A 68-year-old Colombian tourist who spent more than 40 days in intensive care in Aruba has been flown back to Barranquilla, leaving her family with an outstanding hospital bill of about US$430,000, NoticiaCla reported on October 27, citing Noticias RCN.
Ignacia RodrÃguez Polo became critically ill during her vacation on the island and was treated for a severe bacterial infection. She spent more than 40 days in intensive care in Aruba. Without international medical insurance, her family faced substantial medical and transportation expenses, according to the report.
Air ambulance to Barranquilla
Her son, Mario Rosales, raised USD 16,500 through donations and personal funds to arrange an air ambulance to Colombia. RodrÃguez Polo has returned to Barranquilla and is now receiving treatment in an intensive care unit there through EPS Sura.
A bill of COP 1.6 billion
The family faces an outstanding hospital bill of 1.6 billion Colombian pesos, approximately USD 430,000, for the medical care provided in Aruba, NoticiaCla reported. The family is appealing for financial assistance while she continues her recovery in Barranquilla.
The case, as reported on October 27, underlines the cost risk facing visitors who travel without international medical insurance: more than 40 days of intensive care, an air-ambulance flight funded by donations and family funds, and a remaining bill of about US$430,000 that the family is now seeking help to pay.
How the case unfolded
According to the Noticias RCN account carried by NoticiaCla, RodrÃguez Polo was on vacation in Aruba when the severe bacterial infection made her critically ill. The treatment that followed kept her in intensive care on the island for more than 40 days — the period that generated the hospital bill her family now faces.
Getting her home was a second financial hurdle. The USD 16,500 for the air ambulance was not covered by insurance; her son Mario Rosales put it together from donations and personal funds. She is now continuing her treatment in a Barranquilla intensive care unit through EPS Sura, while the family appeals for financial assistance with the approximately USD 430,000 still outstanding for the care provided in Aruba.
Sources: NoticiaCla
