A man from Whitby says his mother, who was visiting from the U. S. last fall, fell ill and needed hospital care.
A woman traveling to Canada from the United States got sick and had to be hospitalized. Without any travel insurance, her family was stunned when they received a bill exceeding $110,000.
“I didn’t know if she was going to make it because she was unconscious,” Naveed Zafar, of Whitby, Ont., said.
Zafar’s mother, Begum Bashiran, is in her 80s and resides in Atlanta, Ga. In October, she visited Zafar and his sister in Waterloo. During her stay, Bashiran experienced a stroke and required hospitalization.
Begum Bashiran Begum Bashiran is seen at a hospital in this undated photo.
Zafar hurried to the Waterloo Regional Health Network to be with his mother and completed paperwork for her treatment.
“They showed me a form about medical expenses, and I didn’t even bother looking at it. All I was thinking was, ‘Am I going to see my mom again, and is she going to make it,’” Zafar told .
Bashiran stayed in the hospital for four weeks, spending time both in regular care and the intensive care unit. She has since recovered and returned to Atlanta.
However, since she did not have travel health insurance while visiting Canada, her family received an enormous bill for the services rendered.
“When my mother was discharged, I was sent a bill for over $110,000,” Zafar shared.
Bill graphic
The hospital offered a 10 percent discount on some charges; however, Zafar still owed approximately $100,852.875. So far he’s managed to pay $55,000 but must find a way to cover the remaining amount.
“Being a responsible citizen, I definitely want to pay the hospital,” Zafar stated but added that “I was hoping there was some way they could find other discounts to help me.”
Bill graphic
When contacted the Waterloo Regional Health Network for comment, a spokesperson said in a statement: “We cannot discuss specific clinical details due to patient privacy laws. We sincerely empathize with the financial strain that unexpected medical emergencies can cause especially when navigating the complexities of international health care.”
The hospital further mentioned: “Our goal remains the well-being of our patients and we continue to offer our support to the family as they navigate these next steps.”
Waterloo Regional Health Network hospital Waterloo Regional Health Network hospital is seen in this undated photo.Travel insurance expert Martin Firestone , CEO of Travel Secure Inc., told that several companies provide “Visitor to Canada” insurance. p >Just like Canadians should get coverage when traveling abroad , Firestone emphasized that visitors coming into Canada should also consider getting insurance in case they suddenly need medical attention. p >“All people visiting Canada who are not Canadian residents need to purchase ‘Visitor to Canada’ insurance ,” Firestone advised. p >He pointed out that if Zafar’s family had bought coverage , most likely their mother’s care would have been covered. p >“Sadly , it appears they didn’t buy it , and now they are facing this huge bill ,” Firestone remarked. p >Zafar expressed gratitude towards the hospital for taking care of his mother but noted he’ll have to figure out another way to settle up on what’s left of the bill. p >Naveed Zafar Naveed Zafar speaks with Pat Foran about his mother’s expensive medical bill.
“At this point , I’ve maxed out options of whatever I paid them,” said Zafar. “If I have to pay them , I have no choice ; there’s no way out.” p >
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