Rescue Insurance for Europe

Yeah, the cost is just not that big a deal compared to the risk and to the overall cost of doing a trip over there from here. I "self insure" when I buy consumer electronics and am offered an "extended warranty," but I bought rescue insurance when I toured in Switzerland (but it was long enough ago that I'm forgetting the source...).

We have joined the Austrian Alpine Club UK Division for coverage during recent hut-to-hut hiking trips in Europe. It might be worth contacting them directly (vs. online) to see if you could by-pass the time it takes them to issue the cards by mail. The American Alpine Club also offers Global Rescue coverage.

Thanks for everyone's feedback and ideas.  We looked at the American Alpine Club but membership is more expensive, the maximum coverage was less ($5K), and you had to pay another $75 to get the discounts on European Huts.  The Austrian Alpine Club-British Section got back to me this morning and that actually looks like a viable option.  However, we decided to go with the German Alpine Club-Garmisch Section because we have family in Garmisch that can go down to the local office, buy the membership, and get the cards to us in a timely fashion.  Note that with the German Alpine Club you can't pay for the membership online with a credit card, it requires giving them all your bank information for a direct debit and I'm not sure how they would deal with an American bank.  Having someone in Garmisch that can take care of this directly was the reason we went with the German Alpine Club.   My recommendation is to take care of the rescue insurance well in advance so you don't have to worry about mail delivery and the Austrian Alpine Club-British Section is probably the easiest option for most people.

The Swiss and French programs are fine if you're staying in those countries but it's my impression that they don't cover you outside the country.

Personally, I agree with the advocates for buying rescue insurance in Europe.  It’s reasonably priced, it’s what the European expect, and the last thing I want to deal with after an accident is having an expensive rescue bill to cover.  The US system works because we have a military that doesn’t mind flying rescue helicopter missions and we have a group of dedicated volunteers and public safety officials that are willing to risk their well-being to rescue/recover accident victims.

I'm not that youthfull and certainly do not have much bravado. At every turn while traveling especially ski traveling there is the opportunity to empty your wallet. I tend try to keep mine closed as much as possible. Everybody has a different risk tolerance financial or physical. I tend to ski pretty conservatively while traveling to (hopefully) lower my risk of problems and am fairly confident that nothing will happen. That may not be the case for everybody. I have found it to be about 50/50 with people purchasing the Insurance or not based on conversations with actual people on the snow in Euroland. This conversation has led me to think more about it although, thanks.

Check with your medical insurance carrier first, they might cover the rescue. Mine said they would, with the same copayment as any US emergency.

Check with your medical insurance carrier first, they might cover the rescue.  Mine said they would, with the same copayment as any US emergency.

WOW!!! That is really cool Silas, I would have never thought about it. In fact I thought you were going to warn about the lack of coverage when traveling.

I certainly agree that risk is always in the hands of the taker, yet would be one more person to chime in positively on the use of insurance in Europe. As noted by many, not a large cost per se, and perhaps more importantly, part of the culture.

Travel, IMHO, is best when immersed in local culture. The draw to the Alps is no boundaries and big mountains. That is part of the culture. So is buying insurance.