The company that denied a travel insurance claim from a family facing a nearly $1-million medical bill after a birth in Hawaii has released a statement for the first time.
Saskatchewan Blue Cross said Monday that Jennifer Huculak should seek help from the national independent insurance ombudsman, and they will not reverse the decision.
Huculak said she was six months pregnant when she left for a vacation in Hawaii with the blessing of her doctor and health insurance from Blue Cross.
Soon after arriving in Hawaii, her water broke and her premature baby required a two-month stay in a neo-natal intensive care unit, they said.
Blue Cross denied her claim, saying a bladder infection that caused some hemorrhaging at four months constituted a pre-existing condition. It also said her travel insurance had expired while she was in hospital.
Saskatchewan Blue Cross president Arnie Arnott said in today’s statement that Huculak was given a letter outlining "nine specific events" that prevented her claim from being paid and referred the media back to Huculak for further explanation.
He said the challenges facing Huculak's family are "extraordinary and difficult," and the Ombudservice for Life and Health Insurance could the Blue Cross decision.
"A review by OLHI is free of charge and Saskatchewan Blue Cross will cover any costs incurred by Ms. Huculak preparing her claim for review by the ombudsman," Arnott said in the statement.
Blue Cross aims to "help families avoid situations like this one," he added.
Huculak had shared correspondence with CTV Saskatoon relating to her claims, but not the letter outlining the “nine specific events” behind why she was denied. She said Monday that she would look for the letter.
Last week, she said she wasn't given a Blue Cross questionnaire before the trip.
"We were told we were covered. We paid our premium. We obviously still feel that Blue Cross should cover the bill," she said. "It's a very sad position to be in. I wouldn't wish it on anybody."
Huculak said if a doctor told her she had a high-risk pregnancy, she wouldn't have travelled to Hawaii. She said her doctor sent a letter to Blue Cross confirming that Huculak's pregnancy was stable when she went on vacation, but the claim was still denied.
"As of March, Blue Cross pretty much washed their hands of the whole case," she said. "We've just kind of been sitting ducks not knowing what to do."
The hospital in Hawaii has declined to comment on the situation.
With files from CTV Saskatoon and The Canadian Press
