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Climbing Insurance


Ben_E

25-Jul-2011
10:25:47 PM

On 25/07/2011 phil_nev wrote:
>A funny point I found out when booking with Insure4Less is that they only
>cover climbs up to grade 28 Australian...

Well, guess I'm still covered for the foreseeable future, then...

:-(

Did you ask about aid ratings?


Camalittle

1-Nov-2011
12:10:18 AM

It seems insure4less has put up their prices.

Their top level US travel insurance for 2 months is $320.
Add an Alpine package for 8-10 days of Trad climbing and it's an extra $480.(I had to answer lots of questions to get that quote - and unfortunately I'm not even close to their Grade 28 limit)
They say they had a recent $100k claim which has resulted in their prices going up significantly, and it's the US which is particularly expensive.

Anyone know of any other options which may be cheaper?

bones

16-Nov-2011
2:09:08 PM

On 5/07/2011 Wendy wrote:
>The Austrian Alpine Club UK branch membership for $60 a year will cover
>you for rescue and repatriation for climbing accidents all of ther world,
>up to 6000m. So it's good at home, on Australian holidays and for as many
>trips of up to 8 weeks duration outside of your home country as you can
>fit into a year. If you want to extend the coverage to longer trips, it's
>about 60 cents a day.
>

Wendy - I couldn't see the 8 week restriction anywhere on the website or the AWS leaflet? Planning a six month trip so I'll need to trigger the extended cover...
Thanks for any info


timfreddo

17-Nov-2011
5:27:04 AM

Its there Bones... I have 12 months insurance with Insure4less, on a working holiday trip to Canada.
Therefore I couldnt use AAC, as I am out of Australia for more than 8 (i thaught I read 6) weeks...
So I had to fork out bigtime for my insurance. $1300 for 1 years travel insurance with 6 months of snowsports cover, and an extra $1000 for the climbing insurance on top.

Skiing is the tricky thing with Insure4less.
At the resort, im allowed anywhere that is in-bounds or not closed at the time of skiing.
I'm not covered for Backcountry skiing..... unless I am on the way to or from cimbing... I wonder if i can get away with shoving some Rope and an Axe in my Ski touring setup, and tell them I was on the way down from the crag when I broke myself...


Doug

17-Nov-2011
7:04:32 AM

On 17/11/2011 timfreddo wrote:
>Its there Bones... I have 12 months insurance with Insure4less, on a working
>holiday trip to Canada.
>Therefore I couldnt use AAC, as I am out of Australia for more than 8
>(i thaught I read 6) weeks...

We were in Europe for 4 months last year and insured with AAC, just payed the extra 60 cents per day. Were planning on doing the same thing for a similar length stay in Canada next year. Which would be cheaper: AAC or insure4less? It looks like insure4less gives better coverage from what I saw earlier in the thread. We'll just be rock climbing; no alpine climbing or skiing so no complications in that regard.
Has anyone dealt with both? What do you think? I've just asked for a quote from insure4less so it will be interesting to see what they come back with ...

bones

17-Nov-2011
9:13:05 AM

On 17/11/2011 Doug Bruce wrote:
>We were in Europe for 4 months last year and insured with AAC, just payed
>the extra 60 cents per day. > ...

Yeah I think I'll do that - it would only be $74 for the extra four months


Doug

17-Nov-2011
6:05:57 PM

I have just received this quote for 4 months climbing insurance to cover climbing in B.C., Alberta, Washington State and Idaho from insure4less (which might be have to be named "insure4more" but I will check what it would be from AAC):
"We are pleased to confirm that we can offer you our Alpine Rock Climbing Plan for an additional premium of $775.80 per person (on top of the normal travel insurance premium)." They go on to say: "We have developed an excellent relationship with our underwriters who are keen to support these high risk activities. However, they have lost a substantial amount because of some very large claims (one over $100,000 in the USA) since we launched the product with them and naturally they can’t continue on this basis. Rather than pull out of the scheme altogether they are continuing to support it albeit at the higher premium indicated in your quote."
I can't remember exactly what we paid AAC for the same length of time last year in Europe but I am sure it was a whole lot less. I'll be checking it out soon and will post the quote I get back.


benjenga

18-Nov-2011
8:04:49 PM

I used insure4less when I traveled and climbed in the US last year. It's 50% for sport climbers and 75% trad and alpine. I ended hurting my back in Vegas (on a roller coaster of all things) and got taken to hospital.
Insure4less were very helpful and quick even when I didn't send the claim forms back when I got home and started getting mega bills from the Nevada hospital. They sorted it all out and I was very thankful.
Not sure of the best option for extended stays?


Doug

24-Nov-2011
8:05:18 PM

We just got a reply about the extra cost of insurance over and above the six week coverage from the Austrian Alpine Club.
Here is what they said:

On current exchange rates that comes out at $30.77 Australia for two people per week, or a shade over $300 for 10 weeks, which is the bit of our planned 4 months away that is over and above the 6 weeks covered by the AAC's insurance. A lot cheaper than insure4less!
Cheers
Doug


bagotup

22-Mar-2012
9:51:09 PM

Guys/ Gals,
I'm interested to hear if anyone has found (& had success) an Australian insurer with a policy that covers climbing within Australia.
I'm looking for policy that would cover a 7 - 14 day climbing trip within Australia.
Thanks in advance :)

bones

20-Sep-2012
2:36:33 AM

Hi all,

resurrecting the futile old climbing insurance question.

I am already three months through a 6 month trip, and have used up the 8 weeks or whatever of insurance that comes with the Austrian Alpine Club UK membership.

When I tried (for the second time) to contact them to extend the cover, they said I can't extend once I have left Australia.
Likewise Insure4less clearly states on their website that you need to apply for their climbing cover three days before leaving Australia.

Anyone know of any climbing insurance you can apply for while overseas, or had any success getting this clause waived?

Any help appreciated

Cheers
Tony


benjenga

20-Sep-2012
6:45:51 AM

Just email insureforless and they should be able to sort it all out. I think as long as your still an australian resident it should be fine.

Wendy

20-Sep-2012
5:07:34 PM

I'd suggest not having an accident. And organising in advance next time! I tend to think if you are just cragging, your chances of hurting yourself are no higher then they are in Australia. OK, so some people do hurt themselves at Araps, and I'm often a bit scathing about the circumstances, but generally, you can maintain a level of safety through using your own skills and judgement such that you'd be really unlucky to have an accident. Or you'll be able to get yourself out of trouble - I did sprain an ankle coming of a route in Yangshuo. We strapped it, hobbled back to where we were staying, bought a pair of crutches for the equivilent of $15, applied RICE and pottered on. If you are in the mountains, i'd be rather a lot more worried about being uninsured.

Damien Gildea

20-Sep-2012
6:51:00 PM

Although IHI / Bupa no longer cover mountaineering / climbing, if you email them and ask them they will consider your case on an individual basis - at least they will do this for mountaineering.

And when they did cover climbing, you used to be able to buy a policy outside of your home country - not sure if that is still the case.

There are 34 messages in this topic.