Cruel detail turns couple's cruise of a lifetime into $100k nightmare
An Australian couple are facing a $100,000 medical bill after a terrifying ordeal on board a cruise ship.
Recently retired Gary and Sue McGinty were due to spend just under four weeks on the Sun Princess travelling through Asia, however just days into their trip, Mr McGinty fell seriously ill.
"I'd vomited heaps of blood ... it was out of the blue, no warning, no nothing," he told Channel Nine’s A Current Affair.
Mr McGinty had passed out and was in need of emergency medical attention staff on the vessel couldn’t provide.
Fearing he’d suffered a potentially-fatal stomach ulcer burst, the nearest available rescue team hundreds of kilometres away were called in.
RELATED: Unbelievable reason why tourist diagnosed with brain tumour in Thailand was refused insurance claim
The Royal Singapore Air Force winched Mr McGinty into a helicopter before rushing him for immediate medical attention in Singapore.
There was no room for Ms McGinty inside the helicopter, meaning she spent a painstaking three days waiting for the cruise to dock before she could rush to her husband’s side.
While Mr McGinty was in a stable condition, their woes were far from over.
Double check your insurance, expert warns
When his wife tried to claim his spiralling medical costs on their travel insurance, they were informed by American Express – who had provided cover via Mr McGinty’s credit card – that due to a recent transition to a new card and the cancellation of the previous one, his costs would not be covered.
“Even if I had cancelled the card, I'd paid for the holiday on the card, which I expected they would honour even without the card, because I thought it was a contract," a devastated Mr McGinty told A Current Affair.
His medical costs abroad have risen to $100,000, including $70,000 for the Royal Singapore Air Force rescue team.
He said he feels “let down” and is now trying to avoid a bill he and his wife say they simply cannot afford.
Finder.com.au’s insurance expert Sophie Walsh said one of the dangers of complimentary credit card cover is many are unaware of what they’re actually covered for.
She told A Current Affair “it’s always best” to get in touch with your bank and double check the insurance cover you intend to use abroad.
Mr McGinty is awaiting further testing regarding his sudden decline in health, with doctors unable to find any stomach ulcers.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
