A FORMER Adelaide man fighting for his life in Mexico had travel insurance for his medical condition but the company later reneged because of a technicality, his family claims.

Ryan Maudlen, 33, has been brought out of a medically induced coma after suffering severe blood poisoning following an operation to treat Crohn’s disease, which causes bowel inflammation.

But his condition deteriorated tonight when he suffered a collapsed lung shortly after his mother, Deb, 64, arrived at Galenia Hospital’s intensive care unit in Cancun.

The family face financial ruin after being forced to pay for his urgent care following complications from emergency surgery, in which more than 60cm of his bowel was removed.

But The Advertiser can reveal Mr Maudlen, an experienced traveller who has suffered from the disease since he was 14, and his girlfriend, Katharina Reigl, 29, had travel insurance and were told by the InsureandGo company they would be covered.

His family said hospital staff were also informed he had cover because the medical facility has a policy of refusing treatment if a patient did not have insurance.

Our thoughts are with @ryanmaudlen & his family. Please help Ryan http://t.co/o3ByI5pxWa get the help he needs #getbettersoonmate — Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) November 25, 2014

But two days after he was admitted to hospital, the company told the family that because the policy was purchased online and not in Britain — where he formerly lived — the policy was void.

It was originally thought that while he had travel insurance for his trip, which began in July and involved driving from Alaska to Argentina, his existing condition meant he was not covered.

His devastated father, Robert, 64, attacked the company’s decision, saying his family had been “ripped off” because of a technicality.

After the insurance company refused to back down, he has now been forced to remortgage his Modbury Heights home “to the hilt” as first reported by advertiser.com.au.

“It is just not right. It absolutely sucks,” he said.

“Of course we felt ripped off. It feels wrong that they believed they had insurance and then they were told two days later they will not be covered.

media_camera Ryan Maudlen with his girlfriend Katharina Reigl, travelling in Mexico. Picture supplied by the family media_camera Ryan with his sisters and their grandmother.

“The fact is they took their money while they travelled but then when they need cover they are told this legal mumbo jumbo that because it was bought on the internet and not in the UK, it is null and void. How can they do that?

“If you are going to give insurance, give it. If you’re not, then don’t. But don’t renege when someone needs help.”

Medical costs are now put at more than $30,000 a day and the hospital has threatened to discharge him if they do not meet the mounting charges immediately.

They total medical bill is estimated at more than $200,000, while a medevac flight costs a further $160,000.

His medical condition means he faces the prospect of being stranded in the coastal town, more than 1600km east of the capital Mexico City.

Ryan Maudlen needs your help

Miss Reigl added: “There is no way he can get transported right now and when he can I have no idea how to come with $180,000 on top of the hospital bills? I love this man more then my own life and feel so hopeless.”



Friends and strangers have rallied around his distraught family, raising almost $30,000 in 24 hours through an online appeal and the Crows, his favourite team, sent a message of support via Twitter. Almost $59,000 has been raised in total.

Mr Maudlen, who has travelled extensively since leaving Adelaide in 2007, was placed in a coma last week after his bowel and intestines perforated, causing kidney and liver failure as well as heart problems.

After working in London as a business systems analyst and met his Salzburg-born girlfriend travelling in 2011. She remains at his bedside.

An insurance company spokesman was unavailable for comment.



* To donate please visit this website: http://www.gofundme.com/hjx040

Originally published as SA man in Mexican hospital had travel insurance ‘withdrawn’