Emergency Medical Insurance for Canada cruising

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jeffandi

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Has anybody found/used a travel insurance company that provides emergency medical insurance and emergency transport while cruising in Canada from the U.S.? So far, the companies I've contacted only provide coverage if you've booked a trip with a Cruise line or Charter service - not for private boat use.
 
When travelling to the US from Canada we get our medical insurance added to our CAA/AAA policy which also covers emergency situations on the road but we have never taken our boat across.

Rob
 
Our secondary insurance (thru Cal Pers) has emergency medical coverage world wide (even where our Medicare insurance will not cover).

We are members of Family Motor Coach Association, which includes medivac transport for members. We have never had to use it. However a C Brat had to be medically evacuated out of Oak Creek Canyon by helicopter, to Flagstaff. Then flew via medical air ambulance to San Diego about a week later. The bills were picked up by the Family Motor Coach Association medical evaluation insurance. FMCA also provided a driver to take the motor coach and the towed C Dory, driving to San Diego. (I took their C Dory to Antelope Canyon, and Marie drove our C Dory following, to pick me up after we had the boat secure on its trailer. ]
This brings up that our Admirals, or second mates (however you view this) capable of driving our C Dorys to safety in case of an emergency. Marie had practice doing this when she had to single handily sail our 62 foot Ketch about 60 miles to get medical help when I had a paralyzed leg due to a back injury.

This is a very important subject. We had a friend who was on a Viking Cruise on the Rhine River. He had a sudden onset of neurological disease, and had to be hospitalized in a coma in a German hospital. The cruise line sent an English/German speaking lady to check on him (and his wife) to resolve any translation issues, since the physicians spoke little English. Eventually he had to be air medicvaced to the nearest major hospital to his home. The Medivac flight alone was over $120,000--This included a jet with pilot and co pilot, one refuel stop. There were two paramedics/RN's on board, and enough room for his wife. All expenses were paid for by his travel insurance. By the time the German Hospital bills were included the cost was over $200,000!
 
Robert H. Wilkinson":129ujcuh said:
When travelling to the US from Canada we get our medical insurance added to our CAA/AAA policy which also covers emergency situations on the road but we have never taken our boat across.

Rob
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Thank you for the tip Rob!
We're embarking on a 3 - 4 month cruise next month and have been having difficulty finding an insurance company that provides coverage to boaters who strike out on their own vs booking with a cruise line.
 
thataway":28ng4vcw said:
Our secondary insurance (thru Cal Pers) has emergency medical coverage world wide (even where our Medicare insurance will not cover).

We are members of Family Motor Coach Association, which includes medivac transport for members. We have never had to use it. However a C Brat had to be medically evacuated out of Oak Creek Canyon by helicopter, to Flagstaff. Then flew via medical air ambulance to San Diego about a week later. The bills were picked up by the Family Motor Coach Association medical evaluation insurance. FMCA also provided a driver to take the motor coach and the towed C Dory, driving to San Diego. (I took their C Dory to Antelope Canyon, and Marie drove our C Dory following, to pick me up after we had the boat secure on its trailer. ]


This brings up that our Admirals, or second mates (however you view this) capable of driving our C Dorys to safety in case of an emergency. Marie had practice doing this when she had to single handily sail our 62 foot Ketch about 60 miles to get medical help when I had a paralyzed leg due to a back injury.

This is a very important subject. We had a friend who was on a Viking Cruise on the Rhine River. He had a sudden onset of neurological disease, and had to be hospitalized in a coma in a German hospital. The cruise line sent an English/German speaking lady to check on him (and his wife) to resolve any translation issues, since the physicians spoke little English. Eventually he had to be air medicvaced to the nearest major hospital to his home. The Medivac flight alone was over $120,000--This included a jet with pilot and co pilot, one refuel stop. There were two paramedics/RN's on board, and enough room for his wife. All expenses were paid for by his travel insurance. By the time the German Hospital bills were included the cost was over $200,000!
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Wow, some incredible stories you've shared, Bob!
Thank you for the leads on a couple of possibilities - I'll definitely check them out!
Just trying to prepare for any conceivable situation while in another country, since Medicare doesn't follow us there.
Having the peace of mind knowing that you're financially covered for any potential injury or illness that can befall you - even if in the hinterlands - is priceless.
 
Patty here. We use Emergency Plus, it's about $200 a year and covers both of us anywhere in the world. We learned about it from Bill and El who had occasion to use it a few years ago and their story is similar to the one shared by Dr. Bob-covered everything!
 
Another place to look for this type of insurance is DAN (Divers Alert Network).. I don't. have experience with it recently, since I had to stop SCUBA diving. But they still have a membership travel insurance, and Medivac insurance.

There are any number of plain "insurance" and emergency Medical insurances on the internet. I don't have personal experience with any. Some do have a physician on standby or a hospital ER on standby. I do have some experience in this type of service from the provider end.
 
Thank you Pat and Dr. Bob, again, for your input and suggestions - it's certainly opened up more options that I had!
What an feature to have available this invaluable source of information from the well of knowledge and experience we find in the C-Brat community!
 
You can also check out DAN.org. Divers Alert Network. Dive Accident Insurance.

We have used that for boat trips to Canada but fortunately never had a claim.

They advertise:
Covers diving, nondiving and named water sports accidents & injuries
Pays 100% of eligible accident medical expenses up to US$500,000
Available for divers age 70 and over in the U.S. and Canada (as well as younger ages)
Join DAN first, then add your insurance
Plans recognized worldwide
Annual coverage

They also sell travel insurance to members using AIG.
Inexpensive for an annual membership/policy

That is the extent of my knowledge. They have a good website. About $75/yr.
 
Very interesting and important subject. My wife and I are with Kaiser. I'm under Medicare and the Senior Advantage Plan (at no cost). I opened a chat session with Kaiser this morning. They said I'm fully covered world-wide, which surprised me. I asked further what if I was to be airlifted in an emergency. They said, covered, the most I'd have to pay is a $50 co-pay. If this is all true, do Blue Cross and other health agencies have the same policy? If not, this would be a major selling point for Kaiser I'd think.
 
Thank you for the tip on DAN, Phil. Checked their website, however, and looks like the $500,000 medical coverage is for dive-related accidents only. Non-dive related accidents have only $30,000 coverage.
I did find a website, "Best Quote Travel Insurance", that compares all the Canadian Insurance companies that offer emergency medical coverage to visitors to Canada.
MSH International appears to have the best rates on the list.
Dianne and I are both on Medicare and we can buy $500,000 emergency medical coverage (each) for roughly $1500 for a 5 month period.
I know, Kaiser's plan sounds like the best to own if you can.
All of the companies/plans I've looked at offer emergency transport between hospitals, but none - from what I could tell, offered coverage for emergency airlift transport from a remote location (i.e., PLI, Desolation Sound, etc).
There is a company, however, call Global Rescue that does offer that service - in fact they are used by companies like National Geographic. They also offer other features in their coverage, but do NOT offer emergency medical (healthcare) coverage.
For 5 months coverage for us it was about $950.
So if one wants the whole enchilada of emergency coverage it appears you need to go with 2 separate companies.
Of note, also, I found that a Canadian company called C-Tow offers more comprehensive coverage in Canadian waters than BoatUS.
 
My wife and I are with Kaiser. I'm under Medicare and the Senior Advantage Plan (at no cost). I opened a chat session with Kaiser this morning. They said I'm fully covered world-wide, which surprised me. I asked further what if I was to be airlifted in an emergency. They said, covered, the most I'd have to pay is a $50 co-pay. If this is all true, do Blue Cross and other health agencies have the same policy? If not, this would be a major selling point for Kaiser I'd think.
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I have interacted with Kaiser thru all of medical career. There are advantages and disadvantages. I personally would not choose it for my medical care--but there are many features, which I know that folks like and feel very good about their Kaiser care.

The last 8 years I have been dealing with Kaiser in S. Calif. as they were the life long provider for my aunt, who had dementia and lived in a board and care home. I was durable power of attorney for her health care, and had to follow all of the steps for every interaction. This has included emergencies, routine outpatient visits, several hospitalizations Home health etc and surgeries. Also my son in law's mother and father are long term Kaiser patients, with the father being an MD who has worked part time in Kaiser facilities for over 30 years. It is sort of if you know how to work the system, and find a conscientious Doctor, then it is excellent. If not, then it can be only mediocre and even dangerous.

The important issue if you have Kaiser is to communicate with Kaiser's emergency number for every single step along the way. Get permission and keep Kaiser appraised at every step, keep excellent records interactions, and copies of all billing and medical history and procedures etc if out of area.

Below is quote from the Kaiser Emergency/Urgent care brochure:
Kaiser Travel Emergency and Urgent Care.. If you are traveling, be sure and keep this brochure with you at all times. (Maybe on your cell phone as the PDF.)

Also in your "emergency contact" put the Kaiser number. For example right behind my driver's license is my emergency contacts--persons, what insurance plans, emergency transport plans etc are to be contacted. On the other side of this card (fine print! is Medical History and list of current medication. In any ER and most EMS interactions the Driver's license will be taken out to be scanned or copied--and then the emergency information revealed. (I also have a very small label, which says, "Med.Info. under DL" over the top of the clear window covering the driver's license.

Kaiser's coverage is somewhat limited: You have to reside in these areas to have the insurance, or traveling, with permanent domicile in these areas:

Local markets
Northern California. Central Valley. Diablo. East Bay. Fresno. Golden Gate. Greater Sacramento. ...
Southern California. Coachella Valley. Kern County. Inland Empire. Metro Los Angeles/West Los Angeles. Orange County. ...
Washington. Washington. Central Washington. Eastern Washington. Coastal and Olympic Region. Puget Sound.
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As I am preparing for my trip after Friday Harbor to Princess Louisa Inlet, I'm looking into international emergency medical insurance. I have medicare as of this past March, and it does NOT cover international emergency care. I have a supplement through Mutual of Omaha, and while it covers 80%, it has a lifetime maximum of $50,000. (Not much in today's health care costs!) I've come across GeoBlue. It's by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. My stepdaughter has traveled a number of times internationally, and the last time she was not with a group and on her own for emergency medical insurance coverage. She used GeoBlue as she said it had good reviews. I like what I see for coverage, including up to $500,000 for transportation/evacuation. FWIW, for a $1,000,000 policy for two weeks coverage, $500 deductible a 65 yo man, the premium costs is $99.40. There are other plans I saw for cheaper, but this seemed to have very good coverage. Colby
 
lifetime maximum of $50,000. (Not much in today's health care costs!)
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. My most recent cardiac stents (2 separate ones in the last year) cost over $50,000 each!

It is very easy to knock off $100,000 in medivac costs, especially if there are international borders involved. About 10 years. ago when we had a C Brat who had to be med evacuated out of Oak Creek Canyon at Lake Powell, and then airlifted (chopper) to Flagstaff, and eventually by air ambulance to San Diego cost more that $100,000.
 
Hello Colby - thanks for responding to my post!
I just checked out the website and GeoBlue, unfortunately, says they don't offer coverage for Washington residents.
A number of Canadian companies that insure visitors to Canada can be found on Best Quote Insurance website.
 
thataway":3jmh8idf said:
We are members of Family Motor Coach Association, which includes medivac transport for members.
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Rereading through this thread again, I came across Bob's mention of the FMCA and their medical assist coverage. At first, I thought the insurance alone would be well worth the $50 annual membership fee. However reading the information closer, unless I missed something, this is not emergency medical insurance, but rather covers evacuation or transportation along with a small amount of accidental life insurance. There is no coverage for medical costs due to illness or other health condition. It's important to understand any policy one buys, to insure they are getting the coverage they expect. In my case, I'm looking for a health care insurance policy that would cover my medical costs while traveling out of country if I were to suffer a heart attack, stroke, fell and broke my leg, etc. It's also important to then have insurance that covers evacuation or transportation back home or to an emergency provider. The GeoBlue I mentioned appears to have all that. I started out with looking at the program Pat mentioned, but it also doesn't appear to offer medical care insurance, but rather coordination and transportation. Colby
 
Time to revive this thread. In preparation for a two month trip along the British Columbia Coast, I was about ready to purchase another GeoBlue policy, until I looked closer at the small print of exclusions. Specifically, they DO NOT cover evacuation from any kind of ship or watercraft, including private boats. I have checked with sales at GeoBlue and the last response I got was, nope they do not. I'm positive they didn't have that exclusion before when I used them for my Princess Louisa trip. And in fact I thought they even covered recovery of my vessel if I wasn't able to go back and retrieve it. So, I'm on the hunt again. I've written down all the companies mentioned earlier in this thread, and will start checking into each of them. I still like the GeoBlue policy, except without evacuation from a boat, it's pretty much useless....Unless I could depend on the Canadian Coast Guard or Navy to evacuate me off the boat, or if I was able to get to a shore facility. (I think the exact words of the GeoBlue salesperson was the evacuation was from facility to facility.) As someone mentioned above, it may involve two policies. One for the actual medical insurance and one for evacuation from the boat or a remote area. (GeoBlue still provides some good coverage with medical insurance and in paying to get a significant other up to you if you will be in a distant hospital somewhere, or getting you back to a local hospital...) Colby
 
Thanks for posting this. I have used GeoBlue and didn't realize this restriction.
Steve
 
According to the last email I received from GeoBlue, they have never covered medevac from a boat. That kind of pisses me off considering that is why I bought coverage from them for that Princess Louisa trip I was on a few years back. When I read "Evacuation" I would think that would include from a boat as well. However, it appears they use that term to mean transportation from one facility to another. If not for that one exclusion, it's other wise pretty good coverage. So far, in looking at other companies, it's hard to find anything with a 1,000,000 cap that also includes medevac from a boat in a remote location. Allienze and many others cap at around $75,000. I suspect that wouldn't cover a major medical event like a stroke or heart attack. I'm not sure what a broken bone or other such medical emergency would cost. Perhaps I'm looking for more coverage than necessary. I need to research IMG a little closer as they may have a plan. Approximate cost for two months with 1M in coverage and $500 deductible for a 68 yo is around $500. GeoBlue's policy, without the boat medevac coverage was around $400 I believe. Perhaps I should consider a case where ER is all that would be needed in Canada, but then the "evacuation" transportation back to a state side hospital where my Medicare would kick in. IN which case, perhaps $50K-75K is a reasonable amount to cover for. Several of the policies I looked at had that as medical coverage, with up to $1,000,000 for medevac coverage. And those included repatrionation.
 
Good luck on finding the Candian Coast Guard nearby. We have visited with a number of Canadian Coast Guard crew members and they are compitent and skilled, plus friendly enough to share a beer when off duty. However you may not find one of their facilities nearby. There were two cutters and at times they might be at opposite ends of BC (North to South). Often the Light House keepers relay a May Day call. One time we powered for 4 hours to help rescue a 27 foot I / O which had lost steering, and was anchored near a reef--there wrere other small boats nearby but none had stepped up. The boat in question had a 25 hp kicker, but had left it in their camp near the ramp. I took our Dinghy to pulle them out to where we could hook our Cal 46 up and tow them to the nearest Indian Settlement who could feed and care for them during the night--they were towed to their campsite the next day by the natives. The boat we towed sent over several very nice salmon as "payment" for our 6 hours to get to and rescue them. The call for help was relayed by the lighthouses along the coast. There was no CG cutter within 100 miles. The CG can send out their RIB's which are fast but they are not going to send them 100 miles. My take away from this experience--is you better be able to self rescue--and cell phone service may not be available, as was the case here. Even if it was available, it would have brought any help from nearby boats.

I wonder if the GeoBlue policy would cover pickup from a beach, after you got off the boat? In the one rescue we were involved in at Lake Powell, Several of us tryed VHF radio, and not much response--we went to where we could hit the VHF repeaters, and again no response. We called 911, and they put us through to the Park Service, who sent a ranger, and the ranger was able to get a helicopter for rescue off the beach, where a number of C Dorys were moored (When the medivac Chopper lands and takes off, You are going to get one heck of a dust storm, and any loose articles need to be strapped down very well! There was not room for the wife of the victum in the chopper, so the ranger took her to Waweep and the lodge. She was able to get to get a rental car in page, and drove to Flagstaff where the Medivac chopper had taken her husband. Eventually the man was transfered to a Hospital in San Diego, where they lived. Their insurance (Throught Family Motor Coach Association) also paid to have their RV, towing their boat to San Diego and their home, as well as paying for the evacuation. Technically the patient was on his boat--but the boat was tied up to the beach and so the paramedics could get to him easily and take the stretcher to the chopper.
 
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