Estelle Ravenscroft, a 79-year-old grandmother from Busselton, Western Australia, is in critical condition in a Bali hospital after suffering a severe fall that resulted in multiple leg fractures. Her family faces an estimated $100,000 in medical and repatriation costs because she did not have travel insurance. This incident highlights the financial risks travelers face without adequate medical insurance, especially in countries like Indonesia, which lacks a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia.

What the records show

Her family is grappling with potential medical and repatriation costs estimated at $100,000. Keith Ravenscroft, her husband, indicated that obtaining adequate travel insurance was difficult for them due to their age. Australia does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Indonesia, meaning individuals are solely responsible for their medical treatment costs there. Medical care in Bali, particularly in private international hospitals, can be expensive for uninsured travelers. Repatriation by air ambulance from Bali to Australia is estimated to cost between USD $80,000 and $150,000. Data released by Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) in April 2025 showed that Australians incurred substantial medical bills abroad in 2024, with the highest single claim exceeding $670,000. Indonesia accounted for the highest number of claims for SCTI in 2024. Experts recommend higher coverage limits for senior travelers, especially for emergency medical and evacuation coverage.

The timeline

What changed and for whom

What the family has said publicly

What we could not confirm