N.H. Bills Lost Hikers $25K

[Ethan A.]

I have on occasion purchased travel insurance including medical and extraction coverage when doing trips overseas. Since the coverage is for a limited time period the policies were very inexpensive. It's the medical and extraction costs that can really get you, especially if you are in a far off place and need to be flown back to the U.S. for proper modern medical attention.

Do any of you purchase travel/medical/extraction coverage for any of your trips, and if so, which companies do you use?

After reading this thread, I think it's a pretty good idea. Coverage for a long weekend to few week trip should be pretty inexpensive.

[Roger Caffin]

> Do any of you purchase travel/medical/extraction coverage for any of your trips,
Yes, when we go to Europe. It works out relatively cheap for European travel, but a whole lot dearer for USA though.

Cheers

[James Patsalides]

Within the US, if you get injured, regular medical insurance will cover your medical costs (if you have medical insurance), plus ambulance/air ambulance etc, subject to your deductibles and other terms and conds. Some medical plans will also cover you around the world (check before you rely on this). When my mother-in-law broke her ankle in Austria a couple of years ago and had to be helicoptered off the mountain, then spent 6 weeks in Feldkirch hospital, everything was covered by her medical insurance (minus deductibles). Most accidents are treated just like sports injuries, and are covered unless specifically excluded (check your medical plan policies).

COSAR and other SAR funds typically collect to cover primarily search and first response costs… and will most likely NOT be covered by your regular medical insurance (although SAR team members, even if volunteers, are covered by their state or municipality's workers comp insurance if THEY are injured as part of a rescue).

If you don't have medical insurance, you REALLY should get some before you go on an expedition. Until healthcare is universal here in the US, you need it if you get in trouble. Rescue insurance would be great, to get you off the mountain, but the REAL cost usually comes from the medical bills, not from the S&R work!

[Greg Mihalik]

"Within the US, if you get injured, regular medical insurance will cover your medical costs (if you have medical insurance), plus ambulance/air ambulance etc, subject to your deductibles and other terms and conds."

You should confirm the amount of coverage you get from the "transport" part of you insurance.

Mine happens to say "100% for air ambulance", after deductibles have been met.

Friends paid out $14,000 for emergency medical heli transport, After the insurance company paid their part. And they had met all other deductibles.

Don't forget – you dealing with Insurance Companies, not well known for their generosity.

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