A 65-year-old grandmother from Warrington, Cheshire, is facing more than £27,000 in medical bills after falling seriously ill during a family vacation in Egypt—despite having purchased travel insurance.
Margaret Houghton was enjoying a two-week trip to Sharm El-Sheikh with her husband Dave, daughter Kate, and three grandchildren when she developed pneumonia. She was admitted to Sharm Peace Hospital, where doctors have since said she may need two more weeks of treatment due to complications from a bacterial infection.
Although the family had taken out a £165 travel insurance policy with a company called No Limits, they were devastated to learn the insurer would not fully cover her hospital expenses. No Limits specialises in policies for travelers with pre-existing medical conditions, but the company claims Margaret’s application form left out key parts of her medical history.
Dispute Over Medical Disclosure
Margaret’s daughter-in-law, Aileen Houghton, 41, explained that Kate, Margaret’s daughter, had completed the insurance form to the best of her knowledge. However, after reviewing Margaret’s GP records, the insurer found that several conditions—such as atrial fibrillation, fibromyalgia, bladder dysfunction, depression, GORD, and esophageal dysmotility—had not been declared.
Only her conditions of COPD, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart failure were listed in the policy application.
Speaking to Lancs Live, Aileen said: “My sister-in-law filled in everything she knew. She’s not dishonest. But the insurance company is now saying she under-declared by 32% and they’re only willing to pay 67% of the costs.”
Struggling to Pay and Running Out of Time
With bills mounting past £27,000, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign, raising nearly £3,000 so far—but they still face at least £8,600 in uncovered costs. Margaret, who is on disability benefits, has no means to pay such a large sum. The family is now stretched thin both financially and emotionally.
“She’s not recovering well because she’s stressed about the money,” said Aileen. “We’ve appealed, but the insurance company isn’t budging. The whole family is starting to fall apart.”
Adding to their stress, husband Dave and daughter Kate, who have been making daily two-hour trips to the hospital, are now at risk of fines after forgetting to renew their Egyptian visas.
“We’re all worried. If one of us loses our job, we can’t pay our mortgages,” Aileen added. “None of us are rich, and this could wipe out all of our savings.”
Insurer Under Pressure to Respond
When contacted by the press, No Limits Travel Insurance had yet to provide a comment on the case.
The situation highlights the challenges travelers can face when dealing with medical emergencies abroad—especially when insurance disputes arise over incomplete or unclear disclosures.
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