houses are great as they provide food and accommodation in the USA but they still have to pay for that, its not free.

The family would need money for accommodation and food and travel to the NICU every day. I presume this is where they need the help. You don't expect to deliver a baby on holiday for a few days, a 5 day visit will turn into about 8 or 9 weeks stay in the USA. Which will cost money.

In Ireland if you deliver a preterm baby there is also a huge costs associated with it. I had a 26 weeker and it cost us thousands. The hospital bill was €69,000 for one of the Dublin Neonatal Units. Travelling, parking, breast pump rental costs were unbelievable and we live in DUblin, for parents whose baby was moved up to DUblin for treatment, they have to pay for private accommodation, there is none for families of preterm babies in Ireland.

01-01-2015 09:32PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Do any of them take passengers? I thought that they're all freight these days, unless they're expected to sleep with the crew.

Yes, they do. Sometimes people with dogs who don't want to fly them home will travel by ship, as they have great kennel facilities aboard. Trip takes 10 says and is supposedly very enjoyable.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 01-01-2015 09:34PM

In fairness, it's hardly a "plesae pay for our holiday" request. They went on their own ticket.

mikeym wrote: »

I thought heavily pregnant women shouldnt travel on airplanes.

Insurance company had cleared them to fly (so should be held to foot the bill, I say).

01-01-2015 09:48PM

If they have filled out the correct forms (E111*) before leaving , the NHS will pick up the bill.

*I think that's the form, may have a new name now.

athtrasna · 01-01-2015 09:49PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

If they have filled out the correct forms (E111*) before leaving , the NHS will pick up the bill.

*I think that's the form, may have a new name now.

That only applies in the EU!

Gyalist · 01-01-2015 10:41PM

Similar thing happened to my friend and his wife about 9 years ago. They were on a short break in NY when his wife was just over six months pregnant. She went into labour early and the baby had to stay in hospital for 10 weeks. They incurred a bill of over $100k and while they paid the hospital what they could, they returned to Dublin with most of the bill unpaid. They didn't pay it and the hospital never pursued them for the balance.

They did go back to the hospital just over a year later to introduce their daughter to the staff that looked after her.

Gyalist · 03-01-2015 05:42PM

Just to wrap up this story -

A British couple who feared a $200,000 (£130,000) medical bill after their baby was born 11 weeks premature while they were on vacation in New York breathed a little easier on Friday as the hospital caring for their son said it would “ensure that there will be no financial impact to the family”.

Katie Amos and Lee Johnston’s baby, Dax, reportedly born weighing 3lbs, is in the neonatal intensive care unit at Lenox Hill hospital in Manhattan.

LINK

percy212 · 03-01-2015 05:51PM

Hospitals in the US regularly treat unfortunate holiday makers for free. They cannot by law turn anyone away. They eat the costs if you are foreign and have no insurance. It has to be an emergency though......source - the ER doctors at NYU.

Will yiz pay for our holiday, will yiz?

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