Critically ill, and thousands of miles from home

A lesson here: Always get insurance before you go away.


A family from Northampton are desperately trying to raisefundsto bring their critically ill father home from the Philippines.

66-year-old Peter Robinson is almost completely paralysed, and can only move his eyes, after suffering a stroke. His daughters say the hospital in Olongapo City, about 80 miles from the capital, Manila, will not discharge him unless they pay bills of tens of thousands of pounds.

http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2014-07-15/critically-ill-and-thousands-of-miles-from-home/

http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/upda...om-the-philippines-with-seriously-ill-father/

Or while you are living there.

Definitely a lesson to be learned without doubt.

I see your point. In settling in the Philippines at a later stage in our lives we need to know the drawbacks of doing so and then make a concious decision to discount them. Makes sense to me. Not something I would do but we all can make that kind of decision for ourselves and why not.

The hospital is breaking the law which was changed a few years ago (by Arroyo iirc) to prevent hospitals taking patients hostage for unpaid bills. It was a good little earner too as the hospitals could continue charging for accommodation, meals etc., during this period.

Yes a conscious decision to take the risk which is all well and fine but although the family are concerned it sounded like they were slightly resentful that they now have to pick up the pieces.

Might be worth changing the route to work, if possible.

Interesting thought: he has been living in the Philippines for five years, how much would five years of comprehensive medical insurance (including UK repatriation cover) cost for a 65 year old man?

Is that really the best thing for him?

Quite right, why should they discharge him before the bill is paid.

The hospital provided services that almost certainly saved their Fathers life, the bill needs to be paid.

I guess it would cost a bomb over that period at that age. I think he's gambled on not being ill but one can't rely on a bet.

Is repatriation the best thing you mean? I guess it's a necessity now. No one there is going to take care of his daily needs.

Yep wouldn't disagree, the bill needs to be paid

So did he win, or did he lose?

I have had a personal worldwide (excluding USA) comprehensive health policy for the past 20 years with only dental and optical claims over that time. I wish I had saved my cash.

My current policy renewal cost is £3,000 per year, dental limit £320 per year, optical limit £100 per year, and I am over a decade younger than this Gentleman.

Flying him back to the UK where he is (strictly speaking) not entitled to NHS treatment, despite having made a lifetime of contributions to the system (as he has been away from the UK for more than six months) makes little sense.

Better to find nursing facilities to treat him locally in the Philippines till the inevitable happens.

Any expat with a sound mind would surely rather expire in their chosen home rather than on a trolley outside a dirty NHS ward in the UK.

Far better to have your ashes scattered in the Ganges, the Mekong or Subic bay.

Why?

I don't think he won or lost. His family lost in respect of having to repatriate him. I wasn't aware of the 6 month criteria on NHS but I'm sure he wouldn't be refused. Nice to have a choice of where to pop-your-clogs but for me it wouldn't really bother me as I'd already be 6 feet under

LOL. If you are already 6ft under then you wouldnt have a choice of the Ganges or Subic etc.

Yea that didn't come out right maybe. I meant if I were almost on my death bed I doubt I'd be worrying about where they finally lay me