In Reply to: insurance posted by hendo55aus on Friday, 17. April 2009 at 07:24 Bali Time:
Yes, you do need to pay up front. I was in BIMC last year with travel insurance. I did need to pay up front and then submit claim and receipts on my return. I had read this many times on JBRs on this forum, so I had got an $8,000 emergency master card before I went because I have two children and didn't want to risk it. Glad I did. I read one JBR where she had fully ripped open her lower leg on rio and was in hospital. Staff got on phone to Australian insurance company and told them she needed surgery urgently. They refused to pay and said she could wait til she got home I think. She obviously said bulls..t and paid for her own surgery and submitted claim when she got home. Unfortunately, insurance companies don't like to pay if they can help it, and a lot of people will accept their decision unquestioned as gospel, especially if the insurance company officer is very nice and sympathetic on phone (well trained). Instant profit.
Shame they didn't think to call a taxi and hope the hospital treated him. I have a feeling (sorry to say) that becuase one of the staff was responsible for the injury, maybe the few staff on in the early hours of the morning panicked and did not want to help. If it had been during the day, I believe the hotel staff would have done everything in their power, including piling the guy into their kijang and getting him to at least the closest doctor.