Get the whole insurance contract . Consult with a lawyer. If the small print does not say coverage is reduced without residency, and they deny claim, get a lawyer and sue. Also most of these companies have accounts in the USA or Europe for dealing with reinsurance they contract, sue sue sue in the developed country.
I think that Mike Fisher's friend story was not the whole story presented, most likely the friend slipped on payment or there were other issues involved. Maybe it was true and the insurance company counted on not being sued because if he was not a resident he would have been required to pay a bond in order to sue. But had they been sued they most likely would have come up with the payment. Or maybe the procedure was carried out in a medical facility they do not have contract with (out of network provider), etc. Again, I don't think we had the whole story there.
But the same might happen with any insurance for anything, resident or not. Insurances do not like payouts and they will always delay any claims payment. No insurance company would just jump happy out of joy to pay out your claim just because of the fact you are a resident, while they would be slamming door in your face in case you are not a resident. Insurance simply does not operate that way. Residency might be a factor, but it is not THE factor that determines insurance company's DNA (the way it behaves and does business).