A Surrey couple is learning the hard way to carefully look over future health insurance when they travel.
Last fall during a cruise to Hawaii on the Star Princess, Robert and Marilyn Wiens fell sick after norovirus swept through the ship.
As the ship was arriving back to Vancouver, Robert fell in the bathroom.
“We took him down to the hospital, and that was the last place I saw him,” said Marilyn. “Then he was in St. Paul’s hospital for 14 days and nearly died,” the doctor said.
Now, both have recovered and are facing almost $4,000 in medical bills. Both had insurance, but through different companies, and Robert’s didn’t pay.
“I didn’t bother getting anymore insurance, because it was it was a 15 day cruise, but I didn’t count the nights, and we were on the ship 16 nights,” says Robert.
“That’s enough to not allow the insurance companies to pay. They have the loophole there,” says travel consultant Claire Newell.
“Common things often are the things that are eliminated or not covered by the policy. Make sure you look at that.”
They also bought Princess Vacation Protection – but Robert was still charged more than $1200 to his credit card because a doctor came on board to tend to him.
The Weins say they are speaking out to warn others, and will never go on another cruise.
– With files from Jill Bennett
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