The story of a Saskatchewan couple hit with nearly $1 million in U.S. medical bills after the premature birth of their daughter continues to resonate across the country.
Jennifer Huculak and her husband Darren Kimmel bought travel insurance from Blue Cross before their trip, but the company denied their claim, saying a bladder infection treated earlier in Huculak’s pregnancy counted as a pre-existing condition.
A crowd funding campaign started by a Manitoba woman to help the family raised more than $4,000 in just the first two days.
But University of Manitoba ethics professor Arthur Schafer doesn’t think the couple should be on the hook at all and says Blue Cross could have handled the situation differently.
"Their purpose seems to be to find a loophole, or to create one where none exists, so that they can deny the health care coverage that they're contractually obliged to provide,” said Schafer.
Blue Cross emailed a statement to CTV Saskatoon.
"We review each claim carefully and are confident that our decision to decline the claim was done in a considered manner, based on the contract terms, the situation which resulted in this emergency medical claim, and a review of recent medical history."
Glynnis Fidler, CAA Manitoba’s corporate manager of insurance, says consumers need to be very diligent about sharing as much information as possible when buying insurance.
"What might seem insignificant to you should be mentioned, because then again, the licensed insurance professional can help guide you to the right policy that'll provide the appropriate coverage,” she said.
Fidler also advises people to make sure they understand all the terms and conditions of their policies before heading out on vacation.
