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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Sky Med insurance for evacuation or ?
I have been with Sky Med for 10 years now and fortunately have never had to use their services. My renewal is coming up and it's the same old
insurance story, you really don't need it until you need it.
It runs $1,195 for 5 years for the "Ultimate" plan. Does anyone have experience using and needing their services. If so how did it go?
Anyone out there use a different evacuation insurance? I travel out of the country at least 2 times a year and that is not including Mexico where I
spend around 4-6 months a year. I do go to third world countries where there medical services would not be the best.
Any feedback on Sky Med or any other companies?
Thanks,
Howard
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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D. A. N.
Check out DAN insurance (Divers Alert Network). never have used them, but have heard good things. You don't have to be a diver to join
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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I also have heard good things about them. I am going to try and compare the coverages and premiums.
A friend of a friend was medivacked out of Africa using DAN and if he didn't have the insurance it was a staggering amount of money.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Somebody on BN or maybe Talk Baja posted about themselves or a friend being evacuated from Baja by DAN....seemed to be very satisfied.
I personally have SAR and medical evac insurance through my SPOT membership and also a separate plan through my life insurance carrier....which is
something you might want to look into if you have life insurance
[Edited on 3-28-2018 by bajaguy]
[Edited on 3-28-2018 by bajaguy]
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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Sky Med is arguably the most expensive evac plan.
Big difference from DAN is that Sky let you choose the destination hospital, though rates are several times higher. DAN will take you to "closest
suitable" hospital.
There is (probably) half a dozen providers that cost less than Sky and still let you choose the destination. At lest, those that cover Mexico. Med Jet
comes to mind.
Experience.... not mine. The subject comes up from time to time, and for Baja the consensus is - get the heck out of here as soon as you can by
whatever means you can, and then get reimbursed. Going through proper channels with evac plan will result in 15-20 hours from your first call to your
arrival to San Diego hospital, assuming you are located next to major airport in Baja.
[Edited on 3-29-2018 by Alm]
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Thanks for the informative information. Even though I spend 4-6 months a year in Baja, I am just as concerned if not more so, getting out of another
country that might not even have the medical facilities that Baja does.
I will further check out some alternatives to Sky Med and see why they are so much higher than the other plans. I'm not sure if this falls under the
category of "you get what you pay for."
Any other feedback would be appreciated.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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hermosok123
Nomad
Posts: 102
Registered: 12-11-2016
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I've posted in regards to medical care in Baja. By that I mean trauma or critical care. My weekend job during 13 years as an ER tech/medic was
flying patients out of Baja for various evac service all which are no longer in business. I cant comment on what the protocols governing these
companies are at this point in time but as a point of reference I would like to share this. If you have underlying medical condition(s) you need to
be able to provide your own care and support. As a general rule a lot of us have cardiac issues. O2 and nitro go a long way towards getting you
through the onset and then to a facility. Knowing who does what and does it well as far a specialties is also a really good thing to know in the
areas you frequent. Most air evac companies will only deal (maybe that's changed) with a qualified medical professional. They want the onsite vitals
and current patient status in medical jargon. It usually revolves around weather or not you qualify for evac and then what level that is. Every one
of us that travel these roads should have a fairly extensive med kit. At least enough stuff to bandage and compress as well as splint. If you have
access to O2 carry a small bottle. For most of my younger life I just trusted in my six pack and God as my copilot. Baja was a much less traveled
place in the 60s and the roads all though basic were much less dangerous. I carry an InReach Delorme now.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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Quote: Originally posted by hermosok123  | | Most air evac companies will only deal (maybe that's changed) with a qualified medical professional. They want the onsite vitals and current patient
status in medical jargon. |
With a major expense like a plane they would likely want to hear from a doctor before green-lighting the evac. Few insurance brokers might chime in.
Another thing that hasn't changed much, is - very few airports in Baja.
Sky broker posted here once, could not explain what makes them better.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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Just go live your life. If it ends unexpectedly you won’t know the difference! I guess if you have million$ why not spend it?
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Whatever $ I have, I would like to spend it on wine, women and song, not for the medical bills.
I am not overly paranoid about this evac thing, just want to spend my money on fun. Yeah, around $1,100 hurts for 5 years for Sky Med but it can buy
me peace of mind. I have no allegiance to Sky Med, just trying to get my best bang for my buck.
I want my last check to bounce. 
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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When you're in remote location and condition is very urgent, it won't matter how much or how little you paid for evac plan. They won't help you in
timely manner. IMO, just keep "some" plan.
Stroke has 4 hours treatment window. Heart attack... depends how bad. People in big US cities die from heart attack even when ambulance arrives within
20 minutes. Survivors of the 1st heart attack are on death row, 2nd attack is very often lethal.
[Edited on 3-29-2018 by Alm]
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LukeJobbins
Nomad
Posts: 196
Registered: 3-11-2014
Location: Lemoore, Ca
Member Is Offline
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I’m with woody. I do stupid stuff and dangerous things all the time but there is always risk with fun. My mom knows if I don’t come back it means
it was just that much more fun. Spend your money on more travels and if it happens it happens.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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"If it (your life) ends unexpectedly" - yes.
But it could cripple you for life if not treated on time.
This evac thing should be taken in the context of location. My understanding has been that South of Ensenada a fixed-wing evac aircraft will only land
in 4-5 towns, and only during normal operating hours.
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toronja
Nomad
Posts: 134
Registered: 2-1-2015
Location: Eugene, OR
Member Is Offline
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DAN membership is $35/year per person or $55/year per household. It will not break the bank. I've been a member for years. While I haven't used their
TravelAssist evacuation services, one of my employers recommended it after they'd worked with DAN to evacuate someone from our research site (1,000 mi
by sea to the nearest hospital, no airports).
I can't for the life of me find the nomads post about it, but someone had a head injury at Bahia de Los Angeles, and DAN had a med-evac jet on the
runway at dawn to get them back to California.
No, no evac service is going to be able to save you from an emergency in remote Baja that will kill you within the hour... but if I severely break a
leg in Bahia Asuncion, I sure as hell don't want to be riding in an ambulance (if the one ambulance is even running) for 12 hours over all of those
potholes. I'll take the free jet plane, thanks.
Plus, if the worst does happen, they'll arrange to repatriate your remains (and cover the costs).
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/membership/travelassist.a...
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1495
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by toronja | DAN membership is $35/year per person or $55/year per household. It will not break the bank. I've been a member for years. While I haven't used their
TravelAssist evacuation services, one of my employers recommended it after they'd worked with DAN to evacuate someone from our research site (1,000 mi
by sea to the nearest hospital, no airports).
I can't for the life of me find the nomads post about it, but someone had a head injury at Bahia de Los Angeles, and DAN had a med-evac jet on the
runway at dawn to get them back to California.
No, no evac service is going to be able to save you from an emergency in remote Baja that will kill you within the hour... but if I severely break a
leg in Bahia Asuncion, I sure as hell don't want to be riding in an ambulance (if the one ambulance is even running) for 12 hours over all of those
potholes. I'll take the free jet plane, thanks.
Plus, if the worst does happen, they'll arrange to repatriate your remains (and cover the costs).
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/membership/travelassist.a... |
Here is a link to the post of the lady in BoLA that actually used DAN
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=73659&pag...
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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toronja
Nomad
Posts: 134
Registered: 2-1-2015
Location: Eugene, OR
Member Is Offline
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Thanks, Larry! I was a little off on the timing, but it's impressive anyway. Hope I never need to use it, but glad I have it... plus the monthly
magazine is pretty cool.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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Impressive.
Med Jet @ 15 times the cost indicated that they only use commercial airports.
From Sky Med @ 30 times the cost I could not get a clear answer on BOLA.
Maybe they've got smarter since then.
A bit unclear account of the events. Sounds like he was trying to get a flight beginning from the previous evening - nothing flies in the night,
alright - and then had to begin everything from the scratch at 8 am, with aircraft arriving at 16.00. Took 5 hours to get the plane off the ground.
Or his first call was at 8am but the plane arriving at 16.00 didn't go anywhere until the morning.
20-24 hours anyway.
[Edited on 3-29-2018 by Alm]
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hermosok123
Nomad
Posts: 102
Registered: 12-11-2016
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Howard since you have the policy it might clarify their protocols if you would ask them what qualifies (type of emergency) for air transport. What
the criteria are for fixed wing access to customer/patient. Finally do they also utilize ground transport and if this is at their discretion. In my
experience the insurance companies, and it is their decision will always go cheap. They also utilize commercial/escorted fights. By that I mean they
fly medical to the closest airport and then the patient is handed off and escorted home on standard commercial jet.
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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Hermosok - yes, commercial escorted flights are common. Saw this in fine print in more contracts than I remember. Whenever they decide that patient's
condition allows.
One thing is puzzling in that story with DAN - their mandate is "closest capable" hospital. For some reason they chose to fly to San Diego, instead of
(very capable) CIMA hospital in Hermosillo.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18397
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by hermosok123 | | Howard since you have the policy it might clarify their protocols if you would ask them what qualifies (type of emergency) for air transport. What
the criteria are for fixed wing access to customer/patient. Finally do they also utilize ground transport and if this is at their discretion. In my
experience the insurance companies, and it is their decision will always go cheap. They also utilize commercial/escorted fights. By that I mean they
fly medical to the closest airport and then the patient is handed off and escorted home on standard commercial jet. |
every case is different. dont expect one-solution-fits-all.
in my experience with med-evac, you need a competent patient-advocate on the scene with a fully-charged cell phone and backup battery. you will be
making lots of calls to coordinate care, make sure people are talking to each other, etc.
also, the insurers do not have names of local air charters with prop planes that can land on unpaved strips -- so if you need evac of stabilized
patient from unpaved airstrip, make sure to be able to provide names of local air charter the insurer can contact (been there, done that).
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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