I'm interested in finding some insurance to cover possible medical needs (visit to a hospital or even helicopter evac) for a BASE jumping vacation in Europe. The only insurance companies I've found that seem to specifically cover these things for BASE jumping are for U.K. citizens only.
Any U.S. jumpers have any comments or suggestions?
I've scanned through the links under the Knowledge BASE, but nothing has caught my eye....
Please post if you get any replies. You are not the only one to be interested in this.
I have just got insurance from http://www.hbinsurance.co.uk/
For a trip to the states - they cover BASE - in filling the forms I noticed this statement -
"This policy is available to UK residents only. If you are not a UK resident, please email us at info@hbinsurance.co.uk where we will be pleased to quote for any of your requirements."
Is it worth a try?????
I thought it was worth a try..
I emailed them and got a reply: "Regrettably our policies are only available to UK residents who travel from and return to the UK."
Oh well...
I got insurance from
http://www.specialtyrisk.com/
for my trip to Europe last year. it seemed excellent, although I did not make a claim. For me, for 15 days, under 29 years, old total coverage US$ 1 million (the most) US$100 deductible (the least) and included is the hazerdous sports option which specifically states parachuting and mountaineering (15% above usual rate) I paid a whopping US$ 34.97
included was:
Policy Name: Liaison International
Travel Profile: Travel excluding the U.S.
Medical Maximum: $1,000,000
Deductible (per policy period): $100 Outside the U.S. and Canada: After the deductible, program pays 100% to the chosen maximum.
Coverage Length: 0 Months, 15 Days
Continuous Coverage Option: No
Other Options: Hazardous Sport Coverage
Other Benefits Included: $100,000 Emergency Medical Evacuation
$20,000 Return of Mortal Remains
$10,000 Emergency Reunion
$5,000 Return of Dependent Child
$5,000 Interruption of Trip
$250 Loss of Checked Baggage
$2,500 Local Ambulance
$25,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment
I thought it was worth it., you should too. especially the emergency medical evacuation.
Check out the insurance companies definition of parachuting, it wont include BASE (it will more than likely state "sport parachuting for recreational purposes only" and we all know that as soon as they approach any skydiving association and ask is BASE sport parachuting? the association will run a mile from us, not to mention the numerous BASE jumpers whose view is that BASE is nothing to do with sport parachuting) and be sure the minute you injure yourself / die jumping an illegal object you / your beneficiary will undoubtably get a grand total payout of € 0.00
It's very easy to accept the fact that you are getting skydiving / parachuting cover and hope for the best in the event of an accident, however if you enquire further 100% of insurance companies have a big black X next to BASE jumping. There's no point giving them money to keep your missus happy if they wont pay out in the end.
The real question here is whether or not anyone has ever done a study of BASE versus other sports which you can get cover for.
For example I was able to get insurance to climb Mount Everest solo (no it wasn't required) from a Swiss insurance company but I was unable to get insurance for any form of BASE!
I know the sport is inheritently risky but not more than solo big mountain climbing or other high risk sports that you can get cover for.
Unless the insurance industry can actually get its hands on injury / fatality statistics versus number of jumps then we will never be able to get cover. Of course this would have to be presented along with the same comparisons on insurable sports with worse records.
I have a deal with my jump buddies that they will drag me from the base of the antenna, cliff etc., put me in the middle of the road and run over me to make it look like I was hiking (the embarrassment of it) ;-) Joke of course, I love hiking and this death is highly likely.
Anyone have any real ideas.
MT
the wording they use for hazerdous sports is
"This option includes coverage for those activities, specifically coverage for motorcycle/motor scooter riding, mountaineering (4500 meter limit), hang gliding, parachuting, bungee jumping, water skiing, snow skiing, snowmobiling, and snow boarding. This option costs an additional 15%."
I've got insurance from a couple of places for traveling to the States (from Canada). I had them check out BASE jumping specifically, and they came back saying as long as it is legal, they're okay with it. That works alright for me, since most of my jumping south of the border is legal anyway. I believe the same policy excluded rock climbing. I guess that's how it goes.
Michael
Where did you get this insurance from Michael? I've got insurance in case I drive my car off a cliff (Blue Cross), but I figured if I got hurt bad enough I couldn't drag myself away and get out of my gear I would be out of luck. I'm in Canuckland too.
Skypuppy BASE92:+
I sent Specialty Risk Int. an email and asked: "Are
all parachuting activities included or are there
additional exclusions? (ie. Skydiving, Para-Sailing,
BASE jumping, Para-Gliding, Para-scending, etc..)"
The response was: "Yes, all parachuting activities would be covered if you purchased the
hazardous sports coverage. Have a good day."
Mark &-)
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