$100,000 Thailand Swine Flu Nightmare
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Customer case study
Aussie dad Tom, 46 from Sydney began coughing at the start of his longed-for trip to Thailand... days later he was in a coma.
Luckily, Tom's medical expenses were covered by Zoom Travel Insurance. Watch how Tom's holiday ordeal unfolded.
Just days into what was supposed to be a dream family holiday, 46-year-old Tom began to feel unwell.
Tom, along with his wife and daughter, had been enjoying a luxury Thailand trip with all the trimmings.
“We’d just begun our family vacation over the Christmas break” “We did everything you could think of doing during a beautiful holiday including five-star dining....until I got sick. “
Tom having a fantastic time in Thailand before falling sick.
Tom's situation went from bad to worse
Within 24 hours he started to come down with a nasty cough which kept him in bed for five days. Within 48 hours Tom's body was shutting down.
Tom's situation quickly went from bad to worse when we was rushed to hospital and only remembers regaining conscious a week later.
Tom woke up seven days later to discover that he had been put in an induced coma. He had caught swine flu which had led to pneumonia.
Tom in induced coma
A gradual recovery
Due to his weakened state, Tom was restricted from airline travel and would require ongoing rehabilitation for several weeks.
He spent almost three weeks in hospital. Due to his lung capacity and cabin pressure he couldn’t clear the medical bill to go back home and therefore had to stay in Thailand for a few more weeks. In total Tom spent 47 days in Thailand before he could see his family again.
Once discharged, Tom was overcome with gratitude for the team that had helped him throughout his traumatic experience.
Tom said,
“It was quite emotional for me coming out of hospital. As my wife has been dealing with my insurance case manager, I needed to get on the phone and thank them from the bottom of my heart. They not only came to the rescue but really helped us from a financial level.”
Arriving back home was an overwhelmingly emotional experience
“From the minute the plane landed home, it was everything. I was finally going to see my daughter, who was waiting for me outside. It chokes me up as during that time all I could think of was, ‘I could have died’. I wouldn’t have been able to walk my daughter down the aisle.”
Tom recovering slowly
Tom's $100,000 medical expenses paid by Zoom
Tom explains,
“Because I was insured with Zoom travel insurance, my experience with the hospital was amazing. They were there every step of the way, making early morning phone calls, approving bills, I mean, we didn’t have anything to worry about.”
Despite his frightening experience, Tom says that he felt constantly reassured and cared for.
“I woke up traumatised from this health scare but had the peace of mind that Zoom were there every step of the way.”
“Zoom covered all our out-of-pocket expenses, my medical bills which amounted to $100,000 and they were there every step of the way. They communicated with my wife and there wasn’t a moment where we weren’t looked after.”
Tom says he would never travel without insurance and warns others not to run the risk
“Take out travel insurance because you just don’t know what’s going to happen on the other side of the world. For a price of $300 for a travel insurance policy, versus a hundred-thousand-dollar hospital bill that Zoom travel insurance just took care of- it’s a no-brainer.”
DON'T TRAVEL WITHOUT IT
WHY BUY WITH ZOOM
medical cover
Zoom to top notch medical cover! Our 24/7 First Assistance team can help liaise with doctors, sort out the bills, and organise medical evacuations back to Australia.
Travel delays
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SAILING COVER
Zoom to sailing coverage! With automatic cover for up to 10 nautical miles, and 15 with our Sports and Adventure pack, why not see South Korea by sea?
Family emergencies
Zoom home! If an unexpected family emergency arises, our comprehensive policy can help you get home to your loved ones.
kids go free
Zoom to family holidays! Your kids and grandkids are covered for free if they're under 21, don't work full time, and are travelling with you for 100% of the trip.
rental car excess
Zoom to car coverage. Renting a vehicle to see the South Korean country side? We can cover it with our optional rental vehicle excess pack.
easy claims
Zoom to quick claims. One form and no worries - we outline exactly what documents you need in the form to make your claim.
Peace Of Mind
Zoom to zen. You can sit back and relax on your holiday knowing that you’re covered by award winning travel insurance.
