I am curious to know what kind of health, life and disability insurance plans are available to DG Professional Hunters and trackers? I would like to hear from the industry members themselves. I bring this up as it seems with the injuries to Punki, Alan Shearing and now John Greef and his step son Dusty that there might be a need for a permanent relief fund. Perhaps a non profit with IRC 501(c)(3) status so all US residents could take a tax deduction for contributions.

Not sure about life insurance policies, but Global Rescue does a hell of a job getting wounded hunters from the field to a hospital. They don't just take you to the closest hospital either, the medical staff on hand keeps you stable until they get you to a hospital affiliated with Johns Hopkins. Not sure which hospitals those are, but I would assume that they are of the highest quality considering the fact that Johns Hopkins recommends them.

that is simply evac insurance and would be no help in paying hospital costs, disability payments, etc.

.500NE

.500NE

.500 Jeffery.

.600NE if you can afford it?

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
that is simply evac insurance and would be no help in paying hospital costs, disability payments, etc.

Correct, but a Medical evacuation can cost upwards of $100k, so I think it would help to have it. I think if you ticked the "professional big game hunter" box on the insurance application, they would either laugh you out of the office or the premiums would be out of this world. I think Andrew's form of insurance is probably the only one available!

Most quality medical insurances cover evacuation and hospitalization, examples of these are MARS, GOODHEALTH ( AETNA ), a lot of PH's are on these covers which cost about $1000/ year. They are excellent,have been tried and tested, and any dangerous game PH should be on one!! On these covers, all bills are paid. There is no reimbursement for loss of income however.

quote:

Originally posted by martin pieters:
Most quality medical insurances cover evacuation and hospitalization, examples of these are MARS, GOODHEALTH ( AETNA ), a lot of PH's are on these covers which cost about $1000/ year. They are excellent,have been tried and tested, and any dangerous game PH should be on one!! On these covers, all bills are paid. There is no reimbursement for loss of income however.

BUPA is another very good medical insurance scheme.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
.600NE if you can afford it?

Flame thrower as used in the Rambo movies...

more seriously - a few phs were discussing this at a BBQ one evening and anumber opted for a short barreled DR in 30-06 caliber loaded with softs. One of them has gone ahead and ordered one with Heym, more as a "fun gun" then for this particular purpose I suspect! He guides with a Heym .577 DR

I do happen to have a Searcy 470 NE DR. That should suffice...

Rich
DRSS
470 NE and 9,3x74R covers this planet

Guys, in the aftermath of Brittany's accident we got involved with a charitable foundation called Something More Safaris...working with them, we sort of rolled Brittany's ad hoc "Punki Recovery Fund" into what they call the "Boddington Fund", with the sole purpose of providing relief to safari industry workers (any/all job description or status) who are "injured in the line of duty." SMS is a 501.c.3 charitable foundation, so donations to this fund are fully tax deductible. We are working with Larry to help out John Greeffs and his family through this fund. You might check out the specific thread on that, or check out the Something More Safaris web site. Most outfitters have some insurance, but one of our big lessons is that African insurance may not work exactly the same as ours! Thanks, Craig

I know that Olivia McCallum, Myles McCallum's wife, is involved in an insurance program for PHs and others in the industry that provides coverage for accidents in the field like the one Alan Shearing experienced last year with a buffalo. My impression is that the coverage is very good (few exclusions and low deductible) and the payment history is quite strong. The premiums sounded like they were in the ball park mentioned by Martin. Perhaps the coverage is the same referred to by Martin.

Ok, it is my understanding that there are reasonably priced insurance plans for DG safari personnel for evacuation and medical treatment, BUT nothing out there to replace lost income?

Is this where Something More Safaris comes into play? To fill the gaps of medical coverage and provide relief for being unable to work?

Can a tax deductible contribution be made to Something More Safaris and it be designated to the relief of a particular individual such as John Greef?

Like everything in Africa- from mining through PH to pilot, there is no insurance against loss of income...Which is why in an earlier thread I said I would never knock a PH for his choice of rifle or caliber...even if it was a .460 weatherby - Every man has his own plan- both as to a rifle but also things like taking malaria prophylactics. You go down with malaria/tick bite fever/sleeping sickness you loose income...get sick too often and operators will start booking other PH's who take more care over the little bugs that will kill or cripple you as surely as the big five

Big Bore Core, the answer to your question on John Greeff is yes. Please look at that thread called John Greeff Relief Fund. It will direct you to the Something More Safaris --- Boddington Fund-- and you can make your donation which will go directly to John. I am working closely with Craig Boddington and also Dave Dunn who manages Something More Safaris. We will communicate to all her and to Johns friends how we do with the fundraising. Thanks again for your support. We are also doing a Searcy Double Rifle Raffle. PM me if you wish to know more.

Regards,

Larry

Thanks for all the feedback. It looks like the Boddington Fund is the way to go. I will be sending a check soon and will be on the look out for the raffle details.

It is called long term disability. It cost me about $32.00 a month and will pay me about $6K a month as long as I am disabled; indefinitely.
Not that expensive however the insurance company may have a different idea about the definition "disabled".
It may also be a different rate pending your profession. It is available in the USA.

EZ