Calgary Travelers Story
Michael Hornburg made a trip last fall to Spain in remembrance of the ninth anniversary of his son, Corporal Nathan Hornburg, who died at the age of 24. Nathan is a Calgary reservist killed in Afghanistan on September 24, 2007.
According to Hornburg’s daughter, Rachel Herbert, who owns a ranch at the south of Calgary with Tyler her husband, Hornburg really felt that his son Nathan was with him during the journey. Barely four days before his departure date, Michael had a seizure and collapsed; he was admitted to the hospital. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor and could not talk or walk.
As she flew to Spain to visit her ailing father, Rachel contacted Allianz Global Assistance Canada. At the same time, she provided the insurer all the requisite documents for the hospital in Spain. According to the neurosurgeon, Michael needs and air accompaniment to fly and an air ambulance would cost between $60,000 and $80,000.
To make the matter worse, Allianz Global denied their claim after six days stating that Michael did not indicate that he received a prescription for indigestion 18 months earlier. Rachel had to worry about the air ambulance, the hospital stay in Spain, she and her husband’s accommodation and flight.
For the most part of the year, Rachel battled to get the bill recovered from the insurance company and in the end, the insurer only paid out $27,000, leaving Rachel and the family to cater for the remaining $30,000. However, members of the military in Calgary donated $25,000 to pay off the bills.
Herbert expressed her disappointment at the insurance company and insurance in general. According to her, the insurance would not help people who are not equipped and do not have the finances.
Allianz did not respond to an interview but rather issued a statement through Dan Keon the senior director of market management stating that they approved and fully reimbursed the eligible travel emergency expenses up to the maximum amount of coverage available to each applicant.
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