Minnesota Man Faces $47000 Medical Bill After Influenza During Caribbean Cruise
Mike Cameron from Minnesota faces a $47000 medical bill after falling ill with influenza on a Norwegian Cruise. Despite assurances of insurance coverage, both personal and traveler's insurance deny responsibility.
A Minnesota man, Mike Cameron, who fell ill with influenza during a Caribbean cruise, was confronted with a staggering medical bill totaling over $47000.
Cameron and his girlfriend, Tami Masterman, both from Braham, Minnesota, had won a weeklong Norwegian Cruise Line trip that departed from Miami on January 5. The trip gained special significance as it followed Masterman's successful cancer surgery in October 2024.
According to a GoFundMe set up by Cameron's daughter, Krystal, things turned perilous when Cameron fell ill and required medical attention on the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Encore cruise liner.
After his condition deteriorated, necessitating visit to the ship's ICU due to low oxygen levels, Cameron was diagnosed with Influenza A and possible pneumonia.
During his stay, the couple claimed there were issues with Cameron's care, including an incorrectly placed catheter and x-rays along with IV medications.
Cameron spent four days in the medical ward, despite feeling well enough to self-quarantine after the first night. He requested release daily, but medical staff reportedly refused to remove his IV or catheter.
The couple was initially reassured by Norwegian Cruise Line's medical secretary that they had coverage for $20000 through traveler's insurance. However, on the final day of the cruise, Cameron received a medical bill amounting to $47638.79.
The GoFundMe post stated that Norwegian Cruise Line utilized both of their credit cards on file, totaling around $26000. Cameron's daughter indicated that neither their traveler's insurance nor personal health insurance would cover the treatments, as the traveler's insurance demanded that personal insurance pay first, citing that the incident occurred abroad and was out of network.
The GoFundMe aims to support the couple in managing the shocking bill and ongoing medical expenses. By Thursday afternoon, it had raised nearly $3000 of a $10000 goal.
According to FOX 9, Norwegian Cruise Lines defended their pricing as being fair and comparable to other cruise lines. A spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to providing quality medical services and the existence of state-of-the-art onboard medical centers managed by qualified personnel.
They states, "We follow guidelines for our medical facilities provided by CLIA in conjunction with the American College of Emergency Physicians."
