The real problem comes, when in fact you do not manage to kill yourself in an accident, but you are left in real bad shape, require very expensive care possibly for a long time, maybe even a med-evac flight somewhere for better treatment (and do you pay THAT out of your wallet - I certainly could not, I just don't simply have that kind of money, nevermind arranging it on the spot, while I'm badly injured?) How do you get med-evac flight without an insurance, unless you're an oil sheikh, is beyond me. But then it's not my problem. Another area, where costs can seriously pile up, is if you will need to stay in intensive care for some time. Or you continue to need treatment for months or years.

And even if worst comes to worst, and you are killed, maybe your loved ones would like to get some compensation from your insurance in that case, it might not be a very easy situation for them, and usually it also involves financial stuff. For one thing, burying people in a decent manner tends to cost a bit of money.

But it's a free world, and you can choose to go without. Just be aware of the possibly very serious risks involved in that decision.

A big "click on" advert has appeared at the top of this thread! I haven't noticed it before - for Global Rescue - and their quoted "ball park" prices are as you mention.
It is all oriented to the market for health in the USA, maybe Canada also.

Risk: certainly it is about risk, and how much an individual is prepared to take.
It is also about the selfish gene in us all; the propensity to get into difficulty and then expect others to clear up the mess, no matter how much of a mess it is - the western world has lots of this nowadays.
e.g. "If you have a bad accedent you will most likely be killed and dont need insurance"

As a contrast, in my time working overseas, I have found that people are much more self-reliant and do not expect to be "sorted out".
As one summary word: inshallah. (this has been discussed in another thread in recent past that had a very similar theme).

ps the first time I broke a limb I found out, from talking with the surgeon, that there is no such thing as a "simple break".

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Dave

When I travel I make sure I have minimum $1 million USD coverage.

I know what the costs of reasonable care are in a decent hospital:

ICU stay - $10,000 per day would not be unusual
ER visit for simple problem - $1200
Broken leg - $20,000
Medevac Flight - short $50,000, long $100,000.


These are North American prices.

And before anyone says it, no, it's not going to the doctors, rather the hospitals and retrieval companies.

Hi Guys,

August Felix here from Global Rescue. I wanted to chime in and provide some further detail on who we are and the services we provide to travelers like you. Global Rescue is the premier provider of medical, security and evacuation services worldwide and is the only company that will come to you, wherever you are, and evacuate you to your home hospital of choice. Additionally, Global Rescue provides 24hr Advisory services through our Operations centers staffed with critical care paramedics and security professionals. All nationalities are eligible to sign-up.

Member Benefits Include:

• Field Rescue from the point of illness or injury
• Evacuation back to the member’s home hospital of choice
• 24hr medical advisory services from critical care paramedics and in-house physicians
• Deployable medical and security teams
• Global network of medical Centers Of Excellence
• Specialists at Johns Hopkins Medicine available in real-time
• Medical Evacuation services up to $500,000
• Optional Security Evacuation services up to $100,000
• No restrictions on nationality, activity or destination
• Memberships beginning at $119 for 7 Days

If you are interested in learning more about our services and membership plans, my contact details are below!

Best,

August Felix
+1-617-459-4200
afelix@globalrescue.com
Global Rescue Video
www.globarescue.com/horizonsunlimited

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Zac Upchurch, Global Rescue

Steve here in the USA, and getting ready for six months on the road south of the border to TDF and up the other side to Rio de Janeiro.

World Nomads has a good site for very reasonably priced travel insurance..

Me? My Blue Shield is good all around the world, and I purchased Medjet for emergency evacuation.

Travel safely,

On the face of it, this seems quite a good deal, but what are you actually getting cover for ?

After going to the website and reading carefully, i understand that one is only apparently paying for the rescue service and any medical advice needed. The cover is not for any costs involved in immediate medical care, such as being taken to a hospital and operated on, so one would have to have a medical insurance in force as well to cover all costs associated with having an accident or serious illness, with repatriation, etc., being covered by the second policy through Global Rescue.

Am i understanding this correctly ?

Looked at Global Rescue but although it sounds good at first glance, second glance it seemed to not cover much of what I was looking for.

Needed to be able to renew while overseas and just that eliminates a few others. Over 65 and you can forget a few more.


Went with World Nomads in the end. Around $2000 for two of us for a year - cheaper than our regular health insurance which is suspended while we are overseas. (can do that in Oz only because we have a very good free health system so no danger in getting dumped back home and then ending up bankrupted by un-insured medical costs as would be the case in some other places.

Having used travel insurance a couple of times while in China - once for a fairly major accident - I reckon if you can't afford insurance, you should stay home.

Was "interesting" that when I was being put back together, the nurse would be sent out of the theatre to give Betty a list of stuff which she would have to go and pay for and bring back the receipt so the doctors could keep on suturing. Friend in China had a very serious accident and while they did do enough to stop her from dying, wouldn't finish the job without money. She did have a fair bit of cash in her bag but was too crook to let them know. Luckily a concerned friend tracked her down and paid for the treatment. Guess travel insurance wouldn't have helped much in either case. Cash is king.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

Jonnyoneye and Tony,

Thank you, guys, for your inquiries. It is very important to clarify, for members and those interested, what is and is not covered.

It is very true that Global Rescue covers primarily the evacuation and transport services (from a member’s exact point of injury or illness, all the way back to a member’s home hospital of choice). We focus exclusively on the emergency response services, and fill the gap left by travel insurance policies when it comes to the quality of emergency evacuation services. We are a stark contrast to the insurance call center model, rather a 24hr international emergency response service, staffed with experienced medical and security professionals who have operated all over the world.

Key services incude,
- Emergency evacuation from the field (anywhere in the world), back to your home hospital
- Deploying our own Operations Specialists to members’ bedsides, when they are hospitalized abroad
- Providing around-the-clock telemedicine for travelers with medical questions, hospital referrals, to minor injuries or illnesses, etc.

It is important to note that medical and hospital bills are not covered, as well as trip cancellation and lost baggage, and for this I recommend travel insurance.

Additionally, you are able to renew at any point (anywhere in the world), and we cover individuals all the way up age 85.

I hope this has been helpful in better understanding Global Rescue. I am happy to respond to any further questions you may have.

Best Regards,

August
Global Rescue
+1-617-459-4200

__________________
Zac Upchurch, Global Rescue