Free Cruise Turns Costly for Minnesota Couple
MINNEAPOLIS — Mike Cameron, a Minnesota truck driver with 25 years of experience, and his girlfriend, Tamra, faced an unexpected financial crisis after winning a free cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line.
Excited to celebrate Tamra’s recent recovery from lung cancer, the couple embarked on their week-long cruise in early January. Unfortunately, not long into their journey, Mike fell ill and was later diagnosed with the flu at the ship’s medical center.
“When I first went in, I knew I needed help,” Cameron explained.
After receiving oxygen treatment, he felt better and requested to return to his cabin. Instead, he ended up spending 62 hours in the medical ward.
During this time, a medical secretary assured him that his Travelers Insurance provided sufficient coverage. “She said, ‘You’ve got $20,000 worth of coverage. You’ll be fine,'” Cameron recounted.
However, he was taken aback when the bill for his care totaled over $47,000. “I couldn’t believe it; I still can’t,” he stated.
Despite having Travelers Insurance, the couple’s troubles escalated when they attempted to settle the bill. The cruise line instructed Mike to go through his primary health insurance first, which, unfortunately, did not cover medical expenses incurred abroad. “Right now, we have no idea if anything’s going to cover it. We don’t know,” Cameron lamented.
In a statement to WCCO, Norwegian Cruise Line stated that Cameron “received appropriate treatment for his condition” and that the expenses were assessed by their internal team. After sharing their ordeal, the couple learned that many others encountered similar experiences with exorbitant medical bills while receiving care at sea. Cameron now advises travelers to verify their insurance coverage thoroughly before going abroad. “You just never know,” he added.
In response to their financial struggles, Cameron’s daughter started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the medical costs. The couple hopes their experience serves as a cautionary tale for others and emphasizes the importance of confirming medical coverage before setting sail.
