Medical treatment continues in Baltimore
Nicole Queen, who works in special education for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, is being treated at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center after a Sept. 10 collision in Cozumel, Mexico. Daily Voice reported that a truck hit the scooter Queen was riding during a cruise stop, causing a broken back and fractures in two places in her right arm.
Queen first received emergency arm surgery at Costamed in Cozumel. Her family later arranged transportation to Maryland after raising concerns about her care and a language barrier, according to Daily Voice. She arrived in Baltimore on Sept. 14 and was taken to Shock Trauma, where doctors determined that the hardware from the initial operation was not adequately stabilizing her arm. She is expected to need another arm surgery, while further scans will help determine whether her back also requires an operation.
The family is seeking help with the expenses
Queen’s mother and aunt charged $38,000 to credit cards for the 1,427-mile medical flight after insurance did not cover it, Daily Voice reported. Queen’s brother, Theo Queen, started a fundraising campaign to help pay that bill along with expenses tied to the damaged scooter, hotel stays and relatives’ airfare.
Queen is a single mother of two and is expected to be unable to work while recovering. Her mother plans to temporarily relocate to help care for Queen and her children, according to Daily Voice.
Coverage can differ for treatment and transportation
The financial problem extends beyond the hospital bill. U.S. consular officers cannot pay medical expenses or make loans for care abroad, and very few insurers cover a patient’s return to the United States, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The guidance also says Medicare generally does not cover medical costs outside the United States, underscoring why travelers are advised to review their coverage before leaving the country.
Road safety remains a major travel risk
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among travelers. In a travel-health feature last reviewed in 2016, the CDC said that 1.3 million people are killed and 20 million to 50 million are injured in motor vehicle crashes worldwide each year.
