B.C. lady faces journey medical insurance nightmare after surprising U.S. $108K hospital invoice

A B.C. lady is sharing her journey medical insurance nightmare as a cautionary story to warn others after a visit to the United States.

RoseAnne Timbrell ended up in a Florida hospital and thought she was totally lined by her prolonged well being protection via her employer. However, she obtained an surprising hospital invoice months later.

“Just absolutely shocking. I just wished I had got on the plane and come home,” Timbrell informed Consumer Matters.

Back in February, Timbrell and her husband deliberate a visit to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. However, previous to her journey, Timbrell says she was experiencing flu-like signs.

“I work at a university, so we are around a lot of young people and everybody has colds and flus. Norwalk was roaming around, so I wasn’t feeling well before I went on vacation,” mentioned Timbrell.

As a precaution, Timbrell says she consulted together with her household physician about her signs and had a blood take a look at. At the time, Timbrell says there was no trigger for alarm round her well being. “I’m still able to go to work. So if I’m able to go to work, I think I’m able to go on this vacation,” she mentioned.

3:07
Consumer Matters: Two yr battle over misplaced baggage

Timbrell departed for Florida, however says her signs received worse when she arrived. She says she was experiencing extreme abdomen ache and went to go to an pressing care centre in Florida, the place a doctor advisable additional screening.

Get breaking National information

For information impacting Canada and all over the world, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you after they occur.

With her situation deteriorating, Timbrell says she determined to go to emergency, however earlier than she went, she referred to as her insurance coverage supplier to verify her hospital go to could be lined.

“The agent said ‘Yes you are covered. When you go to the hospital, they are going to fax us something. They’re going to fax us something back and you do have extended health for out of country’ and I said ok because if not, I’m jumping on the next plane,” mentioned Timbrell.

Timbrell arrived on the Florida hospital, the place she was recognized with ovarian most cancers.

“It was traumatizing. It’s not something you would ever think that would happen on vacation,” mentioned Timbrell.

Timbrell spent 5 days within the Florida hospital present process additional assessments.

When she returned house, months later, she obtained extra surprising information. Her insurance coverage supplier denied her declare, stating: “…expenses incurred at travel were directly related to your unstable pre-existing condition.”

There was additionally a stability clause inside her coverage, which suggests a pre-existing medical situation should stay secure for 90 days previous to touring. Timbrell was hit with a medical invoice of U.S. $108,000. “Absolutely shocking. I just wished I had gotten on the plane and come home instead of dealing with all that in the States,” mentioned Timbrell.

2:24
Consumer Matters: Avoiding frequent journey scams

Travel professional Claire Newell says Timbrell’s declare denial isn’t unusual. She says stability clauses are sometimes written in normal medical insurance coverage insurance policies and studying the effective print of any coverage is essential.

“A lot of people don’t realize there is a stability period. Some policies it’s three months. Others it can be as high as six months,” mentioned Newell.

Newell says medical-related assessments, therapies, even adjustments to your remedy previous to your journey may affect your stability interval and your protection.

“There are always caveats in every single policy and every single policy is different so you need to be an advocate for your own self. If you have it [insurance] through work or you have it on your credit card, don’t think that it’s going to be enough because those ones often have the most caveats,” mentioned Newell.

Timbrell says the remaining hospital invoice has been negotiated right down to U.S. $65,000, which she is struggling to pay.

“Really, talk to your insurance company. Understand your policy very, very, clearly because you are having to be your own best advocate,” mentioned Timbrell.

A GoFundMe page has been set as much as assist RoseAnne Timbrell.

&copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.