Top 10 costly claims for SCTI
New research from Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has revealed that Kiwis are unaware of the astronomical costs that come with a medical emergency overseas. The research showed that:
• 53 per cent of those surveyed thought a broken bone would cost under NZ$10,000 to be treated in the US.
• 46 per cent of those surveyed thought it would cost under $100,000 to charter an emergency flight from Los Angeles to Auckland.
• 34 per cent of those surveyed thought a medically necessary upgrade to business class (for someone with a broken leg) from Singapore to Auckland would cost under $2,500.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance CEO Craig Morrison commented on the findings: “The amounts people think overseas medical treatment and repatriation will cost pale in comparison to some of the claims we receive every year.”
To highlight the difference between perception and reality, SCTI has released their top 10 medical claims made by Kiwi travellers in the last year – see table below:
Amount What happened Where it happened
$561,400 Encephalitis – required an air ambulance home Africa
$374,000 Diverticulitis – required hospitalisation and an
upgraded flight home US
$362,000 Car accident – required an air ambulance home China
$360,000 Arterial haemorrhage – required 12 days in hospital US
$262,000 Cardiac issue that needed investigating
– required an air ambulance home China
$260,000 A fall from a cliff, resulting in a brain bleed
– required an air ambulance home Indonesia
$235,400 Coronary artery problems
– required three days in hospital US
$212,000 Pneumonia and a heart attack
– required over two months in hospital South Africa
$208,000 Gallstone complications – required three
days in hospital and a non-medical escort home US
$206,000 Hip injury due to a fall at the beach – required
six days in hospital and repatriation US
“Despite 31 per cent of those surveyed needing medical assistance while travelling, 17 per cent of Kiwi travellers still choose to travel without insurance,” noted Morrison.