Emergency Flight Insurance?

Greg,

I'm working on a BPL article about rescue insurance. If you find anything, let me know. Article might be published early next year.

— Rex

Rex,
There are a number of plans out there for "away from home". When/IF I find something for "close to home" you'll see it posted here.

Be aware that many "away from home" policies are for transport after the fact, and do not cover "immediate medical rescue". In Colorado a search requiring a helicopter for location/extraction is usually not billed. But if that same helicopter extracts you with a compound fracture, heart condition, HAPE, etc., it becomes a medical evacuation, and you Will get a bill.

I look forward to your review.

Bump…

Targeted at scuba divers, DAN insurance covers most activities.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

Exclusions:
…. if the Insured’s tickets do not contain specific travel dates (open tickets);

So if a ticket is not involved, this policy isn't for you.

Evacuation:
The Insurer will pay for Covered Emergency Evacuation Expenses incurred if an Insured suffers an Injury or Sickness while he or she is on a Trip that warrants his or her Emergency Evacuation.

So if you get lost, this policy won't work for you.

The DAN insurance isn't what it may sound like, to me. They must be called for their evacuations and it can only be from a geographic location where emergency vehicles can drive to, not miles into the backcountry.

https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/files/handbook.pdf

"Emergency Evacuation does not include efforts to locate an injured person whose location is unknown, or efforts to rescue such persons from a dangerous situation or location. Emergency Evacuation may begin only after the injured person is made available at a location which can be reached by emergency medical services personnel."

Some medical insurance plans will cover "medically necessary" emergency flights. Might be worth checking your plan details, or asking your insurance agent.

Some medical flight services offer annual memberships that cover you (or you and your family), for any medically necessary flights at no cost. If most of your trips are in the same area, might be worth considering.

However:

– Membership in one service usually does not transfer. If you need a medical flight outside their service area, you pay full cost.

– Sometimes multiple companies cover an area. You don't get to choose — EMS calls whoever can respond fastest, or rotates between companies. You might need membership with multiple companies.

— Rex

Geos provides worldwide provides search and rescue insurance

AXA Insurance also provides travel insurance.

AXA also has multiple offerings:
single trip
annual multiple trip
backpacker/long stay (for up to one year away)
winter sports
adventure sports
medical travel

Lastly, I did a search for: air ambulance insurance companies
Google: air ambulance insurance companies
…and found multiple results
Airmed, for example, charges $385 per year for family coverage.

Mike

My article Rescue Insurance for Backpackers has been posted, with information on emergency flight insurance.

— Rex