Insurance Bureaucrats Turn Dream Cruise Into $47,000 Trip to Hell!

A Minnesota couple’s dream cruise turned into chaos leaving them facing a staggering $47,000 medical bill and a desperate insurance battle. 🌐 #News #StPaulMN #Minnesota #TravelNightmare

ST. PAUL, MN – A dream vacation to the Caribbean turned into a nightmare for Mike Cameron of Braham, Minnesota, after a free Norwegian Cruise Line trip left him drowning in unexpected medical expenses. The weeklong voyage that was supposed to be a celebration ended with Cameron battling a $47,000 bill and desperate pleas for financial help.

Cameron and his girlfriend, Tami Masterman, were riding a high when they boarded the Norwegian Encore on January 5. The couple had recently celebrated a major milestone—Masterman’s successful surgery just a few months earlier. But their joy would soon be replaced by panic and financial distress.

Sudden Illness Derails Cruise Bliss

While aboard the 4,000-passenger cruise liner, Cameron’s health took a sudden turn when he contracted Influenza A, leading to complications and fears of pneumonia. His condition worsened rapidly, with plummeting oxygen levels that forced him into the ship’s ICU. Despite Cameron’s insistence that he felt well enough to recover in his room, medical staff reportedly refused to release him.

For four days, Cameron remained confined to the medical ward, undergoing tests, IV treatments, and catheter procedures. But it wasn’t just his illness that left him feeling trapped—he couldn’t escape the mounting medical charges that were silently piling up.

The Shocking $47K Bill and Insurance Nightmare

On the final day of the cruise, Cameron was hit with a staggering bill: $47,638.79.

Despite purchasing traveler’s insurance that allegedly provided $20,000 in coverage, the couple discovered that their insurance would not cover the full cost.

To make matters worse, Norwegian Cruise Line reportedly maxed out the couple’s credit cards on file, draining $26,000 without prior approval.

According to Cameron’s daughter, Krystal, their insurance coverage hit a bureaucratic wall. The traveler’s insurance required their personal health insurance to cover costs first, but their health insurance refused to pay, citing the international location of the treatments as “out of network.”

With no immediate solutions, Cameron’s family turned to crowdfunding. A GoFundMe was launched to help cover the overwhelming expenses. As of this morning, over $4,000 of the $10,000 goal had been raised.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Response

Norwegian Cruise Line defended its pricing, stating that its medical charges are comparable to other cruise lines and deemed “fair and reasonable.”

The company declined to share specifics of Cameron’s case, citing privacy laws, but assured that the medical procedures and expenses had been reviewed internally

The cruise line emphasized its commitment to providing top-tier medical care aboard its ships, highlighting its adherence to guidelines set by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

For now, Cameron and Masterman remain stuck in a frustrating insurance dispute while their unexpected $47,000 bill looms overhead. Consider supporting the GoFundMe campaign here.

RELATED TOPICS: Cruise Ship Travel | Minnesota | Travel