Indian Woman Hit with ₹57 Lakh Medical Bill After Travelling to Canada to Meet Son

An 88-year-old Indian woman visiting Canada to meet her son was hit with a staggering $96,000 (₹57 lakh) medical bill after being hospitalised with serious breathing complications. Alice John arrived in Brampton, Ontario on a six-month super visa to spend time with her son, only to fall ill shortly after her arrival.

Alice’s son, Joseph Christy, shared that his mother started experiencing symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, and fever while visiting her daughter in Hamilton. She was admitted to Hamilton General Hospital, where she had to be placed on ventilator support during her three-week hospitalisation.

Despite having purchased a basic super visa travel insurance policy from Manulife, which provided coverage up to $100,000, the claim was denied due to a pre-existing condition of congestive heart failure. This came as a shock to the family, as they were unaware of any heart condition in Alice’s medical history.

After the claim was initially denied, Manulife decided to review the case further following media outreach. They have now agreed to pay the claim, relieving Alice and her family of the hefty medical bill.

The spokesperson for Manulife stated, “Sometimes, unique situations come up where the interpretation of the medical file doesn’t align with the contract. We’ve taken a closer look and, given the circumstances, will pay the claim. We’ve notified the relevant parties and are now initiating the payment process.”

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding insurance policies and ensuring that all medical conditions are accurately disclosed to avoid unexpected financial burdens during emergencies.