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roundtuit
Senior Nomad
Posts: 607
Registered: 12-21-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wife's Job
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Emergency Medical Flight Insurance
Heard there was some plans available from BCS to states.
Any comments appreciated. Thanks 
Never learned from a book-Only from mistakes, mine and yours
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Elena La Loca
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Oceanside, CA
Member Is Offline
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Binational Medical Emergency Medical Care Committee
http://www.binationalemergency.org
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elizabeth
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-30-2004
Location: Loreto, BCS
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For insurance...try MedjetAssist...they have a website. Have never had to use it, so I can't vouch for them...but their fees are reasonable, and
appear to offer extensive coverage.
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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There might be some useful information here:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24186#pid2212...
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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Mood: Encantada
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Yes LN...Celia Diaz of Binational Medical Emergency Medical Care Committee can answer this question best, because she is the one who has to deal with
them...She knows who the reputable services are...how to coordinate between your insurances, your family and the two governments. She watches out
for your interests when everybody else is wanting money.
That is what your $30 membership pays for. She got my mother out of Gonzaga at 2:00am using the US Coast Guard.
She can also be very candid about different hospitals...she has had at least two "hide" patients she was trying to evacuate. (they know a cash cow
when they see one)
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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They wouldn't get Mike H. out of Bahia at 7pm. 4 hours (that may or may not have saved his life were lost.........he was alive when the ambulance got
him to the hospital, he died shortly there after! Mary Ann was told over and over, that they could not land in Bahia at dark, why wasn't the Coast
Guard brougt in in that case?!
After he died she did get a 'very nice' letter from them along with a form to pay-up to renew! YEAH RIGHT! I'll sigh right up for that!
Mean people suck!
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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Mood: Encantada
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Debra
They wouldn't get Mike H. out of Bahia at 7pm. 4 hours (that may or may not have saved his life were lost.........he was alive when the ambulance got
him to the hospital, he died shortly there after! Mary Ann was told over and over, that they could not land in Bahia at dark, why wasn't the Coast
Guard brougt in in that case?!
After he died she did get a 'very nice' letter from them along with a form to pay-up to renew! YEAH RIGHT! I'll sigh right up for that!
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Oh Debra....I wish Mike was still with us too! If Celia couldn't get him out in time, it was not for lack of trying. It is my understanding that if
there is an airstrip that can support an air evac service, USCG is not an option. I do not know why.
Alfonsina's airstip is too small...I have no idea about Bahia and do not know if that was a factor.
Any way you look at it, emergencies in Baja are a crapshot....it is something we all do not want to think about. I would rather spend the $30 and
take my chances than go it alone.
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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This is something for you to think about. If you dont have US insurance where will they take you. We have Skymed, signed up for 5 years when we
moved down and reupped when they offered a special deal for people who live down here. BUT it is no good if they dont have your insurance approved
hospital to take you to. Also the reason for the special deal was they are a travel ins. company and had to issue a different policy to people who
lived down here full time. Although we have never had to use their service, I have never heard anything bad about them.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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they use jets on contract charter. you have to be able to be picked up at a facility that allows nite operations, like at certain big city baja
airports - very few.
i'd read the contracts of all service providers very closely before you joined one. your particular need or condition might not take advantage of many
of the insurance companies that do this - and they ARE simply insurance companies.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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Capt., Mike,
it was you that I most wanted to talk to about the rules about flying at night in Baja, when I found out about what happened with Mike, (not until
the day after his 'wake' I was just peeED! I broke down in front of Mary Ann and their sons, having been blind sided with what happened (I was in
Costa Rica at the time he died and didn't find out until 2 weeks later (I was going to email you, but, one thing after another prevented me from doing
that.
Since this subject has come up here on the forum, (and I'm sure others are interested) could you please give us the 'low-down'? I just can't
understand that some kind of plan isn't in the works for just this sort of emergency! OR SHOULD BE! If it's lighting on the runway, I know that one
"help!" sent up in Bahia and 100 cars would have lined up on that runway! I've also heard planes come in at dusk..........Mike was at the clinic way
before dark, needing transport out, I don't know what time the call was sent out to the EMV (Mary Ann was I'm sure in shock) as I said, I was in Costa
Rica, so I don't have the facts with what happeneid that day, I just really feel that somehow, someone dropped the ball, and I want to make sure that
we all know just what to do, so this never happens again.
Jeans, you can probably (through your friend) answer alot of these questions, and Capt. you know how the landing rules work. There just has to be a
way to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Mean people suck!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65409
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Mike Humfreville is gone and we are very sad... I bet he is happy that Baja is his resting place... It is mine, and Mike and I shared a love from Baja
that dated back to the mid Sixties.
Since Debra broke the silence on the events of last November, I too wonder why Celia couldn't get a rescue plane to land at L.A. Bay's PAVED airport?
As most of us probably wouldn't be near a big Baja airport, what is the good of this service?
Was Celia calling for jeans' mom just lucky in getting the Coast Gaurd to land at Gonzaga Bay...? I am happy that they did! But, why was nothing
available for Mike... How about at San Quintin where he was taken? There is a paved, military airport there.
I have emailed Celia about my coverage and never got a reply... She seems like a really nice lady... Maybe more office help is needed?
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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more complicated than you think.
all the providers subcontract with several optional medivac charters to get coverage, all the charters have their own rules and operations minimums.
then there are the mex FARs (rules) which frankly are inconsistantly enforced - so vary depending on location.
and a pick up point may have to have fuel based on the field for the return.
everyone looks at liability i don't care what the policy says it can do or provide - it always will be a crap shoot.
if you're sick in cabo , la paz, los cabos or loreto (maybe) and get ambulanced to the airport - yeah a jet can be arranged and you'll be whisked home
directly for $25,000 or less if you are covered by one of these policies.
if not - good luck. if you have health issues, stay in the usa or retire in a bigger city with the services you need.
a field that is not lighted officially with extended ops hours cannot be used at night, and lining up car headlights is never legal or approved for a
regulated carrier - may work for a private person, if he wants to take a stupid chance!
bottom line - lots of variables for conditions at hand. What works once may not work another time/case.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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I'm sure it IS complicated, that is why I'm asking the question (trying to fiqure it out)
Just for arguement sake, what would happen for example if we rewound the clock and.......
Say, since the EMV people couldn't do anything (still don't know why) if Mary Ann had contacted you or some other pilot, and he/she had agreed to fly
in to get Mike out of there, what would the Navy do? shoot the plane down? Give a big whopping ticket? Again, it just seems that with a life on the
line and a perfectly good run-way, that something couldn't have been done.........call me naive, but, I think there has to be away of making sure this
doesn't happen again.
Anybody else with any ideas, experience?
Mean people suck!
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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Mood: Encantada
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I just got off the phone with Celia Diaz of BEMCC. I informed her of this discussion and she immediately called Maryann. Maryann gave permission for
Celia to relay the details of that night.
First of all, Celia keeps detailed record and timelines of all rescues. Who she talked to, what was said, etc. Celia got the call at 6:30pm. She told
Maryanne that a plane could not be sent at that hour, but that she would look into other means of transportation including the Coast Guard (if
available). But Celia told her that there was the possibility that they might have to wait until morning.
Celia started working on getting the Coast Guard. At 7:00pm the decision was made in Bahia to transport Mike by land. Celia learned of that decision
at 8:30.
I know from personal experience when they evacuated my mother that it took Celia over 4 hours to get that clearance. I got
the call at 6:00 pm…the CG got there at 2:00Am. That is 8 HOURS. It would have been too late for Mike had Celia been able to work
her way through two governments.
Remember…this is remote Mexico….immediate emergency services are not available. My mom was able to survive the pain of a crushed hip because the
whole campo raided their medicine cabinets of every pain med known to man.
I will not discuss this any further in open forum.
[Edited on 8-10-2007 by jeans]
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Minnow
Banned
Posts: 1110
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Lost Wages
Member Is Offline
Mood: Embarrased Harry Reid is a Nevadan
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Obviously you and Celia are friends. Good on ya. I stated at the time **********, that it would cost someone down the line.
*******************************. *****************. I will post a link to the thread where I predicted just such **********. Saludos
[Edited on 8-10-2007 by BajaNomad]
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
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WHOA!, I did not mean to stir up uglyness about this! I'm just trying to understand how we can better improve this lack in the 'cracks'
MIKE DIDN'T DIE BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT WAS UNDER CONTROL! at the time, I'm asking questions because, I think things COULD have been under better
control! I'm saying, and ASKING! is there a better way that can be found to handle this?! SO IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN! I'm looking for ways to FIX IT!
Not put blame, that might make me feel better for a second, but not past that moment..........I ADMIT, I WAS BLINDSIDED WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT
THIS AND I WAS peeED BEYOND............well, maybe I was just greiving and lost my 'cool' As much as I wanted (and did on occasion) want to slap him
right up side his mouthy mean head, I loved Mike and just couldn't except that he didn't get the help he needed! Worse than that (Mike is dead and
gone) I just couldn't accept thst Mary Ann was down there by herself dealing with this and not having the help SHE NEEDED! I won't mention the
A-HOLES name that she asked to go with her to drive up to San Quintin following the ambulance and he refused!
I'm sorry, I know I'm ranting, Ive held this in for along time!
Jeans, I don't know what you are refering too about Minnow's reference, but, please don't turn this into a Nomad war, I can't believe that he is
refering to anything that happened to your Mom. If you are Tom, SHAME ON YOU!
Nomad's, let's figure out a way to make this better, not turn it into he/she/they should of, could of.......IT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH! Let's put our
(what? 10,000 strong?) heads together and find a plan! OR? Excuse me? Let the 'goverment, or "for profit companies' do it for us?????
Judy: I hear your U2U, I have no problem answering you questions right here, I asked Mary Ann last Feb. when first found out about what happened
if she had a problem with me talking about this, and she told me ""NO!, go ahead"
I understand the urge to take this to U2, but, I prefer to keep this right out on the board for everyone to 'see, and hear' so we all can
learn.........if I get U2's, which I have about this , I may, or may not share with the board , be forwarned, from this point..........I did read the
thread about the U2U, "share, not share" and very valid points were made.......
This however is my (HOW DO I MOVE THIS THREAD SO IT'S MINE?) opinon and I just really would like some help figuring out how we can do this better!
Mean people suck!
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Cap
Nomad
Posts: 202
Registered: 4-20-2007
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Night Landings
If there is ever a situation like this again, I would highly suggest contacting the Baja Bush Pilots. There are a LOT of private guys that would do
everything in their power to get someone in need airlifted. The head of the Org. is Jack McCormick, he is a really nice guy, and I have even read some
threads on his site about a volunteer group of pilots doing search and rescue. You can contact Jack on his web site www.bajabushpilots.com.
Mexico considers night flying as instrument flying and used to have a restriction on single engine aircraft. I am not sure that is still the case. As
someone that has done medical airlifts in the past I can tell you that I would not have hesitated to get your friend out, night, or day, so long as
the weather was such that it wouldn't have been more dangerous to make the flight.
I do not know what happened in this case but I offer my sincere condolences to all of this fellows friends, and family.
Fly low, land on roads.
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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I'm glad that Cecelia had a chance to respond to what happened instead of getting roasted unknowingly. It is still important to understand that what
she does is arrange for the evacuation and she is the master at doing just that, but you need to have either a policy for actual evacuation cost or
coverage with you health insurance plan if you want it paid for. These evacs can cost upwards of $25,000 and one of the things that can slow the
process down is that they are probably not going to want to go through the expense of coming down and hoping that you will get around to paying them
sometime.
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Minnow
Banned
Posts: 1110
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Lost Wages
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Mood: Embarrased Harry Reid is a Nevadan
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"I'm wondering if this whole incident doesn't place people with actual life threatening injuries in baja, in peril."
Link:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=8182#pid60169
Thats a quote from me when Jeans first posted about her moms evac. When was that 2002? I can't access the link, someone sent it to me. You make the
decision.
[Edited on 10-8-2007 by Minnow]
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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roundtuit
Senior Nomad
Posts: 607
Registered: 12-21-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wife's Job
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this is mrs roundtuit. didnt mean to start a verbal war but i found out that i recently had a heart attack and wanted to know if i could get out of
mexico with medvac or some other means, i dont want to stop coming to baja just because something might happen but also want to cyma. we do not have
medical insurance and am not quite old enough for medicare. guess i will just take my chances and if something happens leave me in baja and have a
hell of a party!!
Never learned from a book-Only from mistakes, mine and yours
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