An American man whose pregnant wife was failed by the American healthcare system said moving to Australia was a lifesaver for his young family.
Andrew Polino, 37, and his wife Nikki were living in Tampa, Florida, last year when she became pregnant.
The digital content producer had health insurance through his work so the couple thought he would be fine.
But after obstetricians deemed his wife to be a “risky pregnancy and insurance liability,” she was discharged with “the first pretext they could find”: a single missed appointment for which she had notified.
“Because of the way my insurance network worked, this effectively blacklisted her from all OBGYNs (obstetricians and gynecologists) in the area,” Polino wrote on Threads.
They offered her a consultation but it was when she was eight months pregnant. Other specialists refused to help her because she was “too advanced.”
“So we were close to the 8 month mark, with no equipment to care for, no response from any of the hospitals, no obstetricians, and no help or resources available,” Mr. Polinio wrote.
“My wife, fearing for her safety, hopped on a plane to her hometown of Melbourne and immediately found a full medical team to help her give birth safely.”
Andrew Polino, 37, and his wife Nikki were living in Tampa, Florida, last year when she became pregnant.
Polino said her daughter was born safely and the total hospital bill was only $50.
The family has now decided to stay in Melbourne.
“We have a home, free resources for new parents, access to education and child care, universal healthcare, and a high quality of life,” Mr. Polino wrote.
“In Florida, we face low wages, expensive insurance, childcare costs, high hospital and pediatrician bills, inflation, gun violence, short parental leaves, weather risks and other struggles for survival… and that was the best of the cases”.
Polino said her daughter was born safely in Australia and the total hospital bill was only $50.
He said “the choice was not difficult” and added that “no one should feel trapped by their own medical providers.”
According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are around 110,000 American-born residents in Australia.
Last year, demographer Simon Kuestenmacher noted that the United States sees positive net migration from everyone except one country: Australia.
“Does that mean Americans think Australia is the single most desirable destination on the planet?” he asked wryly.
Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Polino for further comment.