“During the long flight from Auckland to New York, I noticed my leg swelling, and a day or so later, I began experiencing pain. Recognising the potential for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to my background in healthcare, my husband took me to a nearby hospital,” Erickson told the Herald
Nicole was rushed to surgery to remove the clot and to place a stent to keep her vein open.
The couple missed the wedding, and their flight home, and Nicole is not expected to be medically cleared to fly for at least a month.
Nicole told the Herald the travel insurer declined to cover her emergency.
“[It was] discovered that I have something called May-Thurner syndrome, which is an anatomical variant in the way my arteries and veins lie by my pelvis that can cause compression of my left leg vein,” she said.
“I was also aware that as a teenager I had been screened for any blood clotting genes as I had a family history of blood clots. I came back positive for one genetic mutation, the Factor V Leiden gene.”
“My GP at the time informed me that with only one of the genetic markers, my increased risk was small.”
Erickson had looked up the pre-existing condition definition on her insurer’s website before leaving because she had had emergency surgery 18 months prior, following an emergency C-section at 26 weeks pregnant.
Her daughter, named Hope, died after two days in neonatal ICU.
“The way this genetic mutation was explained to me by my doctors was always that it is a genetic predisposition, just like a family history of cancer or heart disease. Not that I was actually diagnosed with a condition. I was not on active treatment or had suffered any effects from this gene,” she said.
Her insurance company’s definition of a pre-existing condition states:
Any physical defect, infirmity, existing or recurring illness, injury, disability or mental illness of which you ... are aware of.
Any medical condition for which you ... have had or received a medical examination, consultation, treatment, investigation and/or medication in the 12 months prior to the date you activated your cover under this policy.
“I did not think that a gene came under the category of physical defect, illness, injury or disability as I had never experienced any ill health from this gene,” she said.
“As part of their definition, the consultation I had informed me of this gene was at least 15 years ago, so well within the 12-month cut-off. So I believed that I met the criteria for coverage,” She told the Herald.
Erickson phoned the insurance company to ensure she had coverage.
Numerous emails were exchanged, with the insurance company requesting all her hospital documents and release forms.
She told the Herald she felt uneasy about sharing such personal information, especially regarding her emotional struggles related to the loss of her daughter.
After a while, the insurance company called to inform her that her coverage had been denied.
The reason given was the presence of the Factor V Leiden gene, deemed a pre-existing condition of which she was aware.
Even though Erickson’s surgeon had indicated it was most likely the May-Thurner anatomical variation that caused the clot, and which she didn’t know about.
Despite this information, the insurance company maintained its decision based on the pre-existing condition.
Erickson wanted to dispute the decision, but told the Herald she was having problems.
“I was told someone would be in touch regarding a review, but it has now been four days and I have not heard from the insurance company or received any official written communication that they have declined my coverage with reasons outlined,” she said.
Erickson, an anaesthetic technician at Forte Health, had just started work at a new hospital and does not have leave to cover the time away.
It has left Nicole and Scott to find the money to rebook flights and pay for the hospital, imaging and surgical bills, which are expected to reach more than $300,000.
“Honestly, when I received the call that they were not going to cover the costs of the admission, the surgery etc and the travel interruptions, I spent the whole day crying.”
“My mental health teeters on the edge at the best of times after losing our daughter, and that’s a daunting thing to hear,” she said.
The family have set up a Givealittle page to pay for a safe flight home, the cost of surgery, the hospital stay, medications, specialist costs, ultrasounds and the cost of living in a foreign country for a month.
The page so far has attracted about $10,000 in donations, from 150 donors.
The insurance company has been approached for comment by the Herald.
