Couple left stranded in Dubai as insurance hiccup leads to £11K medical bill row
A couple has been left "stranded" in Dubai amid a row over medical bills allegedly totalling more than £11,000.
Katriona White fell ill and was left unable to walk during a trip with husband Mick to the UAE from India where he was working as a football coach.
The pair, both 54, say their travel insurers assured them they were covered and would be reimbursed.
But then allegedly said there weren't covered thanks to a "technicality", they claim.
Barclays said its policy is "very clear" that all trips "must start and end in the UK", and last no more than 31 days.
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Katriona is still unfit to fly home and Mick can't leave until he's settled the growing medical bill.
He claims the hospital in Dubai has seized his passport.
The couple, from Yorkshire, arrived in the UAE city on April 20.
Katriona in hospital in Dubai (Daily Record)Mick told the Manchester Evening News: "After two or three days, she said she wasn't feeling very well when she was in the shower.
"She said she felt frozen up. All her hands had spasmed up."
Katriona was taken to hospital and her husband claims he was assured by his insurers they were covered.
He said he had been paying £18-a-month into the policy for the previous 12 years without ever making a claim before.
Mick said he paid £800 on his credit card to the hospital for the medical checks they carried out.
Katriona fell ill and now can't walk (Daily Record)But on learning an overnight stay at the hospital would cost at least £4,000, he checked his wife into a hotel.
Mick said he "didn't have that kind of money" and Katriona was discharged with some tablets.
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"They said after three or four days she would be OK," he explained.
After a few days in the hotel Katriona complained of "feeling weak" and went to a second hospital, where more tests were carried out and doctors said she needed an MRI scan.
On May 23, Mick said he received the news from his insurer via a phone call that the couple weren't insured because their trip had started in India rather than the UK.
The Rashid hospital where Kat has received treatment (Daily Record)"I was just in shock, panicking," he recalled. "They said as of now I wasn't insured and I asked 'for the whole bill?', and they said 'yes'.
"As far as the hospital was concerned, because I couldn't pay the bill they were kicking us out," said Mick.
"I was panicking and anxious for my wife's health. She wasn't fit to fly. She still can't walk. She can't feel her legs."
The pair are now staying at a £20-a-night hotel in Dubai while they try to raise the funds they need to pay the outstanding medical bill.
A friend has started a gofundme page which has raised £2,000.
Medics have not been able to work out what has caused Katriona's problems but have speculated it could be a problem with her spine, a virus or even cancer, according to Mick.
Speaking from Dubai, he went on to say: "I want to get my wife back to England so that she can get some treatment and get her on the road to recovery. She's sitting here and she needs treatment.
"She's struggling, I don't mind saying. She can't walk. She's run out of medication. We just want to get her back to the UK to get her sorted out."
Tearful Katriona, formerly a housing manager, said: "It's horrific. It's really bad. I can't believe I can't walk. I honestly can't believe it. I'm literally a disabled person."
The couple haven't lived in the UK since 2015 when Mick began coaching abroad.
"We are at the end of our tether. We are stuck here and my wife can't walk. She's lost the ability in her legs," he said.
A Barclays spokesperson said: "Our travel insurance documents and the annual eligibility statements are very clear that all trips must start and end in the UK and last no longer than 31 days.
"We have carefully reviewed our customer's case, and whilst we are very sympathetic to his position, unfortunately the trip could not be covered under the terms of our travel policy."
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