An Ontario man is warning travellers to carefully review the fine print of their travel insurance policies after being left with a $147,502 medical bill following a medical emergency in Mexico, despite having purchased travel insurance before his trip.
According to a CTV News report, Oshawa resident Bahoz Ali travelled to Cancun in April 2024 after purchasing a Global Youth All-Inclusive travel insurance policy.
Ali told CTV News that he had visited a walk-in clinic about a week before departure after feeling flu-like symptoms.
"I went to see a medical physician, and they confirmed it was a run-of-the-mill sickness and I should be perfectly fine to go on the trip," Ali said.
However, two days into the vacation, Ali became seriously ill. He suffered multiple seizures, was hospitalized in Mexico and eventually slipped into a coma.
"At that point, my brain goes numb, and I don't remember much of anything afterwards," Ali told CTV News.
Ali remained hospitalized in Mexico for eight days before being airlifted back to Canada, where he continued receiving treatment. Initially, his medical expenses appeared to be covered.
But a year later, Ali learned his claim had been denied and that he would be responsible for repaying $147,502 in medical costs.
Pre-existing condition clause at centre of dispute
According to CTV News, Manulife determined that Ali's visit to a walk-in clinic before his departure placed him within the policy's 90-day stability period requirement.
In a statement provided to CTV News, Manulife said:
"Manulife can confirm that medical records indicate that prior to travel, Mr. Ali was experiencing symptoms and had sought medical care related to a pre-existing condition. Under the policy, this condition fell within the three-month stability period prior to departure. Since the condition was known at the time of travel based on the prior medical care, this affected how coverage was applied."
The insurer added:
"This situation underscores the importance of understanding travel insurance coverage, as policies contain specific terms, conditions, and exclusions. Manulife encourages travellers to carefully review their policy and share relevant medical information in advance, including if there are any changes since the time of purchase. Our insurance support teams are also available to answer questions to help policy holders have a clear understanding of their coverage."
According to the report, the claim was deemed ineligible for coverage, leaving Ali responsible for reimbursing the full amount paid on his behalf.
Industry expert calls case "really sad"
Martin Firestone, president of Travel Secure Inc., told CTV News the case highlights one of the most common challenges travellers face when making insurance claims.
"This is really sad because it is a lot of money," said Firestone.
The family has appealed the decision twice without success.
According to Firestone, doctors in Canada have indicated Ali's seizures were unrelated to the flu-like symptoms he experienced before travelling.
"Doctors here say it had nothing to do with the flu or any of the symptoms he represented, but the insurance company is saying we believe there is a connection between the two. That's the problem," Firestone told CTV News.
A cautionary tale for travellers
The case echoes another travel insurance dispute reported by TravelPulse Canada last year.
In September 2025, a British Columbia woman was left facing a US$65,000 hospital bill after her insurer denied coverage following a medical emergency during a trip to Florida. In that case, the insurer cited a 90-day "stability clause," arguing that symptoms she experienced before departure meant her condition was not considered stable under the policy's terms.
For travel advisors, the case underscores the importance of encouraging clients to disclose any recent medical changes, carefully review policy wording and contact insurers directly when questions arise before departure. A misunderstanding of policy wording can lead to significant financial consequences.
Visit travel.gc.ca/travel for information on what to look for when purchasing travel insurance.
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