Bet you didn't know...

One small detail in this story really concerns me regarding the DW and myself whenever we take our RV out in the middle of nowhere looking for rocks:

1. We now carry along a device that makes possible texting via the Iridium satellite system and also calls for emergency rescue by air if necessary with the push of a special button on it ...

HOWEVER

2. ... good luck paying the air rescue bill afterwards.

We just signed up for Good Sam's Premium TravelAssist insurance that pays for air rescue if one can get ahold of Good Sam to call in the chopper. If Good Sam calls in for the chopper they pay for it - if the button on the satellite device brings in a chopper, you're on your own paying the $$$$$ for it.

A scarry scenario -> health-wise and wallet-wise.

pnichols wrote:
One small detail in this story really concerns me regarding the DW and myself whenever we take our RV out in the middle of nowhere looking for rocks:

1. We now carry along a device that makes possible texting via the Iridium satellite system and also calls for emergency rescue by air if necessary with the push of a special button on it ...

HOWEVER

2. ... good luck paying the air rescue bill afterwards.

We just signed up for Good Sam's Premium TravelAssist insurance that pays for air rescue if one can get ahold of Good Sam to call in the chopper. If Good Sam calls in for the chopper they pay for it - if the button on the satellite device brings in a chopper, you're on your own paying the $$$$$ for it.

A scarry scenario -> health-wise and wallet-wise.

on my sat message/rescue device, air or surface rescue is part of the annual plan. plan covers us/canda/mexico or worldwide depending on what you want. If we are over 100 miles from home they pay to get us out and then pay for return to home when medically safe to transport.

ktmrfs wrote:

pnichols wrote:
One small detail in this story really concerns me regarding the DW and myself whenever we take our RV out in the middle of nowhere looking for rocks:

1. We now carry along a device that makes possible texting via the Iridium satellite system and also calls for emergency rescue by air if necessary with the push of a special button on it ...

HOWEVER

2. ... good luck paying the air rescue bill afterwards.

We just signed up for Good Sam's Premium TravelAssist insurance that pays for air rescue if one can get ahold of Good Sam to call in the chopper. If Good Sam calls in for the chopper they pay for it - if the button on the satellite device brings in a chopper, you're on your own paying the $$$$$ for it.

A scarry scenario -> health-wise and wallet-wise.

on my sat message/rescue device, air or surface rescue is part of the annual plan. plan covers us/canda/mexico or worldwide depending on what you want. If we are over 100 miles from home they pay to get us out and then pay for return to home when medically safe to transport.

Hmmm .... I'd better read again the fine print on what my ~$25/month InReach premium is covering.

If it pays for chopper air ambulance evacs ... that plus the GS TravelAssist insurance should make for pretty good overall coverage when we're out and about with the RV.

pnichols wrote:

ktmrfs wrote:

pnichols wrote:
One small detail in this story really concerns me regarding the DW and myself whenever we take our RV out in the middle of nowhere looking for rocks:

1. We now carry along a device that makes possible texting via the Iridium satellite system and also calls for emergency rescue by air if necessary with the push of a special button on it ...

HOWEVER

2. ... good luck paying the air rescue bill afterwards.

We just signed up for Good Sam's Premium TravelAssist insurance that pays for air rescue if one can get ahold of Good Sam to call in the chopper. If Good Sam calls in for the chopper they pay for it - if the button on the satellite device brings in a chopper, you're on your own paying the $$$$$ for it.

A scarry scenario -> health-wise and wallet-wise.

on my sat message/rescue device, air or surface rescue is part of the annual plan. plan covers us/canda/mexico or worldwide depending on what you want. If we are over 100 miles from home they pay to get us out and then pay for return to home when medically safe to transport.

Hmmm .... I'd better read again the fine print on what my ~$25/month InReach premium is covering.

If it pays for chopper air ambulance evacs ... that plus the GS TravelAssist insurance should make for pretty good overall coverage when we're out and about with the RV.

My understanding:

Inreach default is SAR (search and rescue) coverage, $100K/yr IIRC for about $18/year per individual. Gets you out and to medical, won't pay to get you home after that. That's in addition to the monthly inreach charge. You can decline that if you want to go directly to GEOS to get medivac and SAR coverage directly through GEOS. Policies are for the individual(s) and not for the device

GEOS medivac policy is in addition to get you and rest of family home or to a local hospital once stabilized if your more than 100 miles from home and hospitalized. we pay about $300 for worldwide coverage for our family. US only coverage is about 1/2 that for a family. Course it excludes a few countries...... They will use ground, regular air or air ambulance depending on location and need to get you and the family members home.

Again. the policies are for an individual not a device, so if you have multiple devices you only need ONE policy per person. Or if you have multiple people who use the device or travel with you it's possible to have coverage for each of them with only one device.

also look carefully at exclusions on coverage especially on the medivac. IIRC they won't cover extraction if your involved in any sanctioned racing events, hang gliding, parasailing, etc.

Used the inreach all over south america with great coverage for two way texting and staying in contact and letting folks see where we were. And son and I use it when off road riding so spouses can track our location. Luckily never have had to use the SOS but more than once the two way texting was valuable when we forgot something and were able to text someone to bring it with them to a remote campsite. And well over 1/2 of our campsites have zip for cell service even with a cell booster.

But GEOS/SAR won't get your trailer and truck home. I think some of the Good sam policies will do that.

I checked on my InReach home page. From what it says - if I was looking at the right thing - it's only available if you're under 75. I just went past that and the DW is only a few short years behind ... and it's much higher than $18/yr per person.

Interesting.