$726k Canadian hospital bill for Australian couple

A pair of Australians that had a child in Canada are being asked to pay CAD $726,000.

Travel Insurance News - 29/03/2012

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John Kan and Rachel Evans’ daughter Piper was born prematurely in Vancouver last summer after Rachel went into labour at Vancouver International Airport. The baby required nearly three months of neo-natal care, which added up to more than $700,000; this is in addition to labour and delivery costs amounting to nearly $20,000.

Extended care is commonly necessary for children born prematurely; Piper was born at just 26 weeks, according to reports.

Meanwhile, Australia’s foreign affairs minister told reporters from the Telegraph newspaper this week he is looking into the possibility of providing help to the family in paying off the debt owed to BC Women’s Hospital.

Kan and Evans had bought travel cover for their trip as well as an additional policy to cover the pregnancy. However, they were not aware that the policy did not include circumstances such as their own, leaving them with no assistance on the costs.

The local health ministry has said the couple’s debt burden couldn’t be forgiven, but BC Women’s Hospital president Jan Christilaw said that hospital officials were negotiating with the couple to arrange a payment plan.

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