No Health Insurance?

imported
#1

Another stupid (but short!) question:

How many thru-hikers/long distance hikers go on their trip with NO health insurance? Is it advisable to have it or not?

Thanks!

Kineo Kid

#2

I walked the trail without insurance, but am not sure if I’d do it that way again. I had 1 doctor’s visit for strep throat, 2 doctors visits for a pulled ligament in my knee, and should have had 1 more doctor’s visit for a minor concussion, but I knew I didn’t have the money for it.

I hiked with a person who, after we separated, broke his leg on the trail and had to be taken out by ambulance and all kinds of other rescue toys. I hiked with another who busted his head on some rocks and had to be taken out by ambulance again. I also hiked with a person who got meningitis, and spent a week in the hospital recovering.

I would say it’s a good idea to get insurance for the trail, because you never know what will happen to you when you’re out there.

bearbait

#3

Mr. Cactus, in America we like to pay for health care twice. Once through taxes, where we pay more than enough to cover the most lavish insurance premium. Then we pay again out of our own pockets. Even then when you get any type of medical care the insurance company, with full government backing, denies your claim. It actually works very well for the insurance companies.

Blue Jay

#4

i got a 6 month policy through triple a AAA for about 300 bones. but it only covered if something very major happened. now i am married and have health insurance through my wife that covers everything. i would say get married and save the money.

WISE OWL

#5

It is a gamble, hiking (or living) without insurance. I had no insurance on any of my hikes, and only had a problem on the last one ($600 ER visit to stitch up my finger after the rock slide took off the end). At my age, insurance is at least $500/month for basic care. So, I ended up ahead, financially. However, if that rock slide had damaged my legs, so I had to be medivaced out, or if I had ended up in a hospital, I’d have been in deep doo. I know that without insurance, you are less likely to visit a doctor to find out whether the problems you are having are due to Lyme or Giardia, so you may not get needed treatment. And if something serious does happen, you may end up with serious long term debt problems. I know two people who had serious falls while on the AT and ended up in the hospital. It is rare, but it does happen. If you are young, you may be able to get student travel insurance (there are some good policies for under 25’s). Bottom line, if you can afford it, get insurance. If you can’t, be careful.

Ginny

#6

i had fortis insurance on the trail in 02 and they were a huge pain when i had a tendonitis shot and fractured my feet. i had to argue with them months after the bills came in. maybe you had better luck mindless m, but for me Fortis was a waste of money and time.

girl next door

#7

I didn’t want to pay for COBRA, as it was WAY too expensive, so I bought temporary health insurance. It cost me about $105/month, with $500 deductible and 80% covered after that. Each term was 6 months, renewable one time for total coverage of a year.

I didn’t want to go without insurance. And even though I didn’t use my health insurance on the AT, I would much prefer to have it while hiking, hitching, riding with others, etc. Even not hiking, bad things can happen, and I’d rather be covered.

Wench

#8

Everyone, scroll up and read what the Canadians and English say about health care. The healthiest thing we can do is get a president willing to push a universal health care bill. The only losers are the insurance and medical profiteers. We have to get a NEW PRESIDENT for this to happen! How can this country be SO BEHIND?

Tha Wookie