One of the beautiful things about
climbing is the ability to see the world on
the cheap. But be warned: Rescues—especially
internationally—are the opposite of
cheap. A helicopter ride out of some hairy
situation can cost $10,000, depending on
your altitude and position. If you’re climbing
in the U.S., rescues are often free to
the victim, but it’s still wise to have some
basic insurance. If you’re headed out on
an expedition overseas, rescue insurance
becomes critical. Here’s a look at what
questions you should be asking, and a few
companies to look into.
Will this plan cover medical bills? Rescue insurance is not the same
as medical insurance. Some plans cover
hospital stays, while others pay only for
“trailhead-to-trailhead” rescue expenses.
If you already have medical insurance,
check out exactly what it will and will
not cover, since many rescue-insurance
companies won’t pony up unless they
know your other insurance options have
been exhausted.
Is the country you're visiting covered? Many rescue-insurance
companies that promise “global coverage”
do not, in fact, cover the whole globe. For
example, GEOS specifically excludes Russia
and most of Africa, and some plans
exclude places with known armed conflict
and civil unrest, such as Pakistan and
even Nepal.
Is the type of climbing you plan to do covered? You may need to buy a
hazardous-sports rider with your insurance
plan to have climbing covered at all. Even
plans that cover “climbing” may not cover
free-soloing, bouldering without a crashpad,
climbing during “extreme” avalanche conditions,
and accidents that happen during
professional photo shoots. In general, most
plans have an elevation cap or charge
more the higher you plan to go.
How do you plan to communicate with your insurance company? Many companies want to be in the loop
when decisions about the rescue are
being made. Global Rescue—the company
that provides rescue services to members of the American Alpine Club—asks that it
be called before you initiate the rescue. In
some regions of the world, including the
Himalayas, helicopter rescues generally
are not initiated without a cash deposit or
a guarantee from your insurance company
that someone will foot the bill. Make sure
your company’s phones are staffed 24/7.
What's the length of coverage? Some companies will let you purchase
by the day; others sell in blocks of time
up to a year. If you have insurance that
stretches for an entire year, and you’re
planning to go on multiple expeditions,
check to see if there’s a cap on the number
of times you can use the policy.
How will you get home? Some
rescue companies—such as Global Rescue—
promise to fly you to any hospital in the
country of your choosing. Others make
no commitment beyond the trailhead, or
they’ll fly a “companion” to you if you’re
hospitalized overseas for more than a
week.
Laura Snider is a climber and writer living in
Boulder, Colorado.
