Health insurance for climbers?

I am now self-employed and am soon converting to a Health Savings Account and health insurance plan which qualifies. I'm finding most companies are excluding accidents due to climbing. Anyone have any advice on this? Know of any companies that offer this as a supplement? I'm already covered for life insurance, but would like to also be covered in case of an accident where I live!

check out blue cross blue shield, they don't care what you do.

From my research, the keywords to clear with the Underwriter are "Do you insure for high risk activities?"

A discussion then followed of whether I was climbing for personal or professional (guiding) reasons, or if I was training for the Olympics or other competition. If both questions answered no, then I was accepted if high-risk activities were allowed.

If you ever travel, ask if they will also insure foreign trips for hospitalization or airmedic. There is possibly some overlapping or additional coverage available depending on location i.e. country, park etc.

Let me know who you find, reasonable with a low deductable.

Anthem/Blue Shield of Colorado didn't even have a question about activities on their application that I filled out yesterday.

And Blue Shield of CA has not balked or raised my rates due to any of the climbing & cycling related accidents I've had. (too many, unfortunately)

I agree. Back when I purchased my own I had Anthem Blue Cross. Great straightforward service that didn't care what I did, and not that expensive (for mid 20's guy with preexisting injuries). Something like $115 a month for normal insurance (normal set up, none of those "$5 billion deductabile or only 50% expenses" etc...) (makes me wonder why high risk people don't have health insurance at that price)

Just curious...

What is the typical coverage/benefits provided by guiding services and outfitters for their employees, guides, etc.? I would think that it is similar to that of other "high risk" professions, such as, tree trimming, cell-towers, high-rise window washers, etc.

Any guides, present or former, care to share their health insurance experiences?

One thing to keep in mind in Colorado is that you can only have two short term medical policies in one year. (these are usually 6-month terms)

This may have changed but when I was buying short term, major medical plans I ran into a problem twice when I wanted to renew because I had already been covered by two policies within that year. One had started the year before and ended in Feb. The next one covered me until Sept. After that I was told that I had been covered by two that year already so I was SOL. I hope this has changed as it seemed ridicules!

Has anyone else run into this?

On the other hand, I specifically asked about all forms of climbing (ice, rock, alpine etc) and was told that there were no restrictions. I think I used Anthem.

Good luck,
Brad

Thanks everyone. Anthem was a great suggestion. They really don't care what you do. They have a plan designed for high-riskers called Tonik, which sounds like it will work very well, as well as HSA qualified plans, etc. The co-pay on the Tonik plan for ambulane or flight for life is $100. I haven't gone over all the details yet, but this is probably the way I'll go. Happy climbing!

I got turned down on an individual plan from Anthem, but since I'm self employed and I've had continuous previous coverage I'm guaranteed to be eligible for a PPO group (Colorado requires insurers to offer group plans to groups of one!) plan. It is more expensive (less than COBRA), but at least I'll have coverage.

I just finished the Humana phone interview for an individual plan and they asked about rock climbing. They wanted to know if it was something I was planning for a vacation and if it was indoors or outside. The web applications wants you to put down the dates you plan to go rock climbing. They also want to know about scuba diving, rodeos, motor sports, private aviation, and bungee jumping.

Finally, if you get turned down for an individual plan, that makes you eligible for Cover Colorado (www.covercolorado.org) as a last resort.

>>>>

So go find another company and don't let it ruin your day. You made a mistake with that choice. From the discussion, it's not all that hard.

If it weren't for insurance, I'd be bankrupt right now. My experiences with Anthem have been uniformly good.

Michal Turczyk wrote: ... My point of ridicule was the backwards reasoning of the insurance companies, nothing else. ...

Then you should have said so. Doesn't seem so backward to me. Evidently something else is ruining your day. Sorry.

BTW - $30/month is ridiculously cheap for anyone. Either the majority is paid for by someone else or you'd better look into the company's financial health and claims record.

Michal,

I have a supplemental insurance policy that covers climbing as long as I am not using a rope. I agree with you that it's totally stupid.

Brad Brandewie wrote:...supplemental insurance policy that covers climbing as long as I am not using a rope.

Are there any insurance brokers out there that can x-plain the logic behind this. Sounds redic to me also. Will we also be covered when base-jumping without a shoot..? hahaha ~

Reason for my earlier comment was it seems we live in a world of double-meanings behind mountains of fine print. It's always good to ask rather than be told later..."oh, we don't insure for that silly rabbit..."

Bosier, my GF sells health insurance and has a HSA that will cover climbers; as long as you're not doing it proffesionally. shoot me an email if you're interested.

I love that climbing is a "high risk activity". I've been an ER nurse in Denver for 2 years and took care of my 2nd climbing accident this week. That's pretty good odds if you ask me. I've taken care of far more people injured while having sex than while climbing, hang gliding, base jumping, snowboarding, and skiing combined.

This is more for one who doesn't survive a nasty grounder, but I have $250K of life insurance from AIG that includes mountain climbing (with or without a rope) up to 1000' off the ground for $24.87/month. I looked for 6 weeks and this was the cheapest monthly rate I could find that included an extreme sports/mountain climbing rider. The 1000' came from my answer to the seemingly innocuous question "How high off the ground do you typically climb?" So, I imagine if I die from a 1001' fall, AIG pays $0. A bit off the health insurance topic, but just an FYI.

When I purchased two very substantial life insurance policies (I don't want to say how much), fairly recently I had to do the required blood tests, physical, EKG, etc... and they had asked me, I want to say about 30 questions, specifically about the type of climbing I do, and of experience, past injuries etc... They had it all broken down. I was honest with them, they insured me without any problem, and they told me to call them as soon as I "quit climbing" as my rates would go down by about 50%.

I don't know about the health insurance thing, as I have great insurance through my employer.

Quit a blue collar job and lost health insurance; got 12 stiches and an $800 bill. Could've been better spent.

I climb more than I work and as such health insurance is a far cry from my bank account. I get "supplemental" insurance for $25/mo that only covers ER and Urgent Care visits. This plan is pretty sweet for young and healthy types who only ever see a doctor because something is broken or needing putting back together. Probably a good plan for those of-so-frequent sex injuries when there is something needing taken out, as well.

Something to keep in mind. There is a flat $50 deductible for all emergency visits. This includes chopper/ambulance but not follow-up surgery or other non-emergency care.

On this subject, the new movie 'Sicko' provides an interesting insight. Well worth watching.