Touring - Health/Bicycle Insurance for long trips in USA

Hi everyone

I have been reading a lot from this forum over the past few months and the advice that everyone has given to other newbies’ questions has helped me immensely on choosing my bike and panniers (trek 520, Arkel GT-54, GT-30 panniers), etc. This is a great forum.

I now have a question to ask regarding travel/health insurance. I am an Aussie planning my first cycle tour through North America. In past backpacking trips through Asia I have never thought much about buying health/travel insurance. Now that I have been living and working here in the States for the past two years, probably one of the most expensive countries in the world for health treatment, I now have serious second thoughts about travelling without insurance. Plus when I first arrived here I was the victim of a serious car/bike collision that left me astonished at the price of medical care.

My question is; does anyone know of any good travel insurance that covers an activity such as bicycle touring, in terms of health insurance and also possibly covering bicycle theft replacement. Suggestions for overseas (outside of USA) travel insurance policies are also welcome as I will consider anything.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Cheers
Leon

Hi everyone

...

I now have a question to ask regarding travel/health insurance. I am an Aussie planning my first cycle tour through North America. In past backpacking trips through Asia I have never thought much about buying health/travel insurance. ....

My question is; does anyone know of any good travel insurance that covers an activity such as bicycle touring, in terms of health insurance ...



I talk alot about the health insurance issue on my website, but admittedly from the American perspective. I have some questions I'd like to add as starters. Your Aussie insurance does not cover medical expenses incurred abroad? Many US policies do not either; I have wondered how the nationalised systems worked. When I was on assignment overseas I had insurance from IHI Danmark and they covered me everywhere I was. I also had evacuation insurance to whisk me out of areas of political instability, though I never used it.

On my world cycling tour I did not carry insurance at all.

Still: look at it this way. If you are severely injured and need long term care, you are likely to return to Australia, anyway. If your injury is minor and you treatment in the US it will be pricey, but probably no more pricey than an insurance policy itself....

When you go to a travel clinic to get your checkup before ya go, ask them. They may have a better idea. I recommend you get a pneumonia and flu shot. For the US and Canada you shouldn't need any more than that. For mexico and central america I think you would get Yellow Fever shot and perhaps a gamma globulin injection, though the latter is not that effective. You might also consider the rabies series. Aralen--the anti malaria pill--is cheap and widely available in Latin America, as are antibiotics.

roughstuff

There is no insurance in the states that is specific for bicycles. It SUCKS!!! The homeowners policy usually covers them.

Still: look at it this way. If you are severely injured and need long term care, you are likely to return to Australia, anyway. If your injury is minor and you treatment in the US it will be pricey, but probably no more pricey than an insurance policy itself...

That's dead wrong. Medical evacuation is stunningly expensive. If you are seriously hurt and need to return across the globe, you can easily spend 20-40 thousand US dollars--will your insurance from home cover that? Most US policies do not. Even a "minor" medical emergency (say a broken leg) could set you back US$1,000 or more. It is almost impossible to get out of an emergency room for less than several hundred dollars, even if little or no treatment is rendered.

An international medical policy for US citizens traveling overseas is very reasonable; considerably less than most ER visits. I'd suggest consulting your embassy for carriers they have worked with or checking out Google to find some.

Paul

[I]That's dead wrong. Medical evacuation is stunningly expensive...
An international medical policy for US citizens traveling overseas is very reasonable; considerably less than most ER visits. I'd suggest consulting your embassy for carriers they have worked with or checking out Google to find some.

Paul

Thanks for making those comments. I'll look into it myself also and update my site if needed. You may find however, that a 'medical policy for someone traveling overseas' is a bit more confined than you think. These policies often assume you will be a typical backpack/motel/city/rail/culture type traveler, not a cyclist out in the hinterlands and out on the roads. No way a rock climber in the andes for example, is gonna get a 'reasonable' insurance policy, especially since in some 3rd world countries evacuation would be the only real possibility of meaningful medical care. Cycling freaks out insurance companies just as much, I'll betcha!

On my tour I had surgery for a pre-cancerous lesion in lower lip, which I paid out of pocket when I was in Chile. In Asia i was 99% sure I got malaria and the medicines they kept giving me there would beat it down but not out. When I got back to Korea i got treated at, off all places! a Marine corps base and finally got the killer meds I needed.

roughstuff

Thanks for all your comments. As for the insurance back home comment, unfortunately I am not a resident of Australia anymore so the only health insurance I have is the American insurance I have with my employer.

When I had my bicycle accident here in the SF Bay Area, a 10 minute ambulance ride set me back $1000 dollars. The MRI head scan I had was $3000. An overnight hospital stay set me back $5000. Things were not cheap and I was thankful that I had insurance. Granted, that if someone else was at fault I could recover my costs, but still that's not a guarantee. I'm not sure whether I had a choice as to what hospital I could go to, or whether to refuse an ambulance ride, but when you've just slid 20 feet across a main road using your face as a brake and you have blood pouring out of your helmet, there's not a lot of personal decision making going on.

I did see a UK bicycle insurance policy but it was kind of pricey. I'm a bit of a budget traveller but may end up going for something pricey just to have that piece of mind, and maybe let my Mum worry less!

...Thanks for all your comments. As for the insurance back home comment, unfortunately I am not a resident of Australia anymore so the only health insurance I have is the American insurance I have with my employer...




Ok thats what I was wondering! I thought maybe you had australian insurance. I would look into the Danmark folks, I think they allow you to join no matter where you are. You might also try and get a 'catastrophic plan': that covers only the most serious incidents; or get a big deductable. I know that travel insurance can be pretty reasonable but I wonder if they will add on alot of $$ if they find out you are biking.

It seems to me your policy would cover you in the US and probably Canada with minimal fuss? Mexico and central america might have restrictions or outright non-coverage. Are you still insured or will it lapse on your trip?

On my world tour I assumed I would have small injuries treated on site; and in the event of a serious crash, that I would be returned to the US as soon as I was able to travel. Politically I made no arrangements for evacuation in the event of instability whatever, and would not have needed it.

roughstuff

Roughstuff, I tried to google Danmark, did you mean Denmark? Do you have a link? When you said that in the event of a serious crash you would return to the US, (I assume for treatment in the US) are you implying that you still had some sort of insurance policy here in the US?

I've also looked at STA travel in the past, they are a student travel organisation but you don't have to be a student to use them, you just don't get the discounts (if you're not a student that is). I just looked at their domestic policy (doesn't cover health) but covers bicycle up to $250 max. So kinda useless.
They have a better international insurance policy, that includes health, but will still only covers a bicycle up to $500 (combined with whatever else was stolen). There's a lot of redundant sort of stuff in there that is meaningless when you plan to ride everywhere and not fly, but if there's nothing else? I'm not sure I like seeing this part in an insurance policy, though I guess it's now come to that...:

"In the event You are prevented from taking Your Trip because: Terrorism or a terrorist act (or acts) occurs in Your departure city or in a city which is a scheduled destination for Your Trip"

It's a crazy crazy world...
live well!
Cheers
Leon

Roughstuff, I tried to google Danmark, did you mean Denmark? Do you have a link? When you said that in the event of a serious crash you would return to the US, (I assume for treatment in the US) are you implying that you still had some sort of insurance policy here in the US?

I've also looked at STA travel in the past, they are a student travel organisation but you don't have to be a student to use them, you just don't get the discounts (if you're not a student that is). I just looked at their domestic policy (doesn't cover health) but covers bicycle up to $250 max. So kinda useless.
They have a better international insurance policy, that includes health, but will still only covers a bicycle up to $500 (combined with whatever else was stolen). There's a lot of redundant sort of stuff in there that is meaningless when you plan to ride everywhere and not fly, but if there's nothing else? I'm not sure I like seeing this part in an insurance policy, though I guess it's now come to that...:

"In the event You are prevented from taking Your Trip because: Terrorism or a terrorist act (or acts) occurs in Your departure city or in a city which is a scheduled destination for Your Trip"

It's a crazy crazy world...
live well!
Cheers
Leon

Yes, it is under IHI Denmark, even though most of the documents I had used Danmark which might be the Danish name for it. I had it when I was employed teaching overseas in Asia and Russia. It is at http://www.ihi.com.

I did not have health insurance at all when I did my trip. I took a year off from work to plan and prepare for the trip (made some money trading stocks). I did get an exhaustive physical and inoculations before I left. By this time COBRA had expired and i was on my own. After that my assumption was that any medical treatment would first be local. The line about 'in any serious situation...' came from a Lonely Planet book about traveling in China (might be in other books too), and seemed to make sense to me. It probably makes LESS sense now; as I now know that almost all large cities have medical centers with standards of care up to western standards (and western prices).

My insurance policy on my bike was my two eyes. I never let it out of my sight. I had a wimpy lock to prevent snatch and grab type of theft, but that was it. I had budgeted in my trip for my bike and all my equipment to be stolen twice. It never happened. How much is your bike worth? My Fuji was about $750.

roughstuff

I talk alot about the health insurance issue on my website

Can you link me? I've poked around a little this morning on your site, but haven't found the insurance info..

Thanks!

-chris

Thanks for the info roughstuff.

I have a trek 520, about $1k but with a bunch of extras on it. I like your idea of budgetting for it getting stolen, I think that's a good practical idea. I got one of those flexi-weave thin cables to keep my panniers hooked to my bike if I ever need it, plus a bike lock, but apart from that, I'll just have to rely on the kindness of strangers...
Cheers
Leon

Can you link me? I've poked around a little this morning on your site, but haven't found the insurance info..

Thanks!

-chris

Bad boy roughstuff, to make the link hard to find is a sign of poor webpage management! :( In any case i mention it at

http://www.cyclingscholar.com/think.html

but it is only one paragaph, and I have actually said more on this forum! I will have to reload the page where I had alot more to say; I know at one point I had a lengthy discussion of the insurance issue, but I lost the site and had to reload it from webwhacker. Maybe i will cut and paste some of what i wrote above.

roughstuff

Thanks for the info roughstuff.

I have a trek 520, about $1k but with a bunch of extras on it. I like your idea of budgetting for it getting stolen, I think that's a good practical idea. I got one of those flexi-weave thin cables to keep my panniers hooked to my bike if I ever need it, plus a bike lock, but apart from that, I'll just have to rely on the kindness of strangers...
Cheers
Leon

Yes. The purchase of a new bike on a tour wouldbe an out of pocket expense anyway, that you would have to get reimbursed for later. I figured if my bike was stolen I would have to go to the nearest major capital and get all my equipment again. I had a list of all the places where Cannondale had dealerships. Fuji much the same: available around the world. Sure insurance would get ya your money back eventually. But you might need a police report verifying the theft, and if the cops are taking their cut of stolen gringo goods, your denuncia is likely to be of little help.

roughstuff

Slightly off topic, but in regards to an emergency evacuation plan. I saw this program from MedJet (https://www.medjetassistance.com/) that is fairly reasonable for price and service. It is not medical insurance, but it will get you home if you have a major medical problem. I do think they offer the service to non-US citizens, but I do not know the restriction, I think you have to contact them.


As a MEDJET ASSISTANCE member, if you’re ever hospitalized more than 150 miles from home, we will fly you to the hospital of your choice at no charge in a medically equipped and staffed aircraft. Pre-paid annual memberships for individuals up to 75 years of age are just $195 and it covers everything.

In regards to the physical bike itself. If it is stolen, vandalized or even struck by a vehicle and you have either renters or homeowners insurance, it is covered-less the deductible, but check with your insurance company to be sure because companies vary and laws vary state to state. Make sure your insurance has replacement cost coverage for personal property, this values an item at the actual cost of a new replacement item. That same ten year old bicycle would be valued at the cost of a new bicycle of similar quality. If you do have a bicycle stolen make sure you have your original receipts, clear pictures of the bike and most important file a police report or the insurance company won't care. All USA insurance policies will cover you in Canada but will not cover you south of the border.


Also medically in the USA, if you are a motorist as well as a bicyclist, you may be surprised to find that the Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection coverage of your auto insurance may provide coverage to you if you are struck by a car while bicycling or walking. This coverage varies greatly around the country, so check with your insurance agent to see what coverage, if any, you have while bicycling. In some states, you may even be covered for lost wages while recovering from a covered accident, if you chose that coverage when you bought your auto insurance. If you have medical insurance, that will generally pay for any injuries you suffer while cycling within the coverage territory of your policy. Again check with your insurance company first to see if any of these coverages apply to you and what are the restrictions.


Some insurance companies offer floaters or a rider that specifically covers the bike up to a agreed appraisal amount in case of anything happening to the bike without the worry of a deductible, but you must have their homeowners or renters policy to get that feature. These riders however can be expensive and fewer companies these days are even offering it.

hi,
i'm new to this forum but joined because i have the same question that leon had - what do you do about health insurance while bicycle touring? by boyfriend and i are leaving this august for a tour around the US that will take about a year and we are having a hard time figuring out what insurance companies offer reasonable rates. it looks like a lot of people go on tours without insurance, but i'm not going to do that. i'd like to find something with a large deductible and low monthly payments. there are just soooo many insurance companies! i'm check out this www.ihi.com that roughstuff mentioned. if people have sued certain insurance companies while touring, could you tell me which ones? how they worked out? why you chose it? etc.
thanks!!
-jamie