A father is facing a £30,000 medical bill after falling ill on holiday in Spain, because he failed to disclose a common condition on his travel insurance. Kevin Turner travelled to Alicante with his partner Joy Peck in May, despite feeling unwell the previous week with a chest infection.
Reassurance from GP
Following treatment with antibiotics and steroids, the 63-year-old said he received reassurance from his GP that he was 'good to go' and was given additional medication to cover his time abroad. The retired painter and decorator felt 'off' upon arrival but attributed it to the journey.
It was when his chest pains deteriorated the next day that Joy called for an ambulance. Upon being taken urgently to a hospital in Alicante, medics found Kevin had a pierced lung and pneumonia and he was placed in intensive care.
Insurance Denied
Despite having holiday insurance, Kevin's family say his medical costs aren't being met as he failed to declare his chest infection prior to departure - leaving him with bills of at least £30,000. Kevin's daughters Sam Turner, 44, and Natalie Fowell, 40, have launched a GoFundMe to assist with his medical expenses and secure his return to the UK.
Sam, from Winsford in Cheshire, said: "It was really, really scary because obviously you're helpless. You're over here and you don't know what's going on. He did have an existing chest infection that he had visited the doctor for that week and had been given antibiotics and steroids.
"He did also say that he was due to go on holiday and there were no warnings or concerns around that [from the GP] so he thought he was good to go. They just gave him enough medication for the fact that he was going away and that was it.
"He'd arrived at midnight, had something to eat and drink and gone to bed, feeling a bit off but just put it down to travel. It got progressively worse from there. By the next day the pains were just so much that in hindsight he probably already had pneumonia when he got on the flight, but he wasn't aware.
"Joy rang me from the hotel and said 'I've had to call him an ambulance, he's not good' and we were like 'right, ok get him to the hospital', trying to get updates all the time. They [doctors] said he had a pierced lung and chest and stomach pain where it's believed air and gases had built up and had to be drained."
Medical Costs Mounting
Wedding co-ordinator Sam travelled out to be at her father's bedside on May 30. Following contact with the insurance provider, Sam claims she was informed that Kevin's medical expenses would not be covered, as he had failed to declare his pre-existing chest infection on his travel insurance prior to departure.
His medical bills are estimated to stand at £30,000, though with Kevin remaining in intensive care, this figure could increase. Sam said: "It very much looks like it's a case of, the small print says if there are any significant health changes up to the date of travel then you must notify them. He's still in intensive care and we're trying to find out what the prognosis is.
"He hasn't been out of bed, he hasn't used his legs or feet and he's just really worried because he's lost all feeling in them. The insurance took about two weeks for them to decide that they weren't going to pay out. It involved a lot of chasing from us.
"I would always say read the small print of the insurance document, make sure you go with a reputable company and look at their reviews."
