TheNorwegian89:
I hope it is okay to post this message here on the forum, and if not, I understand and the admin is welcome to take it down or move it :)
Dear forum family,
I humbly ask for some help today as unfortunately, i have encountered a very difficult situation due to my HIV status and i am currently in a hospital in Asia during my holiday.
As a 33-year-old man, lonely and with little contact with my family and old friends due to my HIV diagnosis i have known about since 2016 and this has made things not so easy, but I have managed to get help and support from organizations working with HIV and helping everyone effected by it and I am currently on successful treatment with Dovato.
I have been hospitalized with high blood pressure, pneumonia, and high fever. When my travel insurance contacted the hospital, they were made aware of my HIV diagnosis, and now that I am on the road to recovery, the insurance refuses to cover my hospital bill as they claim that my underlying condition may have triggered these symptoms and my insurance is then not valid and my claim is rejected.This has led to the hospital confiscating my passport until the bill is paid.Also i have missed my flight home because of the situation and the insurance reject the claim under the same reason as above.
The total bill amounts to 276,258 Thai baht, or around 8074 dollars, 7585 euros, or 6657 pounds converted today.
This is a lot of money, and of course i try through other friends, but its not so easy to give the explanation to everyone when they don't know my diagnosis.
Let me know if you have tips or questions. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely, Thomas
Jim Allen:
Hi Thomas,
Sorry to hear that you have been unwell and about the situation with the insurance company. I do hope you have recovered from your bout of illness.
How are you feeling now? Do you have enough HIV medication, and what was your last CD4 & HIV count?
--- Quote ---Let me know if you have tips or questions. --- End quote ---
Have you asked the Hospital if they are willing to state in writing that the medical issues had nothing to do with your underlying health condition? Have you spoken to your embassy to see if they can assist you or talk to the Hospital?
Suspect it would have been more straightforward if your passport had been lost so you could ask for a temporary one to travel home on and deal with the bill from home. Alas, that's not the situation.
Best, Jim.
Jim Allen:
--- Quote ---As a 33-year-old man, lonely and with little contact with my family and old friends due to my HIV diagnosis --- End quote ---
Sorry to hear that you have little contact with your family. I presume you think they would react negatively because of HIV status, or is it stigma because of how HIV is acquired?
--- Quote ---i try through other friends, but its not so easy to give the explanation to everyone when they don't know my diagnosis. --- End quote ---
Why would you need to tell them you are living with HIV? Surely its enough to explain to friends and family that you were sick, had a high fever and are stuck abroad and their help would be appreciated to get home?
TheNorwegian89:
--- Quote from: Jim Allen on March 18, 2023, 06:44:21 am ---Hi Thomas,
Sorry to hear that you have been unwell and about the situation with the insurance company. I do hope you have recovered from your bout of illness.
How are you feeling now? Do you have enough HIV medication, and what was your last CD4 & HIV count?
Have you asked the Hospital if they are willing to state in writing that the medical issues had nothing to do with your underlying health condition? Have you spoken to your embassy to see if they can assist you or talk to the Hospital?
Suspect it would have been more straightforward if your passport had been lost so you could ask for a temporary one to travel home on and deal with the bill from home. Alas, that's not the situation.
Best, Jim.
--- End quote ---
Hello Jim,
I breen in contact with different people from my government and they consulate or embassy dont do any economic support. It is mostly visit if you at the hospital or in prison. So that i have tried.
I have gotten my doctor back home to make a statement.
I have a travel insurance through REVOLUT Metal and they use Allianz, maybe you heard about them?, i have had some vases with computer and phone before and i always gotten rejection on claims and i see some reviews these days online and they aint mutch loved out there.
Just travelling and report it stolen could or not go, you never know if the immigration down here get information, because Thailand government like to keep track of everyone.
TheNorwegian89:
--- Quote from: Jim Allen on March 18, 2023, 06:49:03 am ---Sorry to hear that you have little contact with your family. I presume you think they would react negatively because of HIV status, or is it stigma because of how HIV is acquired?
Why would you need to tell them you are living with HIV? Surely its enough to explain to friends and family that you were sick, had a high fever and are stuck abroad and their help would be appreciated to get home?
--- End quote ---
] Hello Jim,
I been in contact with different people from my government and they consulate or embassy dont do any economic support. It is mostly visit if you at the hospital or in prison. So that i have tried.
I have gotten my doctor back home to make a statement.
Also the travel insurance i have is through REVOLUT Metal and they use Allianz, maybe you heard about them?, i have had some vases with computer and phone before and i always gotten rejection on claims and i see some reviews these days online and they aint mutch loved out there.
Just travelling and report it stolen could go or not go, thats a 50/50. You never know if the immigration down here get information, because Thailand government like to keep track of everyone.
My family already knowni have hiv and it is actually only my mother i have contact with after i came out with it. She dont have so mutch herself as she is old. So thats the situation there.
Normally when asking people that i also not known so long, they will want to know why insurance not taking care of it. I also lost most people i knew when poeple in my city got to know it some years ago. I should have kept my mouth shut, thats my opinion now.
I been alot to an organization in Oslo named HIV Norge on courses and mental treatment thats been very good. Sadly they dont help out with things like this.
So im trying to find some solution, alot is closed in Norway in the weekends so maybe when people atnwork again on monday i can call around a little! So im searching around on google at the moment.