The Importance of Travel Insurance: Australian Man Slugged with USD 370,000 Medical Bill After a Motorbike Crash in Bali

Share:

Due to the Australian man’s reluctance to tick the box for the USD 7 motorbike protection on his travel insurance, he was forced to pay USD 370,000 after his scooter crashed in Bali. Blake Gibbs, an Adelaide resident, went to Lembongan Island in Bali, Indonesia, with two of his close friends earlier this year. While there, he overshot a corner and collided with a cement wall on his motorbike.

The Australian man was taken to Bali’s International Medical Centre after suffering several skull fractures, where he was placed into a coma and battled for his life. After an emergency surgery and while still in a life-threatening state, Gibbs was transported home from Bali’s International Medical Centre.

The Australian man’s mother, Rosslyn Gibbs, was shocked to discover that her son’s travel insurance did not cover the USD 200,000 medical procedure, which led to a reminder always to read the tiny print on your insurance.

The Importance of Travel Insurance: Australian Man Slugged with USD 370,000 Medical Bill After a Motorbike Crash in Bali
Source 9News

“They told you [to] get insurance, get insurance, so you do and you expect that insurance to actually cover you and it doesn’t,” Rosslyn Gibbs said to local Australian news. “I had to sign that if they said no, I would be responsible for the bills.”

According to the fine print, Gibbs’ travel insurance needed an extra USD 7 plan to cover scooter or motorbike coverage; thus, coverage for any incidents involving one was excluded.

Rosslyn Gibbs stated, “He could have easily paid it as it was only a few dollars for the insurance.”

The family is relying on GoFundMe in a last-ditch effort to gather money to pay the USD 370,000 medical costs for the Australian man. Gibbs continues to receive intensive treatment at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and will require several months of rehabilitation before being transferred to another ward in a few weeks. His mother is still optimistic that he will recover completely. 

Rosslyn Gibbs said, “He does tiny things every day like he can squeeze your hand or give you the thumbs up.”

Rosslyn Gibbs is stepping out to encourage people to take travel insurance and carefully review it to ensure that it covers all potential risks.

“Please, please check your insurance papers thoroughly before you leave the country,” Rosslyn Gibbs said.

Interested in this topic? Check out our other articles from Social Expat: 

Content Writer

Being in love with writing at a young age, Anasya is eager to play with words and touch hearts. She’s been a content writer for a little over four years and officially be part of Social Expat in March 2023. Her perfectionism drives her to give her best on every project she handles.

Related News

Indonesia is steadily emerging as one of the world’s most compelling investment destinations. In the first quarter of 2025, the Indonesian Cabinet Secretary reported the total investment realisation reached IDR 465.2 trillion, up 15.9 % year-on-year, signalling renewed investor confidence in the country’s future. The outlook for 2026 is equally promising, with projections showing investment […]

A Russian citizen identified as Sergei Domogatskii, known online as @mr.terimakasih, has reported being kidnapped and assaulted while in Bali. The case gained wide attention after a video and posts detailing the alleged incident went viral on Instagram, prompting an official response from the Bali Regional Police (Polda Bali). According to Sergei’s post, the incident […]

Camel racing has officially been added as a sport at the 2025 Asian Youth Games (AYG) in Bahrain. The decision was warmly received by countries in the Middle East, where the tradition of racing camels is deeply rooted in cultural life. Camel racing began centuries ago when camels were valued as desert transport. Today, the […]

Air connectivity between Indonesia and India has expanded with the launch of IndiGo Airlines’ first direct service between Mumbai and Bali. The new route strengthens links between the two countries in the fields of tourism and the economy. The inaugural flight, operating as 6E 1607, landed at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, at […]

Indonesia Guide

Just For Fun

Write For Us

Exclusive Promotions

Event Gallery