Missionary billed (post return) for medical expense from mission

[jsnevels1]

Newer Stake clerk here - missionary had a medical procedure done while on mission in Mexico in Jan 2025. Later returned home in Feb 2025 due to complications from procedure. He called me to say the anesthesiologist bill (from the Jan 2025 procedure) was just sent to him at home. He called Missionary medical or whomever the medical insurance is for the missionaries, who told him that they couldn't pay it since his missionary medical insurance had "lapsed". He was told to call his stake clerk. ???

I'm a bit bewildered here since this bill is for a procedure performed while the missionary was in the field and covered under missionary medical. Who should I call to follow up on this or does this need to be kicked back to the family (or ward missionary fund) to pay? Stake doesn't have a missionary fund, nor is this something appropriate for our stake's budget funds.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[russellhltn]

I would call GSD.

I'd think that as long as the services were during the insurance coverage, they should pay for it. But then I'm not in the insurance business.

[jsnevels1]

Thanks. called GSD and was put in touch with Missionary Dept first, then to Missionary Medical. They stated that if the surgery was done at home (AZ), then the young man would have to contact Missionary Medical since they, naturally, don't have a release to speak to me about it.

If it was done in Mexico (his mission) then he'd need to contact the mission office there.

We'll see. Thanks again!