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Due to some injuries I sustained in a fall last month while hunting Tahr in New Zealand, I started thinking about Global Rescue and whether or not it is worthwhile to have. For my upcoming trip to Zim, and all my trips in the past to Africa, I've purchased a trip insurance policy. This current one through Gracy Travel. The policy states that there is $50,000 coverage for emergency services and $500,000 for medical coverage. In addition, when booking Zim, you pay a MARS fee. So just what does all of that really cover and is Global Rescue or a similar service necessary. If so, why? What additional services do they provide? Thanks in advance for the input. | ||
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I've got the same ?'s. LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show. Not all who wander are lost. NEVER TRUST A FART!!! Cecil Leonard | |||
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global rescue is excellent , its less than $119 for 7 days of cover Key benefits of the Global Rescue service 24hr Advisory Services : members can call Global Rescue 24/7 and speak directly to a critical care paramedic. This can also be for minor issues that just require a second opinion. Each case that comes into Global Rescue is also reviewed by our in-house physicians and the member is monitored until the resolution of the issue. Johns Hopkins Medicine: Global Rescue was formed in partnership with Johns Hopkins, the no. 1 ranked hospital in the US since 1990. Global Rescue has direct access to their specialists and they will input on medical cases that require their expertise. Field Rescue: Global Rescue will evacuate a member from the point-of-illness or injury, no matter where you are. If we need to come into the bush or get you of the side of a mountain, that is what we will do. This is a big differentiator especially amongst the hunting community. Home Hospital of Choice: Global Rescue will evacuate a member back to the home hospital of choice. Many policies/memberships will take someone to the ‘nearest appropriate’. Deployable Personnel: If a member is hospitalized overseas, we will usually deploy one of our paramedics to their bedside. Aside from being a friendly face they provide a vital link between medical teams on the grounds and Global Rescue’s physicians. Security: Offered as an upgrade to our medical membership. This covers a member when they are not ill or injured but they are in danger of becoming so. Incidents might include earthquakes, flooding, terrorist attacks, civil unrest etc. Our in-house security team is made up of US Veterans from Special Forces and other elite units. Again they will be deployed if needed. heres a link to their video that says it the best ! http://youtu.be/KFGbHBbXG_g we use them , and when you compare services and what it really costs i believe that anyone who travels to hunt cant afford not to ....they are truly head and shoulders above everyone else. this year we had an incident with a guy who wasnt even covered by them , in fact was covered by the competition and still their service and advice was far superior ... by the way, yes they sponsor our cameramen as far as providing annual covereage but i have used them for many years before they came on board as sponsors "The greatest threat to our wildlife is the thought that someone else will save it” www.facebook.com/ivancartersafrica www.ivancarterwca.org www.ivancarter.com ivan@ivancarter.com | |||
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ps. if you are going to zim and have gobal rescue they automatically pay for your mars so you dont need mars aswell "The greatest threat to our wildlife is the thought that someone else will save it” www.facebook.com/ivancartersafrica www.ivancarterwca.org www.ivancarter.com ivan@ivancarter.com | |||
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Best $300 I know of for a year... Good Hunting, Tim Herald Worldwide Trophy Adventures tim@trophyadventures.com | |||
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Iv I cannot say that I am sure about the MARS been covered by GR. You know how it is in Zim if there is an accident and you call MARS and say that your client has GRS I can almost guarantee that they will want further proof, it will be time consuming ( which is possibly life threatening) before they act. I know for a fact ( unfortunately) that with out having paid MARS if there is an incident they will not act with out receiving us$5000 cash as a deposit in CASH.I will get Kirsty to confirm that in the am | |||
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Yea, OK. It's great and all. I get that. But what does it offer that the Travel Guard Policy I purchased doesn't? The Travel Guard policy states that there is, and my earlier numbers were off but I have the policy in hand now, $25,000 for Accident and Sickness Medical Expenses including hospitalization and flying 1 family member to the hospital should I be confined for more than 7 days, and $500,000 for Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation. With these coverages, why do I need Global Rescue. What does it provide that Travel Guard does not cover. Buzz, it sounds as if paying the $10/day Mars is the right thing to do so as not to create a time delay, should evac be necessary. Travel Guard specifically states that those expenses, if any will be reimbursed. Travel Guard also states that they will pre-pay any hospital stay if so required. I'm trying to justify GRS but I'm not seeing anything that isn't already covered. | |||
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You might want to look into the Soutlake TX firm called MASA. 1 800 423 3226. They have been in the business a long time. You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family. | |||
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I had global rescue and it is good but I changed and got MASA( medical air services association)I got the lifetime insurance which is very similar to global but line by line comparison I felt I had better coverage.both are good I felt MASA was best for me and my family. | |||
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Todd, a good question. I've done Travel Guard on my trips to Africa & other "out of the way" places in addition to Global Rescue. Complications arise in policy differences with policies like Travel Guard's Sportsman's policies, as they include trip delay, baggage loss/delay, & several other things in addition to the medical piece. As you, I hate to see undue duplication of insurance, compounded by Buzz' input regarding MARS. Several of the guys on AR actually sell these policies, so I hope they will chime in to give us more clarification. | |||
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Travel Guard also has Trip Cancellation insurance as part of their program. That was important to me. LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show. Not all who wander are lost. NEVER TRUST A FART!!! Cecil Leonard | |||
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Also if you subscribe to the total package. They will send an armed team to bring you out also , like in India a few years back. Mike | |||
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Global Rescue is the BEST!!! | |||
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The only real differences that I'm seeing, unless I'm overlooking something is that: 1) Travel Guard has trip cancellation and coverage for things such as trip delay, lost sportsmans items (with limitations that don't cover my double rifle). 2) Global Rescue has the armed response team to take you out of a security compromised area, if you purchase the extra security coverage. Does anyone know of any additional differences? I've already purchased Travel Guard so if the thugs come knocking, Buzz and I can just shoot our way to safety with the 500's. | |||
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I am a Global Rescue member. I am also quite confident that GR will be much more responsive to a medical emergency than any company that covers baggage loss and other assorted functions. And as regards medical evacuation, which is the purpose of the exercise, I am much more confident in GR ability to provide prompt and professional service than a third party contractor. In the "old" days we had no choice but the insurance companies. Then came MedJet, who I used until GR became available. After a few years of reviews I determined that GR was the "best" option currently available, and have used them for a number of years now. Thankfully, I have never had need of any of them in 17 years of international hunting. Off to Zim in 7 days for safari #17 and GR will be with me again. Mike ______________ DSC DRSS (again) SCI Life NRA Life Sables Life Mzuri IPHA "To be a Marine is enough." | |||
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What are the differences between MedJet and GR? PH I am hunting with in Limpopo next May said to save my $$$...he could get me to hospital in 40-45 minutes by vehicle and they could not get a helicopter there that quickly. | |||
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+1 When it comes to a medical emergency I want a group that does only that not a blanket plan that subcontracts my health to a potential low bidder service. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
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Todd - As stated above, that's the point - IMO. Use GR for what they specialize in, and get trip cancellation coverage, etc - elsewhere. I have a yearly membership for the full package, including security if needed. | |||
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Todd, I recently had a long conversation with Shawn at Gracy Travel about travel insurance. Gracy sells both Global Rescue and Travel Guard. I'd highly recommend you look at both before buying anything. At least if you consider Global Rescue ask them what the actual physical steps are to get you out of the bush, patched up and medivaced home if necessary. You might be surprised by their answer or lack of. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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Todd: I don't know what Global Rescue will or will not pay for, but I do know that the inexpensive Travel Guard policy is money well spent...earlier this month while hunting in the Eastern Cape, my wife slipped on a rock (her first hunting day!) and broke her left ankle, both bones broken and ankle horribly dislocated. We took her to a private hospital in Port Elizabeth where she underwent surgery to have a plate and several screws installed (please note that it doesn't matter what insurance you have, the hospital wants to be paid in advance of any treatment in the form of a cash or credit card deposit). After she was released we called Travel Guard and within minutes the claim forms were received via email. Additionally, the attending Dr. completed a "fit to fly" letter stating she needed to be able to incline her leg/ankle and needed an escort to help with restroom trips, carry on bag, etc. and Travel Guard paid for tickets in business class for both of us from PE to Atlanta and then bought 3 economy seats for her from Atlanta to DFW. It also looks they will reimburse us for the medical expenses incurred in SA. I like Travel Guard, but will also have Global Rescue next year in Zim. Karl Karl Evans | |||
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Jim and Mike, but specifically in the case of Zim which is where my next hunt is, and really what I am inquiring about, should an accident befall a hunter in the field, who exactly would be the operator that picks the person up in the helicopter for evac purposes? If MARS insurance was paid, or even not paid and you rely on GRS to foot the bill as Ivan and Buzz are discussing, will a different helicopter / evac operator pick you up if using GRS than if relying on the MARS insurance. From Ivan and Buzz's posts, it sounds like the same chopper operator would be doing the extract, the only issue being who is ultimately going to pay for the extraction. If that is the case, then I'm still not seeing a difference between the two. Again Mike, I understand your statement about being confident in GR being more responsive to a medical emergency, but if the same company does the extract, where is the value. Does GR have it's own helicopters on standby or do they also subcontract out to the potential low bidder service. Same with the hospital. If they both cover hospitalization, and while hunting in a remote area, your are in need of hospitalization, if there is only one hospital nearby, you would end up in the same place with the same doctor attending you. Am I wrong on this? I guess my point is that I think GRS subcontracts out the actual in the field services to probably the same companies, hospitals, doctors that Travel Guard contracts with. Sorry to be pushy on this thing fellas but I think this is a question a lot of hunters have had for some time and the platitudes of GRS is great, really doesn't answer the meat and potatoes questions of what the real differences are so that a legitimate answer can be formulated concerning which is the better value and whether or not some of the services double covered. No offense is intended. | |||
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Sorry Mark and BigGuy, I was typing while you guys were responding. Mark, I sent an email to Shawn earlier today and haven't heard anything back yet. So yea, maybe there will be a lack of response on the question. I'll post whatever I hear back from her, if I hear back from her! | |||
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I am also a GR believer and customer. Head and shoulders above MJ in MHO. But...I am with Buzz that in Zim, MARS is a mandatory policy with every operator I know. Read Buzz's post again, I agree with what he said. At Chifuti it is a cost that every person going in will be charged regardless of other policy's they may have. I believe it's the same with CMS. I have paid it every time I have been over there regardless of whether I am observing, filming , or hunting. Dave Fulson | |||
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Todd, Firstly, don't count on a helicopter medi-evac, as it could very well be an airplane that extracts you - after you are driven to the closest runway over those smooth bush tracks in the rear of your safari truck. This phase may well be conducted by the same provider, no matter your carrier. BTW, they likely will not fly at night, so have some pain meds available in the event you are injured late in the day and have to wait overnight for a flight out of the bush. GR really comes into play, at least in my mind, once you are at the first medical facility, where the GR Johns Hopkins Hospital M.D.s will coordinate/review treatment with local medicos and decide if you need to be further evaced to JNB for medical/hospitalization - this is likely the best course of action, as the JNB hospitals are the finest in all of africa. And then if you need a medical evac to your USA home hospital, GR will handle that as well. Purchasing commercial airline tickets for your return may work well for some injuries, but you may need an air ambulance with trained medical personnel onboard for a severe injury - like a broken back - and, again, this is where GR will outperform all others, IMO. I am a strong proponent of being well prepared to take charge of your own survival. This mandates a serious discussion of the critical incident plan with your PH before you ever proceed into the field that first morning. And as recent events demonstrate, it could well be your PH who is the evacuee and needs your assistance. Mike ______________ DSC DRSS (again) SCI Life NRA Life Sables Life Mzuri IPHA "To be a Marine is enough." | |||
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Mike, I understand about the plane vs. chopper! Still think it is probably the same evac team but you know, I really don't have any evidence to support that other than Buzz's statement about they will want $5K CASH prior to rolling if the MARS insurance wasn't purchased. Good points about the Johns Hopkins connection. I don't know about the air ambulance as the Travel Guard provides 1/2 Million in medical evac and repatriation coverages. Reading through the fine print, it doesn't rule out air ambulance but also doesn't guarantee it. Completely agree with you about being prepared prior to heading to the field. Again what really got me thinking about this was the fall I took last month in NZ while doing a Tahr hunt on foot. I broke 3 fingers and fractured 2 ribs while descending to my downed Tahr. Walked (climbed and descended repeatedly) out 5 or 6 hours with the broken ribs but it took every bit of gas in my tank to do it. That would have been a perfect reason to call in the Calvary looking back, but of course, I didn't know how bad I was hurt until about 2 hours later. You know how that works. Anyway, something like that makes you think! I appreciate all the inputs and hopefully this thread will continue a bit with others who have actual experience with both types of services pitching in. | |||
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Interesting and very valid topic. I am an specialist anaesthesiologist living in South Africa, so in short I can handle my family members emergencies fairly well and I have a lot of other medical specialist phone numbers on my sat phone. That is worth nothing if the patient cant get to them or I am the patient. I have comprehensive medical insurance for my family in the RSA. I have taken out Global Rescue family membership for a year, because this year we will spend 5 weeks outside the RSA in Africa. MARS is good to get you in Harare, (they have then completed their duty), the question is then what? If I am severely injured I am not only worried about my survival but also about being as functional as possible after recovery. The point being that you want the best treatment possible for your injuries. Depending on the scope of your injuries Harare might not be the answer to your needs but rather the private medical industry in South Africa or even the US or Europe. (avoid national health service in the RSA like the plague) Global Rescue undertakes to deliver you to an appropiate level of care. The appropiate level is the crux of the matter so that I can have a chance of hunting on my own 2 legs again and being a significant threat to some trophy animal. As an example in which I was involved: an elderly South African couple was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Zim. The wife sustained multiple neck fractures and the husband multiple back fractures. The medicos in Harare could scan and diagnose it but not perform the appropiate surgery. (Not that I would want any general orthopaedic surgeon to operate my neck or back). The cost to airlift the to the RSA was US$ 15000. Once they got to us they were treated by a team of a spinal orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeon and an anaesthesiologist that does spinal work for a living. The medical team had the choice of the crop of 1st World instrumentation at their disposal. Both of them could have been paraplegic. They are recovering well and will tigerfish Kariba again next year at the age of 80. Total medical cost incurred in Zim was US$ 25000 of which air transport to RSA was $15000. Total medical cost in the RSA I would guesstimate at US$ 60000. Should my family or I befall mishap Global Rescue gives me more hope of a good outcome at fairly modest cost. The elderly couple's saving grace was that their son could mobilise the cash at short notice. If I am injured there is nobody to mobilise my funds for me. As an educated guess I suspect Global Rescue will mobilise MARS for the actual transfer, that is fine by me. I like Global Rescue's offer to keep me moving untill the appropiate level of care is reached. I am not well informed about what some of the other companies offer as part of their service, but I am not interested in 'insurance'. In an emergency I dont need money but I need a professional service. I dont give a hoot about lost luggage or hunt cancellation insurance. I would like to think that Global Rescue membership is not a form of insurance cover but rather membership of an organisation that will provide emergency transport and treatment to its members in their hour of need. | |||
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According to the policy I received, Travel Guard provides these same evacuation, emergency, and medical services in addition to the travel insurance. | |||
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Todd....now listen !!! ......this is your close friend speaking. FORGET MARS, FORGET MED-JET. FORGET THEM ALL !!! Simply send me a paid plane ticket, pick up those pesky daily observer fees and I personally will be your caretaker, personal doctor and nurse for the entire safari. I will bring ALL medical supplies, and what I do not know, I will pick up from the witch doctor. You KNOW you can trust me! Heck.....on my last trip to Bots, my PH Graeme's boy fell, and hurt his wrist. I made a splint, gave him some meds, and kissed it. Bingo, bango.....he is all better. I can do the same for you. References on request. As ever, Brennan | |||
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In relation to your fall in New Zealand Todd,every country is different and has different ways of going down a similar road. What you maybe surprised about in NZ is that it will cost you next to NOTHING to get off the hill and into hospital and put back together again. Your guides insurance and ACC ( Accident Compensation Commission Levys) our welfare state and government funded health care pick up the tab. Getting yourself out of NZ back to the US or home to where ever, is your problem.Get insurance. In your situation Todd your guide could have called in the calary by dailling 111 and getting emergency services(search and rescue) to pull you out.By going down this path your covered by the system and it is free, (well we cover it in out taxes!) If on the other hand, time was off the essence and your guide had direct connection to the local heli company and had called them directly YOU would pay. You need to ask about such things for ALL your overseas hunting regardless of where you go, and as Buzz alludes to, ask the locals and then the at home experts that are in some cases seeing just one side of the coin.Always ask your guide /outfitter, they know or should know how the home turf works. I certainly do, experience is a good teacher, but you need training and systems in place. | |||
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Hi Brennen, Yea man, come on along. Can you run a camera!! Good to hear from you. Highlander, Yep, learning somethings the hard way. And of course that's why it now has me asking some questions. You know, you sometimes think you're 10' tall and bullet proof and nothing is going to happen to you. Then it does and changes your perspective a bit. The incident in NZ was manageable but what happens if it isn't. Scottyboy here on AR has a hell of a story to tell about a fall he took in NZ. Just trying to be better prepared in the future! | |||
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I'm learning. LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show. Not all who wander are lost. NEVER TRUST A FART!!! Cecil Leonard | |||
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Hi Everyone, My name is Sam Highley and I work for Global Rescue. Given that people seem to be asking a lot of questions about the Global Rescue service and how it compares to others, I though it might help to provide some further information. If anyone still needs any info please feel free to email me at memberservices@globalrescue.com or call at 800 381 9754 There are some fundamental differences between a Global Rescue membership and a travel insurance policy such as Travel Guard. We would recommend that a client has both travel insurance and Global Rescue. What Global Rescue offers that others don't: 1. Immediate access 24/7 to critical care paramedics – when you call Global Rescue, you will speak immediately to a critical care paramedic. These are the people that can triage your case and have the power to make decisions in the critical early minutes of an incident. You are able to call Global Rescue 24/7, no matter how minor the issue and get expert medical advice. 2. Johns Hopkins Medicine – All medical cases are reviewed by our in-house physicians and for a serious incident, we have immediate access to the Division of Special Operations at Johns Hopkins Medicine. You will have some of the best specialists in the world reviewing your case and making sure that the best decisions are made. 3. Field Rescue – Global Rescue commits to its members from the point of illness or injury. Our medical professionals are empowered and qualified to make an immediate decision as to whether an evacuation is required. Whether by helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft or by ground, we will commit to you from that point. There is no requirement to get yourself to a medical facility in order to be assessed to determine whether you warrant an evacuation. The trigger for an evacuation is that a member requires in-patient hospitalization. Global Rescue will evacuate to the member's home hospital of choice and provide up to $500,000 of services. 4. Deployable Personnel – If a member is hospitalized overseas for more than short period of time we will deploy one of our paramedics to their bedside. They will act as a bedside advocate and liaise between local medical teams and our medical teams (including Johns Hopkins) to ensure that the correct decisions are being made. 5. Integrated response to both medical and security emergencies – Our in-house security teams our comprised of military veterans, many of them US Special Forces. As with the paramedics on the medical side of things, our members can get advice during a security incident 24/7. These personnel will be deployed worldwide to support local assets during a security emergency. Examples of recent Global Rescue security operations include Haiti, Egypt,Japan and Sudan. 6. Track Record - When push comes to shove in a serious emergency we have proven our commitment to our members time and time again. It is not in the small print but I truly believe that our DNA is different from an insurance company. We don’t look at every case through the eyes of a claims adjuster but rather medical professionals prepared to do what it takes to assist our members. Insurance may or may not protect your wallet during a serious incident but Global Rescue will protect your life. Some important benefits that insurance offers that Global Rescue doesn’t 1. Lost Baggage/Personnel Effects cover 2. Trip Cancellation Cover 3. Cover for the costs of medical treatment – this is important and is primarily why we always recommend members have an insurance policy to cover for this. Global Rescue will provide up to $500,000 of evacuation services but we do not cover the costs of medical treatment MARS was mentioned in the thread. They are one of our local assets and we are able to call on their services for our members. I hope this helps and feel free to email with any further questions. Happy Hunting, Sam Highley | |||
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Sam, Welcome to AR. Thank for coming here and posting these details. We travel quite a bit, and have been members of Global Rescue for a number of years. We have never had to use your service - and hope to never do! But, it is great to have peace of mind just incase something does go wrong. | |||
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Welcome to AR Sam. Good to have Global Rescue involved. I am a long time client and am off to Zim again tomorrow and my GR card will be in my pocket, as always. Mike ______________ DSC DRSS (again) SCI Life NRA Life Sables Life Mzuri IPHA "To be a Marine is enough." | |||
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Sam, thanks for replying and adding valuable information to the thread. | |||
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I have GR and had to call them once. I was very impressed with their service. They helped me immensely with my 2 extremely sick kids while in Argentina. I will try and post a link to the details of that report. A quick summary is as follows: > Both sons extremely ill and had been so for a few days. > I had just joined GR. I called. > Within minutes, they had a paramedic on the phone. > Within 30 minutes, they had me on the phone with a specialist from Johns Hopkins. Told me which hospital to go to and exactly which tests to have. > Had a plane ready that I called off as they had gotten better. > They even called after we were back to check on them. They have my business for life. | |||
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GR will evac you at your request (if you are medically stable). So will MJA. Travel Guard and all the others won't unless the doc taking care of you says he can't take care of you adequately and HE wants you evacuated. Now, do you want to trust the local doc that really wants to keep you (and your money, you rich American) in his hospital or send you away on an evac flight? Hunting: Exercising dominion over creation at 2800 fps. | |||
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There's no replacement for actual experience. LS has gone through "it". Strong endorsement IMO. Best regards, D'Fan | |||
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Thanks for your input Sam. | |||
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Global Rescue was written up in African Hunter, Volume 17, Number 2 - along with SOS International. This is a competitive market, but Global seems to be one of the most flexible when it comes to a wide range of services.
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