Man facing $47,000 in medical bills after getting the flu on a cruise
Mike Cameron says he bought travelers insurance, but it only covers up to $20,000, and so far he can’t get them to pay.
BRAHAM, Minn. — Mike Cameron and his girlfriend Tamra’s celebratory Norwegian cruise in January has turned into a financial nightmare, leaving them facing $47,000 dollars in medical bills. The couple won the cruise through a casino giveaway, and had good reason to celebrate.
“We were celebrating the fact that she beat lung cancer,” Cameron said. But the celebration was short-lived as Mike got the flu on board, requiring three days of medical treatment.
“I had a couple IV’s in me, and they had placed a catheter in me, which I’m not sure is necessary for the flu, but that’s what they did,” Cameron said.
The real shock however, came just an hour before disembarking when Mike was presented with a staggering medical bill of $47,000. Despite having travelers insurance that supposedly covered up to $20,000, Mike has been unable to get the insurance company to pay.
“I’m not really sure what to do or where to go,” he expressed. He says his primary insurance is refusing coverage due to the incident occurring abroad.
Colleen Aaberg, owner of Aaberg Travel Design in Eden Prairie, says a travel expert can help you order the proper travel insurance policy for your needs, to avoid a catastrophic situation like Cameron as facing.
“In the evolution of health insurance plans, your major medical plans really don’t include international travel, most of them, when you have a high deductible plan,” Aaberg explained. “So you need some kind of travel insurance to help with that. You never want to find out after it’s too late, you know, the true cost that not having travel protection would cost your family.”
She also warned about the risks of choosing insurance policies without proper guidance, noting the overwhelming number of options available online, with some that might cover you as well as advertised.
Statement from Norwegian Cruise Line to KARE 11:
“We are committed to providing quality medical services and each of our ships is equipped with a state-of-the-art onboard medical center, staffed with highly qualified physicians and nurses, to provide care for both guests and crew while at sea. We follow guidelines for our medical facilities provided by CLIA in conjunction with the American College of Emergency Physicians.
On January 9, 2025, Mr. Cameron was admitted to the onboard medical center and received appropriate treatment for his condition, followed by 62 hours of critical care. While we are unable to disclose the details or severity of the guest’s medical condition due to laws and regulations governing personal privacy, we can confirm that the necessary medical procedures and resulting expenses have been reviewed by our internal team. As medical insurance is not accepted on board, we strongly encouraged the guest to file a claim with their health insurance provider post-cruise. As the guest did purchase travel insurance for their vacation, we have recommended they follow up on their claim with the insurance provider, after they have filed the claim with their health insurance provider.” – Spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line.
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