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The neurosurgeon said her father couldn’t fly without medical accompaniment. The cost of the air ambulance back to Canada was between $60,000 and $80,000.

“So there we were — stuck,” said Herbert. “After six days in this hospital wondering why we couldn’t get out of there, the insurance company got back to us to say they had denied his claim.”

Herbert was told the claim was turned down because her father failed to reveal he’d received a prescription for indigestion 18 months earlier. She was initially on the hook for the air ambulance, the hospital stay in Spain, flights for her and her husband, plus accommodation.

“They were holding us there while they scoured his medical records for the most minute thing they could find. That is what is absolutely terrifying.”

Herbert hired a lawyer and spent the better part of a year battling the insurance company to try to get the bill covered. Allianz eventually paid $27,000, but the family was left on the hook for at least another $30,000.

“I am really just ready to forget about it all. I said I don’t have the energy to deal with this anymore. Let’s just take whatever little bit of money they’re going to give us,” said Herbert.

“That’s what the insurance companies want — to just burn people out until they don’t deal with it anymore.”

Members of the military in Calgary rallied and donated $25,000 to offset the costs. Herbert said the family would prefer to donate that money back to the Military Family Resource Centre.