Trip Insurance……should I purchase it?

[Rhino83]

Hello,

I have flights booked, have been in contact with rifle permits and coppersmith.

My question is should invest in the travel insurance. And if so, who would you all recommend?

I have a quote from Ripcord.

Any other suggestions/thoughts??

Thanks in advance!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Trip insurance and Ripcord (or Global Rescue) are two different products. Trip insurance gets some or all of your money back in case you have to cancel your trip at the last minute.

Ripcord and Global Rescue are a type of insurance to cover costs if you are injured and need medical evacuation.

A couple months ago, I had an accident and was 4 days from starting a safari. I was able to cancel and/or reschedule everything so no trip insurance was needed.

Rebooking the hunt, I did get a Global Rescue annual membership for something like $360.

 

[Hogpatrol]

A few years back, I had Ripcord and it covered everything including trip cancellation. Not in Trump's pay grade, I feel it's mandatory for my hunts out of the country. IIRC, repatriation of remains from Africa was 250k U.S. and medical evacuation was cash up front.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Both Ripcord and Global Rescue have added to their insurance "products" Typical travel insurance on top of finding you in the middle of nowhere.

Purchase always depends on your personal circumstances.

For me it depends on my destination and risk (perceived or real). 12 hours of road travel to the nearest hut or a short stint to medical care.

 

[JimP]

On my hunt last year I purchased both trip and medical from Ripcord. They would of brought me home one way or another.

At the time with Covid tapering off I felt that it was well worth it. If I booked a trip today I'd do it again. But as was mentioned it's a personal thing if you purchase it or not.

 

[Dewald]

Trip insurance, depending on cost, can be very handy. I feel global rescue or ripcord depends on destination. If you are hunting in the DRC 100% get it. If you are hunting in most of SA you are almost always in reach of excellent private healthcare.

I have had a few foreign patients in one of the two hospitals in our area with serious injuries - femur, pelvic or spinal fractures, from car accidents, falling off a a horse once, and elbow fracture coupled with a radial artery tear, and a px with cerebral malaria that commented they would never have received such good care in their country of origin, at a fraction of the cost. Hell, I even treated the princess of Monaco up here at a lodge in Zululand for months, but that is a different story.

If I remember correctly the actress Ashley Judd was also full of praise for the orthopaedic care she received in Pretoria after an ordeal in Central Africa and an eventual casavac to RSA.

 

[375Fox]

I usually purchase the travel insurance services even if just for peace of mind. A place like Cameroon I thought was really valuable. A place like South Africa probably has no value, but I had it. I always use global rescue. You may find someone who has used the them to collect partial trip insurance for delays but I doubt you’ll find anyone who has used global rescue or ripcord’s medical services. I’ve never had any issues myself in Africa, but most issues would involve a trip to local clinic not a call to global rescue or ripcord.

The travel insurance services like evacuation are worth it to me. However, trip insurance is not. It costs to much and African outfitters are very flexible with rescheduling. Africa is managed on a long season and quota. It’s not like an elk hunt where you are locked into your one week slot during a short season. Save your money on the trip insurance and talk with your outfitter about rescheduling policies. I can’t see a need to insure a trip to Africa, especially when it’s small deposit up front payment at end.

 

[375Fox]

You also generally get a year to use the credit for your airline tickets if you’d need to cancel

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Last 3 trips I have done both. Travel insurance to cover hunt and flights due to last minute cancellation and Global Rescue policy. Been getting both thru Global Rescue. Almost have needed it twice but things worked out where didn't have to file. Well worth piece of mind to me to buy both anytime I am leaving the USA.

 

[375er]

Last 3 trips I have done both. Travel insurance to cover hunt and flights due to last minute cancellation and Global Rescue policy. Been getting both thru Global Rescue. Almost have needed it twice but things worked out where didn't have to file. Well worth piece of mind to me to buy both anytime I am leaving the USA.

I agree!!! Yes, get the insurance!! You may never need it, but if you do need it you need it badly!!

 

[Joedad]

Remember for you oldsters Medicare doesn’t cover you out of the USA.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Nine trips to RSA and I always buy the maximum. Like Mike Tyson said "Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face".

In 2013, a fellow hunter hurt his back a month before departure. Got his deposit, economy RT flight ticket and IIRC, his pre arrival gun permit fee claim paid.

 

[Tgood1]

If hunting arica I'm insured ro the max but also I have a customer of mine that had an opportunity to fish Botswana while hunting in SA on the limpopo River. He accidentally stepped in the frying pan full of hot grease one evening. After a helicopter ride, treatment in SA, then an emergency trip home to US he is still fighting the travel Insurance company. Like 4 years later. And it is a company regularly used in this forum

 

[375Fox]

Nine trips to RSA and I always buy the maximum. Like Mike Tyson said "Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face".

In 2013, a fellow hunter hurt his back a month before departure. Got his deposit, economy RT flight ticket and IIRC, his pre arrival gun permit fee claim paid.

Have you run the numbers of how much you’ve spent on insurance vs hunt cost? Nearly all private land South African and Namibian outfitters will work with you to carry your deposit over to a future year. The flight credit is good for one year. The amount spent on insurance quickly exceeds the possible value you stand to lose after a few hunts. I think discussing cancellation and rescheduling policies with outfitter is better than spending money on the insurance in most cases.

 

[Safari Dave]

IME -


Global Rescue may be great for extracting you to good heath care, but I was disgusted with their partner for "trip insurance".


I used Tin Leg for my last trip and I did had to cancel for several reasons. Get "cancel for any reason" insurance, because I know for a fact that a global pandemic that makes it literally impossible to get to your destination, is not covered as a legitimate "reason".

And, like a couple of other unfortunate experience with insurance companies, prepare for battle if you have to file a claim.

It's too bad that customer service with travel insurance companies, is not worth the money they spend on advertising the "benefits" of buying the insurance.

 

[375Fox]

There are 3 different insurances getting discussed here that aren’t the same thing. Global rescue and rip cord primarily sell evacuation insurance so you can be evacuated in event of a medical emergency. They also sell full protection including trip and travel accident insurance included in full coverage but they are very expensive. You can buy travel accident insurance very inexpensive with a google search from a lot of providers. This covers broken bones, car wreck, hot cooking oil accident, but not a medical condition like cancer. Trip cancellation insurance is to cover the cost of trip in event of cancellation for covered reason. The evacuation and travel accident insurance I think is worth it even if just peace of mind. The trip insurance I do not think is worth it if outfitter has reasonable cancellation and rescheduling policies. It’s typically around 10% of cost.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Never bought trip insurance in my life. Never needed it. My neighbor and good friend always buys trip insurance, and uses it often. Neither one of us understand the other’s way of thinking. It’s a personal thing.

In SA or Namibia I don’t activate my Global Rescue. In the distant part of Zimbabwe or Moz, I do.

 

[Safari Dave]

I agree with 375Fox for the most part, but if you are hunting a country (probably any country other than RSA), where the government owns the land, and the game, and holds all of the cards, I would recommend buying "cancel for any reason insurance". You never know when the political winds might shift, and the county has invented a reason for you not to be there.


In RSA, I think most reputable safari companies will work with you, but you still might be out your airfare at the last minute.

 

[Vintageguy]

Trip insurance is a good idea and verifying whether or not your health insurance is valid outside the U.S. and what it would cover is another thing. Many policies cover nothing, others are very good.

 

[GuttormG]

Out of curiosity; for you US guys; are you covered for medical while outside US by your ordinary health/medical insurance?