My mother-in-law was just diagnosed with appendicitis in the ER, and the doctors say she needs surgery immediately. We had purchased Visitor Guard insurance before the visit, but when I asked around, none of my friends have ever successfully claimed ER costs with Visitor Guard.

The surgery is expected to cost around $150,000–$180,000, and I’ve already called Visitor Guard customer care—they confirmed it’s not covered. What options do we have if Visitor Guard doesn’t cover this? Are there any alternatives for covering or reducing the cost of emergency surgery in the U.S.?