“In 2013, you guys saved my husband’s life when he had a heart attack in Belize. Probably saved our house, too.”
Well, that caught our attention.
It was a simple email with a big message from a Seven Corners customer, Lizbeth. Here’s her story.
Heartache in Belize
Lizbeth and her husband, Paul, had booked a one-week vacation at an inland eco-resort in Belize. They planned to explore the island’s caves and hike, but while they were there, Paul suffered a severe heart attack.
Lizbeth describes the next few days as chaotic and scary.
Belize is known for its world-class snorkeling and beaches, not its medical care. Although an ambulance came immediately to take Paul to the nearest hospital, that hospital was merely a tent with cots.
Lizbeth pleaded with the local medical team to take her husband to Belize City, 90 minutes away, where he'd have access to better medical care. Thankfully, a doctor agreed.
Now they were making progress toward getting Paul the care he desperately needed, but he wasn’t out of the woods yet.
Seven Corners Assist Coordinates Care
When Lizbeth finally got to a working telephone, she called Seven Corners Assist, the 24/7 emergency travel assistance service that comes with Seven Corners travel insurance plans. Understanding the gravity of the situation, the Assist Team immediately got to work.
The first step was to contact both the doctors in Belize and Paul’s cardiologist back home in Baltimore. By opening the lines of communication, Seven Corners could relay important information regarding Paul’s condition and medical history.
Soon all the doctors involved decided that Paul needed to go to a catheterization laboratory as soon as possible. Because the Belize City hospital didn’t have one, Seven Corners arranged to medically evacuate Paul to Baltimore.
Healthy Heart, Healthy Finances
Paul and Lizbeth were met by an ambulance at the airport in the U.S. and taken to a hospital where the medical team had already been briefed on Paul’s situation. They immediately took him to the cardiac ICU.
Paul received the care he needed and while he made a full recovery, this episode severely compromised his health. He now lives in his native country, England, to be with family and receive free healthcare.
Lizbeth, however, was unable to move to England yet. She used Seven Corners travel insurance whenever she went to visit him. The idea of traveling without insurance had become unfathomable to her.
“Having this travel insurance turned what could have been an absolute disaster into a manageable crisis,” said Lizbeth. “I just want people who don’t think about travel insurance in that way to be aware that it’s a lot more than insuring your bags in case they get lost.”
If Lizbeth had had to pay for the medical evacuation herself, it probably would have cost her the house, she said. Medical evacuations routinely cost in the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars. Not all domestic health insurance will cover that expense, which is why travel insurance can be so valuable.
A Seven Corners plan helped Lizbeth avoid the financial burden and stress of organizing an emergency medical evacuation, and her husband received the life-saving care he needed.
“I paid $90 for the insurance for the both of us, and I think this is the biggest return on investment I’ll ever get in my entire life.”
Visit SevenCorners.com to decide for yourself if travel medical insurance is worth the cost. A quick quote or chat with one of our licensed agents can help you see how affordable coverage is and find the right plan to fit your needs.
