My next safari will be my third and on the the two previous, I have had no problems. The last three years have been a nightmare health wise,but I am finally healthy again. Medicare and my supplement do not provide coverage outside the USA and I am going to RSA and Namibia next month. My question is between Ripcord and Global Rescue or any other company who offers the best coverage for travel insurance and medical coverage/evacuation? Ido not expect to use it,but I need to be covered. Any advise will be appreciated. It ain't the way it used to be, but it will do. Jerry Hoover

Jerry,

A client of mine who was injured on safari had Travel Guard. He was very happy with their service.

Mark

I believe Steve Turner is now recommending RipCord

My wife and I use Travel Guard on all of our trips to Africa (and other hunting destinations) and had to use it one time (a badly broken ankle requiring surgery in SA)...absolutely no problems and we highly recommend their service.

I have used Global Rescue on my last two trips to Africa. Once to Zambia, the other to South Africa. I did have any issues thankfully, but felt good about having it based on comments about Global Rescue from others that have used their services.

I've bought various over the years, but never had to use them. They are all good at accepting premiums. I'm interested in folks' experience when they had a claim.

I just got a notice from the NRA that they can provide U.S. and global medical emergency rescue and emergency medical care when your away from home all for $129.00 a year for a family.

Global Rescue and Travel Guard probably have the most resources available in Africa. Both have very good track records and plenty of experience.

Check out Ripcord- I think they are the best now. They will also cover your trip if a new travel warning comes out, or if for instance an animal is no longer importable. Those are some big perks. I have switched from Global Rescue to Ripcord...

I saw that info from the NRA about their global rescue insurance. I asked around, including here, I could not find anyone who knew anything about it.

Does RipCord have private doctors available in South Africa, Zim, Botswana, Mozambeque and Namibia?

Guys call ripcord. Great people easy to talk to. My understanding is they have everything global had plus more- and less loopholes to get out of paying. I talked to them for a long time back in Jan. I just don't want to speak wrongly on their behalf. Well worth a phone call.

Tim I have never heard of Global Rescue denying a valid claim or even giving anyone the runaround on payment. To the contrary, I have only heard of stellar service and fantastic infield support, which is what sets them apart from the rest of the pack.

Have you heard anything specifically negative about GR's service or denial of a claim?

In regards to comparing services, make sure you ask about access to real doctors in the field. In some of these out of way places, you are being diagnosed and treated by what could best be described as the local vet. With GR you are dealing with their medical personnel and not someone they contracted with. Without a real doctor handling your case, treatment and survival can be pretty hairy.

Since I work in some of the more hairy places, I take evac insurance very seriously. I will call RC when I get back Stateside.

Also - I believe one of the directors of GR posts here from time to time, maybe he can better explain the differences...

Here is a link to another thread on evac insurance worth reading as well - http://forums.accuratereloadin...811098991#1811098991

Jerry,

There are some very important differences between Global Rescue and everyone else in the industry:

1. Field Rescue – We pioneered the concept of field rescue for hunters and outdoorsmen in 2004 and since then have responded to thousands of cases. It is important to note our triggers for field rescue which are the best in the industry: any medical emergency that could result in a serious or life-threatening injury qualifies.

2. Track Record – 12 years of experience; over 7,000 missions with over 200 employees in 7 offices in 5 countries dedicated to one thing: putting our members first. We are also fortunate to have been selected as the exclusive provider to most major hunting organizations, including: SCI, DSC, WSF, GSCO and others.

3. Cutting Edge Technology - Our mobile app can track your whereabouts, provide realtime alerts and direct access to our team of Global Intelligence Analysts to answer your questions about safety, security and other critical issues.

4. Worldwide Network - In addition to having personnel stationed worldwide, our exclusive relationship with Johns Hopkins Medicine and international network of over 200 medical Centers of Excellence means you get the care you need when and where you need it.

5. Deployable Personnel – Global Rescue is the only service we know of with FULL-TIME paramedics, doctors and military special operations veterans on staff 24/7/365. Availability is guaranteed and they are the most highly trained professionals available.

6. Travel Insurance – Our travel insurance partners offer plans for trips costing up to $100,000 (most others have much lower limits) and you can cancel for ANY REASON (including government closures, imposed hunting restrictions, etc) should that be necessary prior to departure.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us 24/7/365 at 617-459-4200 and we can answer any additional specific questions you might have.

Thanks,
Global Rescue

quote:

Please don’t hesitate to contact us 24/7/365 at 617-459-4200 and we can answer any additional specific questions you might have.

I have called twice with a specific question the was answered far less than satisfactory.

The first call turned in to a sales pitch. The second call was a vague attempt to answer my question.

I will be hunting outside of Impfondo, Congo in June. My question was if something serious/life threatening happened what would be the plan. There are no airstrips in our area, the closest helicopter as I understand is over 400 miles away.

I am not trying to unreasonable but would like to at least have an idea as to what I should do and need to prepare for in case of an accident. It is not something I want to be discussing on a sat phone with a buffalo horn stuck in my side.

Is it worth it? In my experience, NO. At approximately 15% the cost of the trip times my 17 trips to Africa and 3 to Australia and never needing it, it would have been a big, huge, waste of money. I tried Travel Guard once for a vacation to Greece and they found every possible way to deny my claim. The letter of the law was correct and it was buried in their 32 pages of exclusions.

I have found most PHs and outfitters willing to accommodate for emergencies such as using the deposit to pay for a hunt the following year.

It would be nice to see statistics for the amount of claims filed to the amount of claims denied for any of these insurance companies. Auto insurance companies that cover repairs, such as American Auto Shield, are absolutely worthless and the internet consumer reports backs this up. I don't know about travel insurance but, as mentioned, for 20 oversees trips for myself, it would have been a huge waste of money.

It's like AAA when I travel by auto. Now, I put the yearly premium in an envelope every year and will draw on it if I need a 100 or 200 mile tow. I've never used it when offered by AAA so why not put the money away and it is there if I need it and is mine if I don't.

Remember, those selling insurance get a cut and that's why they push it. I've asked Steve Turner not to even ask me if I want it.
Cal

PS. Let me ask you international hunters--how many trips have you taken and how many times have you needed travel insurance?

3 to Africa, 3 to Sonora, MX. Never needed it. I'd be curious for Global Rescue to post on here the list of exclusions to their policy.

Thanks all for the lively conversation. Our responses below to some of the questions posed:

1. Membership vs Insurance: A previous poster made a point regarding all of the money spent (typically 5-10% of the trip cost) for travel insurance which is never used and we agree that it adds up which is why our members sometimes choose to purchase travel insurance and sometimes don’t. Our memberships start at $119 for a week and $329 for a year ($655 with security) and cover an unlimited number of trips making it much more cost effective than travel insurance. However, the key point is that executing an extraction from the remote parts of the developing world is very different than protecting the cost of your luggage. Any insurance company can do the latter, but very few organizations can do the former and it can be very challenging to get right. Suffice it to say the stakes are quite a bit higher than dealing with some lost baggage…

2. Exclusions – Global Rescue membership has very few exclusions and they can be found here under Transport Rules & Exclusions. The only notable exclusion is for preexisting conditions that were treated within 45 days of departure. Others include drug use, nuclear contamination and a few others.

3. The "Sales Pitch” - Our member services team is available to answer general questions but if you have specific operational questions, our operations teams can answer them for you (they’re the ones who actually do the rescuing). Please call us and we’d be happy to setup a time to discuss them with you.

We hope this helps. Keep the questions coming!

I view trip insurance and insurance such as that provided by Global Rescue as two very different and distinct products. I do not purchase trip insurance since I find that the value proposition (cost/coverage/likelihood of a claim) is not compelling. I do purchase Global Rescue insurance. I have never had to make a claim, thankfully, but it would only take the need for such insurance once to save you many, many fold over what it costs for an annual policy. For me, making several international trips a year, several hundred bucks a year for Global Rescue is a good value.

This is getting interesting in that in my two other safaris, my health was never an issue. Although I am healthy now, I want to make sure that what little I have is not eaten up by medical bills that could have been covered. I remember reading about Craig Boddington having a heart attack in Africa and it being misdiagnosed . From what I understand the best hospitals in RSA while very competent are private and may require payment upfront. I am leaning towards no trip insurance because while painful, I could absorb the cost of a lost/cancelled hunt. A serious medical issue is entirely different. I will investigate this issue a bit more. More further advice/experiences and their situations would be appreciated. It ain't the way it used to be, but it will do. Jerry Hoover

Been coming to southern Africa since 1992. I now work here anywhere from 90 to over 200 days a year. During my years here I have seen countless emergencies with foreign travelers requiring significant medical treatment. 30+ road accidents, many vehicle rollovers in the bush, one shooting, countless medical problems from heart attacks to pulmonary embolisms, infections, and life threatening illnesses. Any of which would result in emergency care and ultimately evacuation to a real hospital with real doctors in the States or Germany. The cost for such a ride can easily exceed $20,000 USD.

I can think of hundreds of reasons to carry emergency evac insurance, but I cannot think of one reason not to carry it. The only question is, which company. For me it is the one with the most experience and the one with real doctors.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Hoover:
This is getting interesting in that in my two other safaris, my health was never an issue. Although I am healthy now, I want to make sure that what little I have is not eaten up by medical bills that could have been covered. I remember reading about Craig Boddington having a heart attack in Africa and it being misdiagnosed . From what I understand the best hospitals in RSA while very competent are private and may require payment upfront. I am leaning towards no trip insurance because while painful, I could absorb the cost of a lost/cancelled hunt. A serious medical issue is entirely different. I will investigate this issue a bit more. More further advice/experiences and their situations would be appreciated. It ain't the way it used to be, but it will do. Jerry Hoover

Jerry: you are correct in thinking that payment is required up front for hospital services and the best hospitals are indeed private. When my wife broke her ankle in SA, the closest hospital was in Utenhage, so that is where we went. Our outfitter called a private physician/surgeon to tend to her and he arrived shortly after we did and pretty much ran the resident Dr away.
Your health insurance card is worthless; they want cash or will take a credit card. On the night she was admitted a deposit of about 3000 was required and when it was determined that surgery was needed a further deposit of 20,000 had to be made. The total charges for 3 days in hospital, emergency room services, operating room and surgeon fees were a bit over 21,000. Believe it or not, the hospital refunded the difference. And all of this was in Rand, not US dollars. The surgeon was a German gentleman, went to medical school in Houston and did his residency there as well, all in all a good Dr.
As I've said before, we had a very inexpensive Travel Guard policy (Grab and Go, I think they call it, primarily for cancellations or lost luggage but has a medical provision) and they paid for reimbursed for everything. Since she had to elevate her ankle on the homeward flight, they also paid for business class tickets on Delta to allow this to happen.
We buy it every trip. The others that offer rescue or evacuation may be really good in many if not most instances, but with a bit of research it's possible to less than ideal service (as with any product or service).

quote:

From what I understand the best hospitals in RSA while very competent are private and may require payment upfront. I am leaning towards no trip insurance because while painful, I could absorb the cost of a lost/cancelled hunt. A serious medical issue is entirely different.

Jerry,

Ripcord combines the best evacuation and rescue services with travel insurance designed for hunters, into a single program.

To answer your specific concern, Ripcord includes primary medical expense coverage, which would cover up to $100,000 of medical bills, should you receive medical care more than 100 miles from your home residence.

You can customize your Ripcord program to purchase only evacuation, rescue and primary medical expense coverage, without the need to purchase trip cancellation/interruption.

Please contact me directly at: tbochnowski@redpointresolutions.com, or on my direct office line: +1 415-481-0602

If I’m unavailable, contact our head of client services, Laurie Nahigian at lnahigian@redpointresolutions.com or on her office line +1 617-307-4636

Additionally, our 24/7 main line is +1 415-481-0600 or email ripcord@redpointresolutions.com

Tom Bochnowski
Vice President

The hospitals are surprisingly good in South Africa. I have a Global Rescue membership and I am fortunate that I have never had to use. They send emails about travel warnings. Got one two weeks ago about Turkey.

I DO purchase a membership in Global Rescue for medical evacuation when on safari to remote areas. As has been pointed out, it is far different than travel insurance, which I normally do not purchase. I have never needed a medical evacuation and hope I never do, but the cost is pretty reasonable and, if you are hunting dangerous game, you never know. I have never looked into Ripcord, so I can't offer any insight to any differences.

Having said all of that, I did purchase travel insurance for an upcoming leopard and buffalo safari in Zim. Two reasons: I am concerned I may have to cancel at the last minute for work related issues beyond my control and my mother-in-law is currently being treated for stage 4 cancer. It was expensive, but I am trying to protect against a more than remote risk.

I have a quote from Ripcord and for the Rolls-Royce package was much less than I would have thought. I spoke with a Ripcord rep at DSC and was impressed with her knowledge and zeal that she demonstrated for her company. Since this is my last safari, I want to CMA on all aspects. If something goes wrong, I will be covered, and if it does not then the peace of mind is well worth the fee. Time is getting short and I have a ton of things to organize. Jerry Hoover

I contacted Ripcord today and made arrangements for medical and evacuation coverage. My wonderful wife has changed her mind and decided to come with me so I got her the same coverage. I do not expect that we will need it, but I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. When you are in your golden years, it does not pay to take unnecessary risks. Jerry Hoover

My view on a Global Rescue membership is "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it".

I just purchased RipCord for my upcoming hunt in Zim. Steve Turner recommended them.

A friend of mine son is going on a college trip to
SA. The group trip is insured by Travelex Insurance Service. Has anyone heard of or done business with them?

Normally, I would not purchase this type of insurance. My AMEX comes with a watered down Travel Guard. But this trip I will be purchasing. If I was just hunting in RSA, I would not get it. However, I will be in Livingstone for a couple of days and I am very concerned about rioting before the election (already a travel warning issued). While I would expect that to be in the capital city, stuff like that can spread. I will be picking GR and not RC. I believe RC is too new. When it comes down to allocation of resources GR is going to get first dibs, don't believe me, just read the story about Nepal.

This is Tom Bochnowski, from Redpoint Resolutions, the company that powers Ripcord rescue travel insurance. Redpoint covers over 9 million people worldwide and our Ripcord program is underwritten by AMIG, rated A+ by A.M. Best.

After the Nepal earthquake we rescued 33 people - both our clients and clients of our competitors. In the 24 hours after the government took control we were still flying helicopter rescue operations. I'm not aware of other organizations that flew without government control or didn't have to wait for government related work. Write ups and coverage from major media outlets such as Fox News are posted on our blog and Facebook page.

If you'd like to discuss further, please call me directly at +1 415 481 0602, or our main line at +1 415 481 0600.

Safe Travels.

Thanks for the info Tom.

For more than a decade, Global Rescue has been the only field rescue, medical advisory and evacuation provider to station our medical teams on the ground in Nepal, enabling us to provide an immediate response and highly specialized care for our members who become ill or injured and need to be evacuated.

So far this season, we have provided medical advisory services and support to many climbing teams and performed approximately 25 active rescue and evacuation cases—including evacuations from Camp I and Camp II. Last year we responded to over 125 member requests for rescue and evacuation in the wake of the Nepal earthquake and triaged more than 200 humanitarian cases.

Earlier this week, major news organizations including NBC News, ABC News and USA Today interviewed our CEO Dan Richards and one of our senior specialists on site in Nepal about our efforts:

NBC News:
http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly...ur-days-691328579567

ABC News:
http://abcnews.go.com/Internat...st/story?id=39305485.

USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/...ly-weekend/84767464/

If you’d like to learn more about our industry pioneering field rescue and evacuation services, please call us at 617-459-4200.

Our sincerest condolences go out to the families of those who have lost their lives this year on Everest and the other peaks of the Himalaya.