A Texas woman is urging others to consider travel insurance after she faced a medical emergency on a Royal Caribbean cruise from Galveston to Mexico, which ended up costing her family over $13,000 out of pocket for medical care. Khiali Baxter, who was on her first-ever cruise with her boyfriend, experienced a sudden health crisis just two days into the trip.
The Medical Emergency
Baxter woke up on board feeling ill and soon began vomiting blood. She collapsed on the ground and was rushed to the ship’s emergency room, where doctors diagnosed internal bleeding. An ambulance was called, and Baxter was transferred to a hospital four hours away in Mexico.
“I could feel myself kind of going in and out of consciousness. I was very cold and terrified,” she said.
At the hospital, her family was told that they had to pay up front for treatment. Her father, Craig Baxter, recalled the shocking conversation with the hospital staff: “We’ll work as far as the $2,500 will take us, I’ve never heard this in my life,” he said.
The Costs Incurred
Despite efforts to stabilize Khiali, the doctors could not determine the source of the internal bleeding. In the end, the Baxter family faced significant medical bills:
$9,970 for hospital care in Mexico.
$4,048 for the ship’s onboard medical facilities.
Additional expenses for flights and lodging in Mexico.
In total, the family spent over $13,000 for the emergency care and associated costs.
The Importance of Travel Insurance
The Baxter family’s ordeal highlights the financial risks of traveling without proper coverage. In hindsight, they wish they had purchased travel insurance before the trip. Travel insurance can help cover the costs of emergency medical care, transportation, and other unexpected expenses.
Expert Advice on Travel Insurance
Jeff Rolander, Vice President of Faye Travel Insurance, advises travelers to shop around for travel insurance before embarking on any trip. He explains that basic policies might cover only specific parts of the trip, like flights or hotels. However, a comprehensive travel insurance product—typically costing 6 to 8% of the trip cost—offers far broader coverage.
“There are very barebones policies that might protect just a piece of the trip, for instance, the flights themselves or a hotel room,” Rolander said.
Key Takeaways
Medical emergencies abroad can quickly escalate in terms of costs and stress.
Travel insurance provides protection for unexpected medical expenses and emergencies while traveling.
Shop around for comprehensive travel insurance, especially if planning international trips or cruises.
Khiali’s unfortunate experience serves as a warning to all travelers: a small investment in travel insurance could save you from significant financial burden and stress in case of an emergency.
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