Backcounty evacuation insurance

mike_offerman

mike_offerman

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
564
I didn't want to derail the helicopter evacuation from White Canyon post, so I thought that I would start a new thread.

@fossana and @TheMountainRabbit, you both mention carrying backcounty evacuation insurance. I was wondering what things to look out for when buying that insurance, things like does it cover people you are out hiking with, or only applies to hiking in the US? I was also wondering roughly what kind of cost this insurance is?
 
mike_offerman said:
I didn't want to derail the helicopter evacuation from White Canyon post, so I thought that I would start a new thread.

@fossana and @TheMountainRabbit, you both mention carrying backcounty evacuation insurance. I was wondering what things to look out for when buying that insurance, things like does it cover people you are out hiking with, or only applies to hiking in the US? I was also wondering roughly what kind of cost this insurance is?
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The $1000,000 rescue insurance plan that I have (SAR 100) provided through Garmin products costs $40 per year. It only covers the person for whom the insurance is bought. Multiple people can sign up for insurance through the same device. It covers only the rescue, no medical or other expenses. I should mention that this insurance only applies if you use a Garmin device for your rescue.

Their 3 offerings are:
All three SAR plans include $100,000 USD in coverage, when participating in normal recreational activities.

Excluded activities for SAR 100: BASE jumping, cliff diving, solo free diving, fly-by-wire, free climbing (without ropes); hang gliding, paragliding, heli-skiing & heli-snowboarding, wingsuit flying, mountain climbing - (with intent to go above 5,000m), skydiving (including skysurfing).

SAR High Risk Includes: The following additional extra-hazardous activities listed below are covered. BASE jumping, cliff diving, solo free diving, fly-by-wire, free climbing (without ropes), hang gliding, paragliding heli-skiing & heli-snowboarding, wingsuit flying, mountain climbing - (traveling below and has not ascended above 5,000 meters above sea level), skydiving (including skysurfing).

SAR High Altitude Includes: Mountain climbing - (traveling above or actively ascending to or has recently descended from an altitude above 5,000 meters above sea level).

It covers you in a lot of countries but from their website: Countries in which search and rescue expenses will not be made reimbursed: Afghanistan, Belarus, Chechnya, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) regions of Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Syria, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Crimea, Sudan and any other country or territory that is or becomes subject to a United States or United Kingdom government embargo, or that has been or is designated by the United States or United Kingdom government as a terrorist supporting country.
 
I have the SAR 100 plan described above. I've had American Alpine Club or Garmin's insurance for many years. The main things to be aware of are coverage limitations on location, activities and rescue dispatch. When I lived in the Eastern Sierra, I also had Sierra Lifeflight coverage.
 
@mike_offerman - if you’re using a Garmin, it’s an no-brainer to also buy the $40 SAR Garmin insurance, one per person. Rick and I each have one, since @fossana flagged the importance several years ago. We let it renew yearly. It can save you tens of thousands in the case of a life flight situation.

In 2020 I called GEOS (GEOS was the underwriter back then, new underwriter now)- see the lengthy description below. The devil is in the details: For $40/yr/pp it’s obviously a SECONDARY insurance (pays last, so after your own regular healthcare insurance and after you pay deductibles and co-pays) and the SOS must be initiated from your Garmin device (as described by @Outdoor_Fool ) .

Helicopter / life flight companies sell insurances too, but you cannot be certain which helicopter company is called in to provide the life flight. Hence the importance of the Garmin SAR plan.

You’re NOT covered under the Garmin SAR plans, if you’re intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs.

Helicopter/Rescue Insurance

SAR does not usually bill people anyway...if they do they do not usually expect payment. There has been talk of charging though with the onslot of dumb people going where the shouldnt be or umprepared This article is a few years old (2015), but discusses places where they tend to charge. Note...
backcountrypost.com
 
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mike_offerman said:
I didn't want to derail the helicopter evacuation from White Canyon post, so I thought that I would start a new thread.

@fossana and @TheMountainRabbit, you both mention carrying backcounty evacuation insurance. I was wondering what things to look out for when buying that insurance, things like does it cover people you are out hiking with, or only applies to hiking in the US? I was also wondering roughly what kind of cost this insurance is?
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Just chiming in to say that the information everyone provided is in-line w/ my experience.

When I was climbing above 5,000m in Ecuador I got Global Rescue because I was less sure the SOS would be coming from my Garmin device and it offered reasonably priced international evacuation insurance for my wife and kids as an add-on. I'd probably consider this again if I do an international, high-altitude trip again. But I stick w/ the $40/year Garmin supplemental for my usual adventures.
 
I could probably read tons of fine print online, but I'm hoping people who already have the Garmin insurance can easily answer this:

Does the Garmin only cover helicopter extraction and expenses incurred by the SAR teams, or does it cover a helicopter ride to an actual hospital? What if there is medical care inside that helicopter? What about a ground ambulance to a hospital?

Also, does Garmin make any decisions about using helicopters, or is that decision completely up to a local SAR team? Seems like if you were insured by Garmin, they might be less likely to pull the trigger on helicopter vs other methods.
 
This podcast was a little eye-opening with coverages and costs in a rescue with travel insurance that might be of interest to some here:

 
futurafree said:
I could probably read tons of fine print online, but I'm hoping people who already have the Garmin insurance can easily answer this:

Does the Garmin only cover helicopter extraction and expenses incurred by the SAR teams, or does it cover a helicopter ride to an actual hospital? What if there is medical care inside that helicopter? What about a ground ambulance to a hospital?

Also, does Garmin make any decisions about using helicopters, or is that decision completely up to a local SAR team? Seems like if you were insured by Garmin, they might be less likely to pull the trigger on helicopter vs other methods.
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In my 1 experience, Garmin had no visible or obvious involvement in the rescue. The rescue coordinator in Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow) replied and once I answered some questions about the nature of the incident, took it from there.

Based on what I read on the Garmin website, and I sure as heck am not a lawyerly type, any medical expenses on the flight are yours to pay separately.
 
futurafree said:
I could probably read tons of fine print online, but I'm hoping people who already have the Garmin insurance can easily answer this:

Does the Garmin only cover helicopter extraction and expenses incurred by the SAR teams, or does it cover a helicopter ride to an actual hospital? What if there is medical care inside that helicopter? What about a ground ambulance to a hospital?

Also, does Garmin make any decisions about using helicopters, or is that decision completely up to a local SAR team? Seems like if you were insured by Garmin, they might be less likely to pull the trigger on helicopter vs other methods.
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Both times I've been around a Garmin-assisted situation, the actual rescue/assistance efforts were almost immediately handed off to locals - so Garmin didn't have any noticeable opportunity to limit the assistance provided, even if they were so inclined.

The coverage is intended for SAR expenses specifically - including ground search and extraction. Once you're out of the wilderness and receiving medical care, you're on your own. I think in most cases care in flight isn't going to be billed separately, but if it is you'd probably have to go through health insurance. Ambulance transport once out of the wilderness is probably on you, but I've heard it both ways.

I carry it so that I don't get that $30k helicopter bill @fossana referenced - anything it covers beyond that is a bonus. There are certainly more robust plans out there, including Global Rescue which I carried for a couple years and has a good reputation.
 
Thanks for everyone's responses. Lots of good information.

Unfortunately I don't have/use garmin, so will need to look into other coverage.

Like others, I have medical coverage through work, so mostly looking to avoid that huge helicopter fee!
 
Global Rescue isn't a provider agnostic insurance. You are paying for a subscription for their evac services, similar to Sierra Lifeflight. It's the reason I started looking into other options when I was an AAC member. I haven't checked recent terms, but the old AAC affiliated GR plan wouldn't cover rescues within so many miles (~160) of your residence.
 
fossana said:
Global Rescue isn't a provider agnostic insurance. You are paying for a subscription for their evac services, similar to Sierra Lifeflight. It's the reason I started looking into other options when I was an AAC member. I haven't checked recent terms, but the old AAC affiliated GR plan wouldn't cover rescues within so many miles (~160) of your residence.
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That's a good note - I primarily had them for international trips, but never actually used the service (thankfully). Most Americans I know that climb internationally use them though - but in that case the risk is more about the cost of medical evacuation to the US as opposed to the actual SAR effort.

I know Zoleo runs all their stuff through them, too.
 
And....what if you dont buy the inreach and use the Garmin stuff.. They want to lock you into their product.
 
TheMountainRabbit said:
that $30k helicopter bill @fossana referenced
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FWIW, the top-line number on my helicopter ride was $73k. That was something like 6 hours of helicopter time, most of which was waiting on the ground, with maybe 90 minutes total flight time (Cortez, CO to the site to Grand Junction). Crew was 3 people (two paramedics and a pilot).
 
mike_offerman said:
Thanks for everyone's responses. Lots of good information.

Unfortunately I don't have/use garmin, so will need to look into other coverage.

Like others, I have medical coverage through work, so mostly looking to avoid that huge helicopter fee!
Click to expand...
FYI, there was a new law passed a few years ago to help control the price of medical helicopter flights. Look up the "no surprises act". If you have insurance, you shouldn't see a crazy helicopter bill; usually companies try to keep it under $500 billed to the patient.
 
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