The employer of hemorrhagic stroke-hit Filipino domestic helper Felicidad Muna Mico, whom she served for 25 years, is caring for her and and raising funds for her huge hospital bills since Oct 28.
It was the start of a harrowing period for the Singaporean family of Dora Sern as they watched their beloved “Felice” hooked to various tubes at Changi General Hospital’s (CGH) intensive care unit (ICU) for a week, reported Straits Times.
Then came another shock – Mico’s hospital bills will cost an estimated $55,000, the report said.
Sern, 57, shared her helper’s plight on crowd-funding site GiveAsia last Wednesday. So far, she has raised more than $9,000.
The masseuse reportedly hopes to raise $86,600. That will also cover the cost of sending Mico home by air, rehabilitation care in the Philippines and basic provisions for her family for a year.
Sern, who renewed Mico’s contract for two years in July, was aware that all foreign domestic workers had to be covered by insurance but she did not know the details of the coverage, said the news portal.
She found out only later that her insurance plan covers the minimum $15,000 for hospitalization.
A check online confirmed that her premium costs about $200 for a 26-month policy.
Sern reportedly told The New Paper on Friday: “The insurance was paid each time we renewed her contract every two years. It has been 25 years since we hired her, and we are no longer in contact with any agents, so we are not aware that we can pay a higher premium for better coverage.”
Mico, who has high blood pressure, has recovered significantly since she was rushed to the hospital last month.
Sern and her children, who are in their early 30s, took turns to keep their helper company at the hospital everyday.
“My oldest son, Eugene, was the one who discovered her unconscious. He thought she was just resting but realized something amiss when he tried to wake her up for dinner. I couldn’t stop crying when I saw her in the ICU, and I would break down again every time I was at home. I couldn’t cry in front of her because I had to put up a strong front,” Sern was quoted as saying by Straits Times.
