A pair faced a hefty $200,000 medical charge following the premature birth of their child while in the United States. Musical duo Issy Ferris and Archie Sylvester traveled to Nashville for a performance when Issy was 33 weeks pregnant.
During the penultimate show of their tour, Issy began feeling unwell and vomiting, initially attributing it to severe food poisoning. Unbeknownst to her, she was actually dealing with pre-eclampsia, a potentially risky pregnancy complication that can affect women in the later stages of pregnancy.
As a result, their son had to be delivered via an emergency C-section, leaving them with a substantial $200,000 bill that their travel insurance initially refused to cover. It took an arduous ten-month battle, including the engagement of a lawyer, before their insurers eventually agreed to settle the expenses.
The challenging situation nearly pushed them to sell their home in Somerset to cover the exorbitant medical costs, but ultimately, the insurance company relented and paid the bill along with the couple’s legal fees. This incident highlights the critical need for comprehensive travel insurance, particularly when traveling while pregnant.
The touring musicians had ensured they had top-notch coverage for the trip, which was intended to be their final one before Issy’s maternity leave. However, despite having what they believed to be adequate insurance, they still faced uncertainty about having to sell their home to meet the bill due to the absence of free healthcare in the US.
Describing the ordeal, Issy remarked, “I was in such disbelief. I was 25, and I had never been seriously ill before. I had performed on stage the night before. Suddenly, I found myself fighting for mine and my child’s life in a hospital thousands of miles away from home.
“It was an incredibly challenging period. I spent months reviewing my medical records to build a case against a large company that should have acted more responsibly, instead of claiming ignorance of an illness covered in their insurance policy.
“Eventually, we sought legal representation.”
At 25 years old, Issy discovered her pregnancy in spring 2022 and sailed through all prenatal check-ups without complications. Apart from an increased appetite, she experienced no pregnancy symptoms.
The couple was ecstatic to learn they were expecting a boy, and Issy remained healthy during the initial five months, allowing them to continue with their performances. Their trip to the Americana Festival in Nashville in September 2022, with travel insurance accounting for Issy’s pregnancy, was intended to be their last before her maternity leave.
They insisted that the insurance policy explicitly covered pre-eclampsia, a condition affecting pregnant women, and allowed women carrying a single baby to fly until the 36th week, subject to some airlines requiring a doctor’s note. After two performances in Nashville and a day off for rehearsal, Issy began feeling unwell.
Following about eight hours of vomiting and chest pain, Issy sought medical assistance at Nashville Gene, initially assuming it was a minor ailment. However, she was swiftly diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at the hospital. Despite efforts to stabilize her with a 24-hour magnesium drip, the treatment was unsuccessful, leading to the need for immediate birth. She was subsequently transferred to Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown for a C-section.
Archie, aged 36, recalled, “It was undoubtedly the most terrifying moment of our lives.
“Issy truly believed it was just a common illness and thought they would provide her with a remedy to settle her stomach so they could complete the final show and return home.
“It escalated from ‘I think I have an illness’ to a very grave situation.”
Their son, Lucky, was born weighing 4lbs 1oz on September 19 and immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. Issy reminisced about being able to hold and cuddle him briefly before they were separated, with Archie shuttling between them, taking Issy’s colostrum to Lucky in the NICU.
Within days, Issy could spend more time with her son, eventually leading to a significant milestone when Lucky was ten days old.
After tying the knot in Nashville’s Centennial Park and visiting their newborn son in their wedding attire, the couple found solace in having something to look forward to during the challenging period.
Their son, Lucky, spent three weeks in the NICU until he was deemed fit for discharge. Several criteria had to be met before his release, including maintaining body temperature, weighing over 4lbs, feeding every three hours, and breathing independently.
Upon receiving medical clearance to return home in November, the family relocated to a rental property closer to supportive relatives who had flown in to assist them.
However, they encountered a setback when the underwriters of their insurance company refused to cover the entire medical bill. Issy expressed frustration, stating, “We had premium travel insurance tailored for pregnancy-related issues and childbirth due to our touring commitments.”
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