By Lydia Willgress From Mail online

Mother of premature British baby faces £185,000 medical bill after giving birth in Dominican Republic hospital because TIME DIFFERENCE with London means her travel insurance police is invalid

Sharon Halls was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, when she gave birth
Insurance said five-hour time difference meant policy might not be valid
Couple have been forced to move their daughter Evie to a public hospital
Set up GoFundMe page in a desperate bid to raise money for medical care

A mother who prematurely gave birth while on holiday faces a potential £185,000 medical bill after her insurer said it does not have to pay out because of the time difference.
Sharon Halls was attending a friend’s wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with her partner Daniel Compton, 35, when she was taken to hospital with early contractions.
The 36-year-old, from Ipswich, Suffolk, gave birth to daughter Evie on September 28 having already paid £8,900 for emergency care. She was 28 weeks and six days pregnant.
A mother who prematurely gave birth while on holiday faces a £185,000 medical bill after her insurer said it might not pay out because of the time difference. Above, baby Evie in an incubator
But Infinity Insurance Solutions, who provided Ms Halls with travel insurance, said it has not decided whether it will cover the costs because the time difference meant when she gave birth she was over the 29-week mark, which was when the cover stopped being valid.
The couple have now been forced to set up a GoFundMe page in a desperate bid to raise enough money to move Evie from a public hospital, which they say is dirty.
Ms Halls, who works for Laura Ashley and says she was told by her British hospital she could travel, wrote on the fundraising site: ‘We really need to get her back to a better hospital.
‘The sanitation and level of care is next to nothing, she was placed in dirty incubator lined up next to other sick new born babies.

‘The equipment was old and even the blanket she laid on was stained and ripped.
‘At this point I cannot be too proud to ask for help as our little Evie needs to come home and in the meantime receive the best care possible.’
Ms Halls said she was initially taken to Hospiten Bavaro on September 27 – 11 days into the two-week trip – where she was told an infection had brought on early contractions.
The couple paid £2,340 ($3,555) for a check up but the medication provided failed to work.
She was then told she had cervical cerclage and would have to go to Hospiten Santo Domingo – two hours away – for an emergency caesarean.
After hearing nothing from Infinity, the couple decided to use their savings to pay the £6,588 ($10,000) needed for the surgery.
WHEN CAN YOU TRAVEL WHILE PREGNANT?
Women who have had an uncomplicated pregnancy and are carrying one baby can fly up to 36 weeks.
After week 28, most airlines require a letter from the mother’s midwife or GP confirming that she is in good health and has had a normal pregnancy. The expected date of delivery is usually provided as well.
Infinity Insurance Solutions say it will cover women travelling up to the end of 28 weeks.
The company’s terms and conditions state after this point there is no cover for claims relating to normal pregnancy and normal childbirth or cancellation.
However, it states medical expenses and cancellation cover will be provided if any complications including miscarriages, stillbirths and emergency caesareans occur.
But before doctors could operate Ms Halls’ cervical cerclage broke and Evie was born breach.
Describing the moment her daughter was born, Ms Hall said: ‘She was so tiny and blue it took them a few minutes to get a response.
‘But we then heard to our delight a little cry.’
After the birth, Ms Halls was contacted by Infinity and told it might not pay out because the UK is five hours ahead of the Caribbean island – meaning Evie was born after the 29-week mark.
Following the decision, a medical officer from the company advised the couple to move Evie to a nearby public hospital, which they did.
After Ms Halls was discharged from hospital, she continued to visit Evie, who is the couple’s first child, three times a day despite having to stay in a guest house a half an hour walk away.
She said she was not prepared for what the public hospital would be like.
She said: ‘No one spoke English so I was left feeling very alone and unsure.
‘I cried through the whole [first] visit as I felt I had let her down and any progress she had made I had stamped on.’
During the visits, Ms Halls said she expresses milk for her daughter using pumps she believes aren’t sterilised properly.
She said: ‘A lady showed me how to use their electric pumps. She then washed the pump and the bottles under the tap and stored them back away.
‘She did not use sterile water nor sterilise the items. All the mothers use them.’
Ms Halls’ mother said the visits were tiring and distressing for her daughter.
Angie Kempen, 55, told MailOnline: ‘Obviously she’s tired, she has to walk half an hour to get to the hospital.
‘Because Daniel can’t go into the room with her to see baby she’s left with a lot of people that don’t speak English so she’s feeling very much alone.
She has horrible breakdowns where she’s sobbing down the phone and all I can do is talk to her and calm her down. It’s difficult
Sharon Hall’s mother Angela Kempen
‘My husband and I feel like a fish out of water – all we can do is be at the end of the phone.
‘I just want the insurance company to man up and say we’ve made a mistake and want you to go back to the private hospital.
‘She has horrible breakdowns where she’s sobbing down the phone and all I can do is talk to her and calm her down but it’s difficult.’
She added that the insurance company had only offered to pay for the cost of the couple’s calls so far.
The couple estimate if they move Evie back to a private hospital the cost of her charges will be £1,640 ($2,500) a day.
Doctors have advised she could be made to stay for 16 weeks, which would see the bill reach £185,000 ($280,000).
Their fundraising page has already raised more than £16,000 in 24 hours.
Mrs Kempen, who works for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, added that it does not say in the insurance company’s terms and conditions that time difference could invalidate a policy.
She also said the family would like to thank everyone who has donated so far and extended her appreciation to Kerry Katona and comedian Jason Manford, who tweeted links to the page.
An Infinity spokesman said: ‘This has been a distressing case for the parents, Sharon Halls and Daniel Compton, especially as this is their first child.
‘We always take seriously the needs of our customers and especially in a case such as this which involves the welfare of a premature baby.
‘We have tried to assist the family in very difficult circumstances, in a country where hospital facilities and medical care can be inconsistent.
‘At no point has IIS been involved in the transfer of Evie from one clinic to another, or been asked for opinions on the hospital or clinics at which she has been treated.
‘We remain in daily contact with the immediate family to discuss Evie’s medical needs and the families accommodation arrangements.’
He added that the company had not told Ms Halls the policy was affected due to time zone differences.
Stephen Howard, managing director of the company, added on Monday: ‘Infinity does not understand why the time difference has been reported as an issue in this case.
‘In this case, the policy wording clearly states that pregnancy and childbirth are covered up to 28 weeks.
‘After 28 weeks, normal birth is not covered but the needs of the baby are.
‘At no time has any member of the family been told there was no cover, moreover the time difference between the UK and the Dominican Republic is irrelevant and has never been mentioned by any of our staff.
‘The onset of Ms Halls premature labour was triggered by an illness which falls within policy terms and conditions, therefore all of Ms Halls’ costs incurred to date will be reimbursed.
‘All future costs in relation to Ms Halls’ medical needs abroad, as well as those of Evie will be covered by the policy and the family will be repatriated just as soon as Evie is well enough to travel without risk.’
To visit the couple’s GoFundMe page, click here: https://www.gofundme.com/nq5eek7a

IMAGES:
A mother who prematurely gave birth while on holiday faces a £185,000 medical bill after her insurer said it might not pay out because of the time difference. Above, baby Evie in an incubator
Sharon Halls was attending a friend’s wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with her partner Daniel Compton (pictured together), 35, when she was taken to hospital with early contractions
Ms Halls pictured smiling with Evie after giving birth on September 28 at 28 weeks and six days
Ms Halls and Mr Compton spend a moment with Evie while she slept in her incubator earlier this week
Ms Halls is pictured with her sister Samantha cradling their bumps. A medical officer from the insurance company advised the couple to move Evie from a private hospital to a nearby public hospital, which they did
Evie was moved from Hospiten Santo Domingo (pictured) to a public hospital, which the couple says is unclean
Ms Halls said she was not prepared for what the public hospital would be like. A picture of one of the rooms at the public hospital
Gowns worn by the parents at the public hospital have been worn by multiple others and are hung up on a wall
The couple’s fundraising page raised more than £16,000 in 24 hours. Evie clasps on to her mother’s finger
For more on this story go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3258692/Premature-British-baby-fights-life-Caribbean-hospital-mother-s-insurers-say-policy-invalid-TIME-DIFFERENCE-means-gave-birth-29-week-limit.html#ixzz3ni4rOXhi