<p>^^ in the US this is illegal because of EMTALA.<br>
“EMTALA requires most hospitals to provide an examination and needed stabilizing treatment, without consideration of insurance coverage or ability to pay, when a patient presents to an emergency room for attention to an emergency medical condition”</p>
<p>Again, not being familiar with the European medical system, I can’t make specific assertions, but in the US model, the “list price” is always significantly higher than the hospital ever expects to collect, even from the well-insured. So check what the fifteen grand represents and see what they’ll accept. I still think it’s hard for them to make the amount stick against someone in the US who was a minor then.</p>
<p>I can’t thank you all enough for the advice and suggestions. The Dutch hospital, physicians, nurses, everyone involved were outstanding and could not have treated her better. She actually was in surgery before they were able to reach her parents. She had a consent for medical treatment letter with her but her aunt never gave it to the hospital, it all happened so fast. My daughter and son-in-law are trying to work out something but have had some difficulty dealing with the collection agency, as you can imagine. It was sent to collection while they were still appealing the insurance company’s decision. I wish they could have gotten an attorney to fight the insurance company. happymomof1 and ucsd<em>dad</em>ucla they do need to confirm with the hospital as some of the agency’s information has been odd. Nevertheless, the bill will be paid if, as my granddaughter says, it takes her $50 a month for the rest of her life. She is an amazing girl and I am very proud to be her grandma!</p>
<p>Illyria has the best idea on this thread: contact your Congressional representative and your US Senators. They know who to talk to, they know the laws, they can perhaps contact the State Department or the Dutch embassy in Washington, they can cut through red tape, they know the secret phone numbers, they have pull.</p>
<p>Not that this is the same thing at all as the OP’s dilemma, but once I was trying to get something corrected at the DMV, and ran into one dead end after another. I finally called my state assemblyman’s office, and the problem was fixed in literally five minutes. Lesson learned: Do the best you can, but when you’ve exhausted all possibilities, elected representatives can just get things done that the rest of us can’t.</p>
<p>I agree with the above posters that it is important that the hospital be contacted directly to see what the correct amount (if any) to be paid is, whether the bill collector is legit, whether anything can be worked out to reduce the amount owing due to no insurance available for the treatment.</p>
<p>I’d still see an attorney–initial visits are generally at no charge to help evaluate the case properly as it currently stands, to see what can be done with insurer. Really poor that insurer is totally shirking its responsibility to at least pay SOMETHING.</p>
<p>Idea of contacting your local Congressman is a great one and has been very successful for many, many folks. If the 1st one you contact isn’t successful, there are at least two senators and one representative who represent each of us. Good luck!</p>
<p>If the bill is in the hands of a collection agency, the hospital has washed its hands of it and will no longer get involved. But I suspect the collection agency has no way of attaching wages or otherwise getting its hands on money in the US and will likely be very willing to negotiate a settlement. Make an offer to pay a third, and they’ll likely agree to half.</p>
<p>As for the other solutions suggested in this thread, I think refusing to pay on the technicality that the girl was underage would be unethical, and I can’t imagine how this would be a matter for a member of Congress. It’s a shame that the girl’s medical insurance was inadequate, but necessary services were rendered, and payment is owed.</p>
<p>Just went onto the website for the American consular service in Amsterdam, where it states explicitly that medical care for tourists is not provided for free. OP – take a look. You also might want to contact someone in the embassy via email to see if they can offer some advice, as they’ve no doubt seen situations in which Americans without insurance they could use in Holland have received medical care. (My thought is that the American insurance company might well be the culprit here, and that legal efforts should be directed in that direction.)</p>
<p>^^ I agree about the insurance company being the culprit (as usual). They are really tough to go against though. You don’t even want to think about it without an attorney, but they have armies of attorneys as well. Maybe the OP should take parallel tracks: contact a lawyer AND contact federal elected representatives. </p>
<p>Just curious, does anyone know: For citizens of countries which have universal insurance, does their insurance cover medical costs incurred abroad?</p>
<p>Generally speaking, yes. It will depend on what the costs are and what they’re for but reimbursement is generally at the rate that would be paid at home. We have additional coverage through my husband’s employer for any uncovered expenses when out of the country. Most people we know who do not have such supplemental benefit from their employer purchase travel insurance to cover such eventualities. I can’t imagine why anyone would travel abroad without such coverage.</p>
<p>My understanding re: insurance for foreigners in the US who come from 2-3 different western European countries is that their insurance covers them while they are abroad, but at the home rate. Since medical care in the US is generally a lot more expensive, there can be a wide gap, so supplemental coverage is required. But I do believe they can receive that supplemental coverage through the government.</p>
<p>Also universal health coverage in the countries I’m familiar with doesn’t cover everything. It is wonderful if you have an emergency situation (heart problems, appendicities, etc.) or a chronic disease or handicap, but anything that might vaguely be considered elective is covered at a much lower rate (eye surgery, carpal tunnel, joint replacement, etc.) unless it is truly extreme. MIL had cataract/lens replacement surgery and would have had to pay a chunk out-of-pocket were it not for her private supplemental policy which covered the difference. She knows people who do not have the supplemental insurance who only have had one eye done because that’s all they can afford. FIL was diagnosed after exploratory surgery with pancreatic cancer and spent a month unconscious (never really regained consciousness after surgery) in a nursing facility before passing away. The only bill to be paid was for bottled water.</p>
<p>A friend gave birth to a severely brain-damaged child who nonetheless lived for 18 years. Not only was all his medical care completely covered, she received a rent subsidy for a larger apartment allowing her to have a live-in care giver so she could work. It was a godsend while he was alive. She had some difficulty coping afterward because not only did the child die quite suddenly, but then she lost the rent subsidy and had to move almost immediately.</p>
<p>Canadians are advised to buy health insurance for travels to the US, I don’t know if it is supplemental or not.</p>
<p>On both BS/BX plans and other private purchase plans, they have always said my kids would be covered abroad. I could see them fighting to pay usual and customary, but I am surprised they offer nothing at all for an emergency surgery.</p>
<p>i am astonished that people think that americans should be covered for free by european health services… they are paid for by european taxes… american freeloaders not welcome!</p>
<p>op it’s really admirable that the girl wants to pay. on what grounds did the parental insurance company deny payment?</p>