Kiwi in Thai hospital faces $16k bill

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Kiwi in Thai hospital faces $16k bill

3News NZ

Sean Kenzie has had life saving treatment, but his family is struggling to pay for it

Sean Kenzie has had life saving treatment, but his family is struggling to pay for it

By Dan Parker

Sean Kenzie's dream holiday has become the stuff of nightmares.

The 27-year-old is stranded in a Thai hospital with injuries including broken ribs, punctured lungs and a split liver.

“I've got a broken jaw, snapped my jaw in half – apart from that I got a big hole in my neck,” says Mr Kenzie.

Lifesaving treatment has so far cost more than $16,000, but Mr Kenzie can't afford to pay.

Because of this, the hospital is refusing further treatment and has begun harassing his mother in Napier for payment.

“They ring me at least three times a night sometimes more, they want payment, that's all they are really talking about,” says Nadine Mouritsen.

Ms Mouritsen has stage three liver cancer and is having trouble getting a bank loan to help her son.

He had travel insurance, but the Australian company Cover-More is refusing to pay out because Mr Kenzie didn't elect to pay extra to cover the risk of motorcycle riding.

Mr Kenzie, who now lives in Perth, says he asked for 'full cover' when he bought his insurance through his travel agent. He had no idea the policy didn't cover him for riding a scooter.

His girlfriend Amy Myles says things would have been different if they had known.

“If we had known that he wasn't covered for motorbike, we wouldn't have got a motorbike, he wouldn't have been riding on the first day,” she says.

Mr Kenzie was on his way to meet Ms Myles when he was hit from behind by a van.

“I checked in at my hotel, hired a little scooter, had a look around and the next thing I know I was in here,” he says.

Cover-More told 3 News that while it wouldn't pay the medical bills, it had offered non financial assistance, helping arrange air bookings and medical advice.

3 News

Sean Kenzie’s mother has set up a bank account for anyone who wants to contribute towards her son’s medical bills:

Nadine Mouritsen

ANZ Online Call Account 11-6401-0087968-47

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Comments

17/02/2013 4:19:18 p.m.

Nade wrote:

If you do not read what you sign, that is your problem. Your signature will be binding, and whilst tragic, no-ones fault but your own. Some people have to learn the hard way, not the careful way and CANNOT go looking to blame other people at every turn.

16/07/2012 2:41:55 a.m.

Wallace wrote:

I understand where everyone's coming from. You pay for insurance and expect to be covered. This could have happened to anyone. He was run over by a cab driver, which in turn paid the police not to be reported. This man has life threatening injuries. I'm positive if he was aware of this bullshit with motorbikes covered/not covered he would of purchased the extra cover! Seriously how much extra could it have possibly been. People say everyone knows about insurance not including it, no they don't! Theres so much negative crap flying around. His mother has cancer, her sons in a different country in hospital suffering. Give it a rest! I don't know the guy, but all he needs is a bit of help! If everyone just stopped being so judgemental the world would be a better place! I held a fundraiser this weekend and raised just over $1000. It might not sound like a lot but it's something! I organised a petition online to help bring him back home. Why? Why not!!

15/07/2012 11:16:54 a.m.

Jen wrote:

The insurer isn't liable for anything in this case. Under NZ insurance law, all policies must be written in plain English. There are no loop holes or fine print. Most policies even come with a 14 day period of grace, allowing the client to have a read, ask questions, and renege on the contract no questions asked. It is up to the client to ensure they understand the policy, if there is anything they don't understand, they MUST ask questions. It is relatively common knowledge that travelling on a moped is not covered under most basic policies and this is an example of the pitfalls of purchasing the cheapest cover. However, I expect this will be another opportunity for Kiwis to show our generosity and help bring this young man home, and perhaps a lesson can be learned from it.

14/07/2012 7:25:35 p.m.

AMP M-E wrote:

Being in the insurance industry 20 years, I still review the underwriting of any insurance policy. In Dec 2011 I purchas Virgin Blue airfares online it also offers travel insurance. After reviewing underwriting I wasn't happy with the coverage and research afew other travel insurance and opted for Southern Cross Travel Insurance. The Travel Broker is not responsible for the underwriting of the travel insurance. It's not their field of expertise. I recommend Southern Cross Travel Insurnace from experience they were exceptional processing my claim. Unfortunate I don't have the same apraisal for Virgin Blues! It was firt time experience with Virgin Blues and that will be my last!!!

9/07/2012 3:55:54 p.m.

Megan Gustafsson wrote:

I don't understand people having a go at the insurance company. Hello, he is an adult & he signed the agreement form. Yes the travel agent is liable a tad here but he signed the agreement. I have never seen an insurance policy automatically including motor bike. Sad sorry, yes. But take some duty of care!

9/07/2012 12:39:16 p.m.

Wendy Cain wrote:

I have donated, get better soon Sean

9/07/2012 11:54:58 a.m.

Karel wrote:

Which travel agency did Sean book his travel insurance through? Shouldn't some of this fall back onto his travel consultant also? I mean, we go to travel consultants for there advise and to help us make sure that our holidays run smoothly. His travel consultant knew he was traveling to Thailand (and being a travel consultant should have known that alot of people end up hiring scooters in Thailand). I feel that it should have been the travel consultants duty to ask if he was going to be riding a scooter while he was over there (otherwise he could have just gone and done it himself online).

8/07/2012 1:41:21 a.m.

Jemma kristin Tangohau wrote:

My name is Jemma Tangohau I live in Australia and I am a friend of Sean's brother and sister. I am also raising Money for Sean in australia. I appreciate every comment here if 16,000 people donated a dollar each we will have this bill paid. xx thanx for all the support so far

7/07/2012 10:41:10 p.m.

lee wrote:

for all those who are interested the name of the lovely insurance company is "Cover-More" now heres a thought lets all write them a email telling them how much we think of their customer services ...... and yep i put in forty dollars into the account for this family anyone else ?

7/07/2012 4:56:48 p.m.

Susan Bigelow wrote:

Perhaps we can all help this young man. could someone set up a bank that would agree to accept cash, to help him.Has TV 3 already done this?