What started as a suspected case of Bali Belly quickly became a frightening medical emergency for Aussie mum Genna and her family, with 1Cover helping her family navigate the unexpected costs and complications. Despite missing out on a dream trip, she says she is “so grateful” 1Cover was there to help when things went wrong.
Victorian mum Genna Burns had been eagerly looking forward to a sun-soaked Bali getaway with her husband and son. The trip was made even more special by a friend’s 40th birthday celebrations.
The family would spend a few a days in Seminyak and then onto Nusa Dua, where they planned to spend a day at a beach club, with a big birthday celebration on the third day of their trip. The rest was lots more family time, sunshine and relaxing by the pool.
But just as the celebrations were about to begin, everything changed.
Not long into their arrival to Bali Genna felt a range of stomach upset symptoms which she suspected was a standard case of the dreaded Bali Belly. However, things quickly became more serious.
"I first started feeling unwell on the first few days of the trip. Just a little dizzy and not quite right, but i thought maybe i'm just a little tired."
After moving to their Nusa Dua accomodation, Genna became increasingly unwell with vomiting and stomach upset, when she decided to call for a doctor, who prescribed her with fluids and medications. Despite feeling 'scared' by her condition, she hoped that a quiet evening resting in her room would allow her time to recover while her family went ahead with the birthday dinner.
Instead, Genna's condition rapidly deteriorated.
When her husband Patrick returned later that evening, he found Genna unconscious on the bathroom floor. He quickly called for help, and Genna was rushed to hospital, where she was treated for acute gastroenteritis and dehydration.
Thankfully, Genna responded well to treatment, but her frightening ordeal had taken a toll. Her hospitalisation would not only change the course of the family’s holiday, but also bring a series of unexpected travel and accommodation costs.
Amidst Genna’s frightening illness, Patrick contacted 1Cover on the first night of Genna’s hospitalisation where the insurer took care of much of the logistics.
“They contacted the hospital and they organised pretty much everything from there,” Genna said.
1Cover covered almost $10,000 in medical and hospital expenses, as well as the unexpected costs that followed, including changing their return flights, additional pet and house-sitting costs, airport parking and the shuttle they had arranged.
For Genna, knowing those practical and financial details were being dealt with was a huge relief.
“It was just such a load off our minds.”
After being discharged from hospital, Genna still needed a couple of additional hospital checks and stayed in Bali for extra days while she recovered.
Eventually, she was able to get back outside and spend a couple of days by the pool.
“It was just nice to get out of that darn hospital room.”
While those few days in the sunshine weren't quite the Bali holiday Genna had imagined, she was thankful for the opportunity to recover along with her family before heading home.
For Genna, the experience has completely changed the way she thinks about travel insurance.
She simply can’t imagine the stress of being ill overseas, while worrying about paying for treatment or managing other unexpected costs. She warns fellow travellers not to consider going overseas without travel insurance.
“Please don't do it to yourself. It's such an extra stress and extra burden on you. When you get unwell overseas, it's the last thing you want to be thinking about.”
The experience has also made her decision about future travel simple.
“I will always get travel insurance and it will always be through 1Cover. They were tremendous with everything.”
While Genna's Bali holiday may not have gone according to plan, having support from her travel insurance made all the difference, from dealing with the hospital to managing the unexpected costs of extending and rearranging their trip.
Her advice to other travellers is straightforward:
“Get travel insurance, get travel insurance with 1Cover. They were great.”
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