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2011/06/08

Motorcycle, Health and Rescue Insurance

Insurance Overview

To help manage the risk of a serious accident I reviewed all relevant forms of insurance before setting out, including motorcycle insurance, health insurance, SAR benefits, and medical transport insurance. My motorcycle insurance required increased coverage to meet Canada minimum standards (supposedly 100/300, whatever that is), and a special proof of insurance card. My health insurance covers only emergency services out of the US and even then only as a reimbursement, so I'd need to be careful. To help mitigate some of the risks in a worst-case scenario I also purchased medical transport insurance through MedjetAssist after comparing it to DiversAlertNetwork and Global Rescue. Finally, since I was buying a Spot Connect device I also purchased the GEOS SAR benefit, which would provide coverage for private SAR services in case of an emergency.

Motorcycle Insurance

PSIC / McGraw
Provides coverage in Canada, requires special Proof of Insurance form to be requested and printed. Minimum 100/300 coverage in Canada is required.

Health Insurance

I have options through individual COBRA coverage and coverage as a dependent in California until age 26.

Anthem Blue Cross PPO
Provides coverage in the United States. Medical expenses outside the United States are paid out of pocket and reimbursed per their claim review process. Only covers services provided in case of an inpatient medical emergency. Does not specify the duration of the medical emergency from patient intake, so once you're stable it's probably a good idea to get in-network.

Preferred hospital:
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
350 Hawthorne Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 655-4000

Kaiser Permanente HMO
Provides coverage in the United States. Medical expenses outside the United States are paid out of pocket and reimbursed per their claim review process. Only covers services provided in case of an inpatient medical emergency. Does not specify the duration of the medical emergency from patient intake, so once you're stable it's probably a good idea to get in-network.

Preferred hospital:
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center - Oakland
280 W MacArthur Blvd
Oakland, CA 94611

Search and Rescue/Medical Transportation Benefits

GEOS Search and Rescue
$13.95/yr w/ Spot purchase
http://www.geosalliance.com/sar/SAR-tsandcs.html
Helps cover the cost of SAR services, does not cover Government services (if charged). [Update: This appears to have changed! Per Barry Watters, CEO, "The limitation regarding Rescue by 'Government, Police etc....'...is no longer a T&C of our cover. It would seem that our web editor overlooked the changes when our policy was renewed last year."] Does not cover repatriation. Per Spot call center agent, SOS button response is handled by GEOS.
For additional necessary and reasonable search and rescue (SAR) expenses (including helicopter with prior approval from the GEOS IERCC), up to US$100,000 per subscriber in any 12 month period with a limit of US$50,000 for any one claim by a member who summons 911 assistance as a result of an accident or other life threatening circumstance by activating their Globalstar SPOT device. See Note below.

This entitlement extends for a period not exceeding 72 hours from the time of the call for assistance, which is necessary to prevent further injury or illness or danger to human life as a result of an unforeseeable emergency where the appropriate rescue authorities recommend the dispatch of a Search and Rescue team, and such dispatch is further authorised and provided through the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC).

The entitlement will not extend if the Rescue Service is provided by official Government, Police, Fire or Red Cross organisations

The GEOS SAR entitlement extends to: United States of America Canada Mexico Argentina Brazil Chile Ecuador Guatemala Peru all countries of the European Union Switzerland Indonesia Japan Malaysia Norway Philipines Hong Kong (SAR)Korea (South) Singapore Australia New Zealand. Entitlement will be extended to other geographic locations subject to acceptance by the GEOS Underwriters in writing, which will be provided after the application has been made, and if refused all premiums paid will be refunded.

MedjetAssist
$240 w/ ATTA code
www.medjetassist.com/rules-regs/StandardRR.pdf
Covers repatriation of member from a local hospital and vehicle. May cover rescue.
Return of the motorcycle to the member's shop or dealership of choice should the member be hospitalized, no dollar limit. Return of motorcycle if the member is treated on an outpatient basis, but diagnosed as "physically unable" to ride by a medical physician. When a member becomes hospitalized as an inpatient due to an illness or injury while traveling 150 miles or more from home, either within or outside the contiguous United States, MedjetAssist will arrange medical evacuation and repatriation services to the hospital of the member's choice by a MedjetAssist authorized affiliate.

At MedjetAssist’s discretion, remote evacuation may be provided without hospitalization. Remote evacuation to the closest appropriate medical facility for initial stabilization and evaluation will only be performed in areas where MedjetAssist has authorized air medical evacuation affiliates capable of accessing remote air strips in the regions they serve. Members requiring remote evacuations will need to meet inpatient criteria as determined by MedjetAssist prior to evacuation.

Global Rescue
~$600/yr for Medical Benefit alone
https://www.globalrescue.com/agreement.cfm
Covers field rescue and repatriation.

Call 911 then contact Global Rescue. How to coordinate Global Rescue response in case of Spot SOS? GEOS IERCC is in charge of SAR response.
GR will provide, arrange, and pay all necessary and ordinary expenses for Field Rescue, air and/or surface transport to the hospital of such Member's choosing, located within the Member's home country, for a Traveling Member who is Hospitalized or in need of in-patient hospitalization.

DiversAlertNetwork (AIG Travel Assist/Travel Guard)
$29/yr
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/membership/handbook.pdf
Covers transportation from known location of medical emergency to a suitable hospital. Covers repatriation of vehicle.
All covered benefits must be arranged in advance by DAN TravelAssist. All travel arrangements must also be coordinated through DAN TravelAssist. Repatriation means that, due to Medical Necessity, the Member or Covered Family Member requires transportation.

DAN TravelAssist will not pay Transportation to transport the Member or Covered Family Member to their place of permanent residence if there are closer medical facilities which are capable of attending to the Member’s medical condition. DAN TravelAssist will aid in arranging the return of the unattended vehicle and will reimburse the cost of returning the unattended vehicle to the rental agency or the Member’s current principal residence, up to $1,000 per event.

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