Chapter 8

One Month in Hospital,      $100 000.

It was a terrible shock for the middle aged Norwegian born man when his 82-year-old mother was hospitalized with a heart attack shortly after her arrival in the USA.

However, he was going to have another unpleasant experience shortly after his mother had received adequate treatment and was out of immediate danger. In the emergency she had been taken to the nearest hospital which turned out to be a private and expensive one.

Because of the unstable condition of the woman, the doctors did not dare to move her to another and less expensive ward in another hospital. After a month of treatment and care, the hospital charges roughly $100 000, a bill her son is far from being able to pay.

The Norwegian general consul underlines the importance of having adequate travel insurance when one travels in the USA, since the public health care is inadequate compared to the system in Norway. The old woman did not think that the health care system was different in the USA. Therefore she traveled without insurance to save and was bitterly punished for her lack of knowledge and her choice.

"The Norwegian authorities, represented by the general consul, stresses the fact that it is the traveler who has the responsibility.

"It is a tragic case", he says," but the woman has been  irresponsible. If she had had her travel insurance, there would have been no problems."

"My mother have good treatment. I am myself downhearted and incredibly worn out.  I thought the idea with having a consulate was to help Norwegian citizens in need. But the general consul has done nothing to help. Nothing,"

The son had counted on support from the Norwegian authorities, but their negative response was a shock for him. The case is being dealt with by the Foreign Secretary's department. In the meantime, the bill is getting higher all the time at the American private hospital.