Mum faces £50k medical bill over insurance error

A seriously ill woman faces a £50,000 bill to get home from Turkey after buying the wrong travel insurance.

Fiona McCusker-Rae, 52, from Oldham, had not declared that she suffered from liver disease and other medical issues.

She is in hospital in Antalya after falling ill at her hotel, and has been told her insurance policy is unlikely to cover her bills.

Her son, Cody Wood, 25, warned holidaymakers to avoid "clicking on the cheaper option".

Ms McCusker-Rae had gone on holiday alone for a "bit of an escape" after the death of her mother, her son said.

When she fell ill in her hotel room she was taken by ambulance to a private hospital.

Mr Wood, who flew out to be with her, said her condition had improved.

But he said the family had been told it was "99%" certain that the insurance policy would not cover her medical bills and repatriation costs.

“My mum being my mum, she just clicked on the easiest option," Mr Wood said.

He said the doctors at the hospital had done "absolutely everything" to help his mother.

"But they did say that if she recovers in Turkey, she will be unable to leave until she pays the bills", he said.

The family has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise up to £50,000 to bring her home.

Mr Wood, 25, said the family was "not necessarily looking for sympathy", adding it was "unfortunate my mum has not disclosed necessarily what she needed to".

He said he wanted to warn others to check they were covered before they bought travel insurance.

He said: "I know I’ve done it and friends have done it in the past, where they just click on the cheapest insurance so they can carry on with their holiday and save a bit of money.

"But unfortunately now, as a family, we’re seeing the negative effects of that."

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