My mom is in a coma after being hit by a automotive whereas on vacation within the US. Insurers AXA advised us to fly her dwelling in opposition to docs’ recommendation – or danger dropping our medical cowl

THE family of a comatose Scots pensioner claim they were told to fly her home against doctors’ advice or risk losing medical cover.

Jane Rubens, from Edinburgh, was struck by an SUV while on holiday in St Louis, Missouri, on November 1. She was hit at a pedestrian crossing, leaving her with severe brain injuries.

Since then, the 73-year-old has been under the care of neurologists who have told the family it will not be safe to fly for several months.

But her family claim insurance firm AXA were demanding she be repatriated to Scotland this week or her medical cover would end. 

Despite pleading with the insurers, the family say they were ‘backed into a corner’ and felt they had to agree or face paying millions of pounds in hospital fees.

Mrs Rubens’ daughter Catriona said it was only after a post by her on social media was seen by 2million viewers that the insurance firm backed down and agreed to speak with the doctors treating the OAP, as well as medics in the UK.

Ms Rubens told STV News: ‘We had neurologists and a neurosurgeon saying to us it’s going to be in her best interests to wait three to six months in terms of her neurological recovery. 

‘We want to do all we can to maximise that, but we can’t have her staying without her medical expenses being covered and she did have good travel insurance to cover for these types of eventualities. It was just the most stressful day of my life.’

Cat Rubens (left) and her mother Jane (right) in happier times before the accident that left 73-year-old Jane in a coma

Cat says the family felt ‘backed into a corner’ after their insurer AXA insisted they fly comatose Jane home for treatment – against the advice of neurological specialists in both the US and UK

She added: ‘Even if this wasn’t happening with AXA, this would still be the worst time of our lives and it’s not something we want, to be spending time fighting with an insurer. 

‘My social media got some attention and the head of service delivery at AXA called today said not to put her on a flight.

‘They’re going to speak to the treating clinicians and the hospital in UK.’

In her posts, Ms Rubens explained her mother had received ‘multiple’ brain surgeries since her accident, including a craniectomy to remove a piece of her skull. She remains in an induced coma.

Her daughter, who has flown to the US to be with her mother, said sharing images on social media of Mrs Rubens at her ‘most vulnerable’ was not something she did lightly.

But as the firm showed ‘no empathy’ as they dealt with the ‘darkest time of their lives’, she felt it necessary.

She said even after a neurologist from the hospital contacted AXA to inform them of her mother’s condition, the company still refused to change its position.

In a statement last night, AXA Partners said: ‘We are contacting Ms Ruben and her family to discuss all possible options with regards to her insurance claim. The welfare of Ms Rubens’ mother and her family is our priority at this time.’

Cat’s original tweet has now been viewed nearly 4 million times and prompted an about-face from AXA