How Not To Invalidate Medical Insurance Cover
Filed in: Medical Insurance |Travel Insurance
05 April 2023
Josh Richardson has suffered a fractured skull and serious head injuries after a moped accident whilst in Thailand. The accident occurred after he went out on his moped to collect some food during the middle of the night in Bangkok.
The family of the ice hockey player from Chorley, Lancashire, have said that his insurers will not pay £160,000 to return him to the UK on a special air ambulance as they believe he was not wearing a helmet at the time - his family are desperate to raise money
Friends and family in UK are also organising separate fundraising events. Josh is a well-known local figure he played for the Bradford Bulldogs ice hockey team in his university days.
Josh's mum Susan said: "It was such terrible news when we heard what had happened. He is in a bad way and we flew out there to be with him as soon as we could.
We're not sure what's going to happen and we're so grateful for everything that people are doing back home - it means such a lot to our family."
Doctors in Thailand performed an initial £20,000 surgery on Josh after finding air pockets in his brain. But his family have said that the surgery hasn't been successful and he has had to have a second brain surgery, which has cost a further £20,000.
They have also been informed that if this operation is unsuccessful and he has to travel home, he would need a full ICU crew on the plane which would cost £168,000.
His family friend Joanne Gibson, 56, has now set up a Go Fund Me to help support Josh's family.
She said: "How on earth are normal working people meant to pay it?
"Where are they meant to get this money from?
"I don't think Thailand will let them leave without paying upfront first.
Lessons to learn in how NOT to invalidate your medical insurance cover
Clearly this is another tragic event involving a young person in the prime of his life that will surely impact both his and his family's life long into their futures.
We must however all learn from such incidents and listed below are the key lessons for anybody riding motorcycles either on holiday or whilst away from your home country.
• Ensure you are legally entitled to ride a motorcycle at your destination. This essentially means that you should have acquired a driving license in your home country AND obtained an IDP (International Driving Permit) as a tourist in a foreign country. If you are residing in a foreign country you should obtain a license in your host country also.
• Insurers will refuse cover if you are over the legal limit of alcohol in your blood stream
• Cover can also be refused if you are intoxicated by the use of drugs whilst riding or driving vehicles.
• Appropriate safety equipment should always be worn whilst riding motorcycles - if not insurers can refuse cover.
• Read the terms and conditions of your specific insurance policy for any additional restrictions that may apply - these can include activities such as Moto X and participating in competitions
• Travel medical insurance and motorcycle cccidents
• A Cautionary Note Regarding “Home Country” Travel Medical Insurance Benefits
• Learn more about expat medical insurance
• Travel medical insurance options
• How to choose a medical insurance plan
• 5 most common mistakes expats make in selecting a medical insurance plan
• Not using medical insurance emergency numbers can cost you thousands
• Buy an online IDP if you intend to drive or ride motorcycles overseas