Couple left with $200k bill after baby born in US (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by Beep@lemmus.org to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world

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A couple were told they faced a $200,000 (£146,500) medical bill when their baby was born prematurely in the US, despite them having travel insurance which covered her pregnancy.

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[-] JoshuaFalken@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Sylvester said the couple "made 100% sure Issy was insured to be pregnant, and any complications involving pregnancy whilst we were abroad were covered".

Sylvester explained: "Essentially what they said is that we would have been covered had the baby not survived. But the fact was that the baby survived."

"We weren't going to be covered for that, because we didn't put his name on the insurance policy."

As someone that wouldn't choose to travel into or through the United States, I can't say I would be surprised if I got back home after this ordeal and the medical bills started showing up. US healthcare will charge for anything under the sun. I half expect visitors will be sent invoices for travelling in the vicinity of a hospital in the near future.

[-] justme@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 months ago

The insurance on question is not American, but from their home country. The ridiculous price is American though

[-] JoshuaFalken@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I realise that, my connecting thought was that the hospital looking at their insurance policy should have been able to understand the pregnancy was covered. Even with it being unclear due to the contract's wording, it should have triggered the billing department contacting the insurer for clarification.

That's not how America works though, they operate on a 'invoice first, ask questions later' approach. If one in a thousand bills get paid without question, the superfluousness is considered justified. Oh well, I would add this to my list of reasons to avoid the country if it weren't so long already.

this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2026

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