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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

 Page 4 of 5. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 40 | 41 to 60 | 61 to 80 | 81 to 87
Author
Travel insurance for climbing overseas
PeterW
18-Apr-2016
3:58:36 PM
On 18/04/2016 Jelmer wrote:
>- Insure4less Australia:
> rock climbing (sport, up to 25 ewbank is what i specified) is possible
>to add to the insurance plan. However, only as a supplement to a single
>trip plan which seems to have a 5 day minimum. In my case that's just the
>climbing portion of my trip so 5 days of coverage excluding the USA - $42
>for their most basic package. The four days of climbing were quoted as
>an ADDITIONAL $102. Ouch. Unlimited medical expenses though.
[snip]
>- Global Underwriters Diplomat International:
>The policy can be bought for part of a trip on a minimum of 5 days. Good
>for me as i'm only climbing for 4 days of my trip. Mountaineering is included
>by adding a 'hazardous sports' cover that also includes scuba diving and
>motorcycling. I went with this option and paid AUD 20 for 5 days of coverage
>(outside the USA) with a max of 1M USD medical expenses, $0 excess and
>$25k USD death and disability cover (the minimum). 4 bucks a day is a lot
>better than the 25 a day that Insure4less quoted me. On a longer trip i
>would halve the medical coverage and take a $250 excess to drop the daily
>rate a fair bit.

Something to watch out for with Insure4Less (and maybe others) is that the fine print in the policy says the basic insurance policy has to cover your entire trip from leaving Australia to returning there!

For a trip to Europe last year I didn't see this requirement, and since I had general travel insurance already I only applied for insurance for the week I would be fooling around on via feratta's in the Swiss alps. Fortunately nothing went wrong because it was only later that I discovered I wouldn't have been covered!

I've been reviewing this stuff again myself since I'll be climbing in Yosemite for a couple of days in June (and playing tourist for the rest of the trip). The conclusion I came to was to make sure I didn't do anything stupid for those two days as the cost of insurance was going to be prohibitive!
Wendy
18-Apr-2016
5:07:56 PM
On 25/03/2016 Roast_chook wrote:


>
>The Austrian Alpine Club (UK) insurer wont cover claims outside the EU...

I just read their latest PDS and I don't see this? Worldwide rescue cover 25000 euro and medical costs 10000 euro still. Just no legal liability cover outside europe, and who gives a diddly about that? I realise they aren't enormous numbers in the scheme of things but as I don't intend on climbing anything overseas this year that I don't climb similar (really very low risk) things to here 4 days a week without needing rescue or emergency medical treatment, I'm not too fussed. Is rescue from RRG or Indian Creek going to be that much if worst came to worst? They have unlimited repat expenses and if you do get stuck in a hospital racking up more than 10000 euro, well I guess you won't be going back to the states ... travel insurance for climbing remains ridiculous because someone has no idea of real risk assessment. You can get coverage for white water rafting easier ffs.

http://aacuk.org.uk/p-alpenverein-worldwide-service-aws-providing-annual-rescue-and-repatriation-insurance

Jelmer
19-Apr-2016
10:50:49 AM
On 18/04/2016 PeterW wrote:
>On 18/04/2016 Jelmer wrote:
...

>
>Something to watch out for with Insure4Less (and maybe others) is that
>the fine print in the policy says the basic insurance policy has to cover
>your entire trip from leaving Australia to returning there!
>
>For a trip to Europe last year I didn't see this requirement, and since
>I had general travel insurance already I only applied for insurance for
>the week I would be fooling around on via feratta's in the Swiss alps.
>Fortunately nothing went wrong because it was only later that I discovered
>I wouldn't have been covered!
>
>I've been reviewing this stuff again myself since I'll be climbing in
>Yosemite for a couple of days in June (and playing tourist for the rest
>of the trip). The conclusion I came to was to make sure I didn't do anything
>stupid for those two days as the cost of insurance was going to be prohibitive!

Yeah so I thought that was the case as well. Actually, my post said that exact thing - gotta cover the entire trip on a single trip plan to be able to add climbing coverage for a specific period - before i edited it out. I can't find it in the policy wording anymore though. If you could point it out i will change my post to reflect. Covering my entire trip includes a few days in the US and would increase the price to about $100 AUD for a basic plan plus $100 AUD for 4 days of climbing coverage in Mexico.

If you are climbing in Yosemite for a few days i would recommend looking into the Global Underwrites Diplomat America plan. Get a million USD medical coverage with $250 excess for about $4 USD a day (depends on your age), no need to cover your entire trip with them.
Wendy
19-Apr-2016
11:49:42 AM
I don't think those guys are going to cover climbing rescue? Just medical costs? It still ends up pretty expensive - i just got quoted $US400 for Douglas and I for 2 months with climbing add on with a $1000 excess. They ramp it up with age and we are terribly middle aged now.
PeterW
19-Apr-2016
11:53:38 AM
On 19/04/2016 Wendy wrote:
>They ramp it up with age and we are terribly middle aged now.
LOL! Wait until you get to qualify as a senior! It's not pretty!
Jelmer
19-Apr-2016
4:32:31 PM
On 19/04/2016 Wendy wrote:
>I don't think those guys are going to cover climbing rescue? Just medical
>costs? It still ends up pretty expensive - i just got quoted $US400 for
>Douglas and I for 2 months with climbing add on with a $1000 excess. They
>ramp it up with age and we are terribly middle aged now.

Search and rescue is not specifically covered by Diplomat insurance. Medical evacuation is, but that would not include for instance an air evac with no injuries. I think it does cover for instance a heli evac after breaking a leg - medical evac as recommended by a physician.

SAR costs are very location dependent - most countries use volunteers or public services (military, navy, SES-like services) and do not charge at all. In Australia, SAR is free. In the US it depends on which state/county you are in. In Mexico it's covered off by the navy (?). In all honesty, in Mexico I wouldn't expect much. Maybe some local volunteering climbers or SES-like service.

You could get GEOS membership to cover SAR expenses in most countries by signing up for their 'club' at $30USD a year. That does only work if you carry a PLB or similar device though, in which case when you activate it SAR gets coordinated via COSPAS-SARSAT (straight to AMSA in Australia, which is where my PLB is registered).

Also, $400 for two persons and two months seems not too bad. About $3.50 per day per person.
Health insurance in Australia is more expensive than that?

will5686
17-May-2016
2:51:11 PM
Just wanted to add some info that I couldn't find on any of the Australian climbing forums. Virgin Money travel insurance covers rock climbing in their 'Adventure Pack'. https://travel.virginmoney.com.au

Some notes:

- You have to buy their highest level of cover to add it on as an option, and it bumps the excess up by $500 if you are participating in one of the listed activities when injured.
- I don't think it covers rescue, but I could be wrong.
- It doesn't specifically exclude trad climbing. Here is what it says is covered: "Outdoor rock climbing (with ropes and appropriate safety gear)" [I don't know where this leaves bouldering, but I figure that a bouldering injury could more easily be passed off as something obtained while walking]
- Your trip must start and end in Australia, so the insurance has to cover the whole length of time you are away.

It was the cheapest option I could find by far that would cover climbing for the whole length of my trip to the US (3 months). I paid just over $383 Australian, but with the highest excess option. It would have been over $500 with nil excess on the standard inclusions.

So now, if I hurt myself climbing my excess will be $1000, but from what I understand about the US medical system that is peanuts compared to the cost of my treatment.


will5686
17-May-2016
2:53:50 PM
Here is the PDS if you are interested:
https://travel.virginmoney.com.au/virginmoney/File/Download?docType=PDS

If you notice anything I haven't that seems important I would love to hear about it!
technogeekery
18-May-2016
1:37:23 PM
I'm planning a Yosemite trip next year. The Global Underwriters Diplomat America looks like the go - with their hazardous sports rider (includes mountaineering up to 14,000ft) climbing is covered, and $1m hospital expenses, $1m death/disability, $500k medevac and $50k repatriation of body/funeral costs, it is quite comprehensive. Under the medevac section, recovery SHOULD be included, but fine print reads that they need to agree to the evac in advance, which is unlikely to happen. I'll probably go with them, and keep their 24/7 hotline on speed dial in case I need to clear a heli-rescue with them (hah!). $235 for one month, so <$8/day. Actually if I drop the death/disability component (am covered elsewhere) to the minimum, then premium is $138, or <$5/day - which looks pretty good.

rodw
18-May-2016
1:41:30 PM
On 18/05/2016 technogeekery wrote:
> $1m hospital expenses,

So a week in a US hospital on a shared ward then?
PeterW
18-May-2016
2:48:49 PM
On 17/05/2016 will5686 wrote:
>Virgin Money travel insurance covers rock climbing in their 'Adventure Pack'.
> https://travel.virginmoney.com.au

Thanks for that! The price and cover are reasonable enough to be worthwhile for the two days of climbing in my flying visit to Yosemite! Even allowing for having to pay for cover for the whole three week trip. :-(
technogeekery
23-May-2016
12:53:20 PM
rodw - Even in the USA, $1 million goes quite a long way.
technogeekery
27-May-2016
2:17:05 PM
On 17/05/2016 will5686 wrote:
>Here is the PDS if you are interested:
>https://travel.virginmoney.com.au/virginmoney/File/Download?docType=PDS
>
>If you notice anything I haven't that seems important I would love to
>hear about it!

I just looked through the PDS, and could not see the Adventure Pack referred to in the marketing material - just a Snow Pack, and a Cruise pack. Rock climbing is not included in the general cover, and I can't find any reference to it in the Additional Items section.
PeterW
28-May-2016
1:53:23 AM
On 27/05/2016 technogeekery wrote:
>I just looked through the PDS, and could not see the Adventure Pack referred
>to in the marketing material - just a Snow Pack, and a Cruise pack. Rock
>climbing is not included in the general cover, and I can't find any reference
>to it in the Additional Items section.

Look again! :-)
Page 26, left hand column, just below the Cruise pack.
To be fair, it's easy to miss. Even having seen it previously, at first I couldn't find it when I went to check something while buying my cover!

ajfclark
28-May-2016
8:36:15 AM
Using the find (ctrl+f) function is much easier than scanning the document. Adventure appears 16 times. Adventure pack 10.

Pg:
19 something about the excess on adventure pack being different.
26 starts the major description.
etc

Something might jump out like page 55:

1.4.2 We will not pay
We will not pay if your permanent disability arises from, is
related to or associated with your participation in snow sport
activities or sports and activities listed under ADVENTURE
PACK in the ADDITIONAL OPTIONS section.
patto
28-May-2016
11:22:35 PM
On 28/05/2016 ajfclark wrote:
>Something might jump out like page 55:
>
>1.4.2 We will not pay
>We will not pay if your permanent disability arises from, is
>related to or associated with your participation in snow sport
>activities or sports and activities listed under ADVENTURE
>PACK in the ADDITIONAL OPTIONS section.

Some people might be concerned about that. But it isn't any less cover than what you would have if you acquired a permanent disability while climbing in Australia.

ajfclark
29-May-2016
12:00:26 PM
Yeah, but they might be disappointed if they didn't find that clause. It's not located near other clauses to do with the package. I was just using it as an example of why searching was better than scanning in this case.
technogeekery
30-May-2016
11:15:51 AM
Thanks, got it. Searching is definitely better option.
gfdonc
15-Aug-2017
1:11:40 PM
Update: I am seeking coverage for Greece+Spain. From first to last climbing day is just on a month.
Unsure4Less who I've used in the past and recommended on page 1 of this thread have come back with a much higher premium for the climbing inclusion that previously - 200% more and that was just to cover sport climbing.
I've checked out the Virgin offer which looks like a sensible option, but doesn't appear to cover rescue/evacuation. They're checking for me.
The BUPA (IHI) one does also seem to be an option, but also gets expensive if you want to include traditional 'travel' insurance coverage.
More later.
gfdonc
16-Aug-2017
1:03:15 PM
Here's my update and outcome:
Insure4Less are charging a 200%+ premium - and that's for sport climbing alone. I did get some pleasant correspondence from them acknowledging they were committed to continuing to offer insurance for this purpose, but their underwriter had imposed additional costs due to some large claims (100k+).
So for my trip the number would have been $950+.

IHI/Bupa seemed interesting, but when I got to the checkout the number was similar by the time I'd added standard 'travel' insurance.
Virgin Money looked like the best option, they did get back to me regarding 'rescue cover', but kept referring me back to the standard product disclosure statement which they stated "emergency medical" also covered evacuation. They could not, however, give me references for these specific requirements. When I asked to have the clarification sent in writing, they declined.

My travel agent put me on to Allianz. Turns out this is the identical product to Virgin, but slightly cheaper (I think I know how much commission Virgin gets). However in reading the PDS I found enough detail about evacuation to satisfy me - can't recall seeing it in the Virgin copy however.
So I'm done, and the Allianz cover is less than half what the Insure4Less quote was. YMMV.
https://travel.allianz.com.au

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There are 87 messages in this topic.

 

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