OAP pursued for £500,000 bill after sepsis hospital stay in Florida.

DEMANDS: Couple pestered despite having insurance

An Angus man received an eye-watering $700,000 bill after he required six weeks of hospital treatment in America.

Mike Webster, 71, fell ill with pneumonia and sepsis a few days into a holiday to Florida with his wife Elizabeth last July.

The couple had been assured by their insurance company it would pay all the medical costs of their hospital stay and treatment.

However, despite handing over their insurance details to Oak Hill Hospital, finance staff still wanted payment, even when Mike’s condition became so serious he was placed in a medicallyinduced coma.

The hospital initially refused to acknowledge the Insure With policy as the company did not have a United States office – though did eventually make contact with the Kent-based insurer during Mike’s lengthy recuperation.

However, the couple have been shocked at continuing to receive bills for medical costs to their home in Brechin months after he returned home in August.

They even received a letter from a Switzerland-based debt collector to recover the $675,000 cost of his treatment.

Mrs Webster said receiving the bills – which equate to around £550,000 – had been extremely stressful.

“We’ve received the one big bill for $675,000 but also six others, ranging from $200 to $7,000 for various other treatments he had,” said Elizabeth.

“I couldn’t believe the figures, though he was in hospital for a long time. We’ve just been told by our insurance company that they will handle everything and not to respond to any demands for payment.

“It’s still a bit unsettling when you receive a letter from debt collection agency for more than half a million pounds, though.”

When Mike initially went to hospital he was diagnosed with pneumonia after receiving a series of CAT scans and x-rays but was allowed to leave after being given a prescription for antibiotics.

However, his condition deteriorated and he started to run a fever and have hallucinations. After being readmitted to hospital three days later, he was diagnosed with the life-threatening condition sepsis.

Elizabeth said her husband’s kidneys eventually shut down and his lungs were struggling to cope.

“He almost died twice,” she added. “It was horrendous. On top of everything, I was getting pestered by the administration at the hospital about payment.”

Eight months on Mike is still recovering from the ordeal and continues to have breathing difficulties.

And Elizabeth has a vital message for other travellers: “Whatever you do, if you go to America, please have proper insurance. When you see the size of the bills, it certainly makes you glad we have the NHS here.”

Picture: Kris Miller. Mike and Elizabeth Webster were told by a hospital in Florida they had to pay up after Mike’s treatment – even though they had insurance cover.