Mountain insurance

[Justin Lawson]

Does anyone know what the outcome of the insurance story was? It was with regards to rock climbing being covered, or not covered (cause its a dangerous sport, etc) - If someone is rescued are they made to pay a fee (assuming a helicopter is involved)? Discovery sponsored an expedition up Everest didnt they?

[Jono]

Discovery Life offers life insurance and disability cover, for climbers, alpinists and those taking part in overseas expeditions. In fact they cover pretty much any extreme activity. Very reasonable premiums too. Have a policy myself, so this ain't just employee bias. :-)

[T]

Altrisk (part of Hollard Life) also offers good life cover for people with high risk occupations or sporting activities. But don't think this answers your question?

[Roland]

if this refers to the fact that Discovery disallowed climbing cover, at the time of the Everest Expedition, then, as far as I can remember, Hans Scheffler wrote them letters and they changed this decision.

[Jono]

As far as I can recall, that was Discovery Health - medical aid cover, which overs cover within SA's borders. Discovery Life however (life insurance, disability cover, etc) has various cover options in terms of mountaineering - Mountain Walking, Roped Climbing, and International Expeditions..... and many other extreme activities normally excluded by insurers.

[joshmar]

Please go to my website extremeinsurance.co.za

I help sportsmen with life insurance and medical aid

[nosmo]

insurance salesman? know the type...

your site lists the sports you cover:

Skydiving, Base Jumping, Microlighting, Aerobatics Aviation, Underwater Diving, Helicopter Pilots, Private Pilots, Powerboat Racing, Drag Racing, Paragliding, Hang Gliding, Quad Biking, More Sports

and then you list:

- Parachuting, Sky Surfing
- Gliding, Ballooning
- Student Pilots, Airline Pilots, Charter Pilots
- Exhibition flying, Crop Dusting
- Enduro Racing, Super Bikes, Off Road Racing, Motorsport
- Modified Saloons, Hot Rods, Stock Cars, Go-Karts, Formula Vee
- Potholing, Caving, Snorkeling
- Water Ski Racing, Yacht Cruising
- Bungee Jumping, Horse Riding, Kite Surfing, Mountain Biking
- Absailing, Parasailing, Canoeing, Hunting, Rafting
- Police Reservists, Jockeys, Herpetologists, Professional Sportsmen

Now excuse me for being pedantic, but this is climbing.co.za.

[joshmar]

\"everybody lives by selling something\" Robert Louis Stevenson

Why you being rude? What do you mean by another salesman.

My sight shows that I help all people that are involved in activities that insurance compnaies view as extreme, with their insurance. What is wrong with that?

[OneDogClimbing]

Josh - I think the point is that if want to woe us into buying your product, at least go to the effort of listing our sport on your site

As for the insurance salesman bit - I think it was a lighthearted generalization and I agree with nosmo.

Now go list our sport (b.t.w. , w.t.f. is potholing - is it driving on certain roads?! There on here in Sunninghill that definitely qualifies.) and maybe I'll take a look.

[joshmar]

point taken! Im not sure why it was not on....

If you look under the quote section - there is mountain climbing disciplines listed under sports....

Im sending through the request now to my webmaster

[nosmo]

yeah, what OneDog said...

In any case, it looks interesting, especially the aviation bit. Will get in touch.

[joshmar]

thanks,,,,,, im planning to do an article mountain climbing..... maybe you guys can send me some info or the rigt people to speak to.....

ALways good idea tocheck policies if you are covered... most people are not!

[marley]

WRT travel insurance, I had a struggle to find medical insurance to cover myself and wife while travelling and climbing abroad. None of the \"normal\" insurers wanted to cover us when they heard we are going on a climbing trip to Thailand.

It took me a couple of weeks, but I finally managed to track down Travel Insurance Consultants (TIC, 0117803411) and they cover climbers for medical and travel insurance while oversees.

It is not as cheap as travel insurance without climbing, but adds peace of mind.

[stephan]

I got quotes for medical insurance this morning. From Fedhealth's Rates & Benefits document it says:

\"Cover for professional sports and hazardous pursuits.

Fedhealth specialises in providing appropriate healthcare cover to people who partake in professional sports and hazardous pursuits.\"

I sounds good, but I'm sure there's a catch somewhere though..

[Camp]

Jono mentioned Discovery covering hazardous pursuits. (By default this must include the most hazardous activity of riding a bike on a route frequently used by taxis!). Does anybody know if climbing (and others) need to be specified or are they a part of the policy?

[joshmar]

You have to disclose all the sports that you do to your medical aid / hospital plan and to your life insurance company. That doesn't mean you will be charged. For more ino on non-disclosure and sports look here

extremeinsurance.co.za/non-disclosure.htm

[African Climber]

As joshmar stated, you need to disclose to your medical aid. I have told them that I sky-dive, climb, white water kayak and they have noted it and not raised my monthly premiums

[joshmar]

is that for your medical aid? or life insurane? always get a letter of proof from the companies you deal with.

[African Climber]

joshmar, thats just my medical-aid. My life insurance also covers me but with a slightly raised premium. I have it in writing for both.

[JonoJ]

Hello bobbejantjies!

Just managed to sneak online for the first time in a long while, and see this thread has been quite active again.

I can help find the right info for you, and get someone to meet with you if you're keen to take out a policy. Email me on jonathan.joseph@mortgagesa.za.net if you're keen for more info on hazardous pursuit cover. I'm no longer working for Discovery Life, but still have all my contacts there and at other insurers.

Let me know
- what type of climbing you do (trad, sport, toprope, aid, solo, bouldering, or mountain walking)
- what grade you climb at (believe it or not this makes a difference when being underwritten)
- how frequently you climb
- how long you've been climbing for
- where you climb (local, international, big expeditions, etc)

I will repsond with a request for any further info needed.

Cheers
Jono

[JonoJ]

I got quotes for medical insurance this morning. From Fedhealth's Rates & Benefits document it says:

"Cover for professional sports and hazardous pursuits.

Fedhealth specialises in providing appropriate healthcare cover to people who partake in professional sports and hazardous pursuits."

I sounds good, but I'm sure there's a catch somewhere though..

I wouldn't trust a company whose copywriters don't know the difference between 'partake' and 'take part'. That's almost as shocking as what comes out of SABC News presenter's mouths!

[BAbycoat]

@Jono

what grade you climb at ... makes a difference when being underwritten

As a matter of interest, do higher grades increase or decrease premiums?

[JonoJ]

@Jono

what grade you climb at ... makes a difference when being underwritten

As a matter of interest, do higher grades increase or decrease premiums?

I stand under correction here, but I believe the premiums would increase with the grades, due to the perception of higher risk involved at higher grades.

[waynarky]

A lof of people get nasty surprises when they need to claim and they find out their insurance excludes their sport of choice.

I must say, Joshua from Extreme Insurance definately knows his stuff when it comes to making sure you're covered, so speak to him about your policy. I'm glad I did.

They say hind-sight is 20/20, but fore-sight is better