Activity Holiday in USA - Helicopter Rescue Cover

BMag90

Hi,

Me and my partner are going to the USA in October with a company called TrekAmerica.

We already have free travel insurance for having a Natwest Advantage Gold account, but TrekAmerica are saying we should take out their insurance because, as we're doing a few activities while we're there, our policy will need to cover helicopter rescue. Their insurance will cost £120 for the both of us for two weeks.

I've checked our policy with Natwest and it doesn't mention helicopter rescue, just that it won't cover 'dangerous pursuits'. Does anyone know what is classed as a dangerous pursuit, or whether TrekAmerica can refuse to let us on the trip if we have insurance but it doesn't cover helicopter rescue?

Alan_Bowen

This might just be a ruse to get to buy what maybe very expensive travel insurance or it may be you are about to embark on very dangerous activities which would not be covered by your Natwest policy. You need to read the policy you have or call them to find out what is covered, and then compare it to what you are planning to do. What might you require helicopter rescue for? A winter sports policy normally covers a helicopter if that is the only way to hospital, a good friend was whisked to a hospital in Geneva free of charge, even though there is no mention of a helicopter rescue in the policy.

scottishperson2

You need to call/email/get in writing and tell them what you are planning to do, and if that is covered. Stuff like out-of-bounds skiing/boarding, quad biking, parachuting, the list is endless as to what they might not cover you for.

Bob_the_Saver

BMag90 wrote: »

Hi,

We already have free travel insurance for having a Natwest Advantage Gold account,

Natwest it seems can't even organise a computer update!

thegirlintheattic

You need to call NatWest and get it in writing what is classed as a dangerous activity.

I would have assumed anything that may require an helicopter rescue would be classed as a dangerous activity.

Bob_the_Saver

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I would have assumed anything that may require an helicopter rescue would be classed as a dangerous activity.

Like camping by a river in Wales you mean

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2157623/Two-sleeping-teen-girls-saved-campsite-flood-caravan-owner-sees-static-6ft-underwater-TV-phoned-wake-up.html

alanrowell

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

This might just be a ruse to get to buy what maybe very expensive travel insurance or it may be you are about to embark on very dangerous activities which would not be covered by your Natwest policy.

It's unlikely the NatWest policy will cover much more than a cheap policy bought at Asda. "Activities" are generally excluded from such schemes. At a guess OP will need a policy like those issued by STA Travel or the British Mountaineering Club which specifically name the activities included

jackieblack

I've never used them myself but a firiend of mine needed extra cover for a particular activity on holiday a couple of years ago. She got a 'top-up' policy from Sportscover Direct just to cover that activity. I don't know how expensive it was and she didn't need to make a claim so I don't know how they would be if you had to, but I know that she had to sign a waiver before taking part in the activity which said that she had insurance cover otherwise she would not have been allowed to take part (I guess it covers the company against getting sued if something goes wrong)
HTH

LE3

you need to read the small print of your policy to find out is the activities you are planning to do are covered. If they aren't covered, you will need additional insurance or be prepared for a HUGE bill if something goes wrong & you do need helicopter rescue!
Personally, I would not even risk going to the USA without knowing I am fully covered for everything I wanted to do - medical care over there is horrendously expensive!

BMag90

Thanks everyone, I'll contact Natwest and see what they do and don't cover. As far as I'm aware the most 'dangerous' thing we will be doing is going on a bike ride in a national park, but I suppose if they're being picky they can argue that that would leave us open to bear attacks....

Bob_the_Saver

BMag90 wrote: »

Thanks everyone, I'll contact Natwest and see what they do and don't cover. As far as I'm aware the most 'dangerous' thing we will be doing is going on a bike ride in a national park, but I suppose if they're being picky they can argue that that would leave us open to bear attacks....

They're waiting for you
http://www.awn.com/files/imagepicker/1/good03_Yogi-02.jpg