[at-l] The (insurance) weasles strike again

[icw39@ncfreedom.net (Clark Wright)]

trip insurance is one thing, but medical coverage under standard HMO or
emplyoyer medical plans, or even personal medical plans is quite
another; there usually are not any such exclusions under most medical
insurance policies . . . the key issue for most medical policies is
whether they impose higher deductibles, or more pre-approval
requirements for treatment out of your "home" area . . . and - most
important - whether the doc or hospital that you end up going to in the
middle of nowhere WANTS to help you out . . . 

With the above in mind, let me relate a sobering thought or two re my
personal observations re this past summer on the Trail.  It floored me
how many of my hiker friends came down with something, or had a
significant enough injury to require attention - I saw enough cases of
Lyme disease, giardia, sprained ankles, broken bones, bad colds/flu to
justify thinking through the issue of medical insurance carefully - it's
not something to get too worried about, but there is a real possibility
of needing to get some medical attention at some point . . . luckily, as
with so many things associated with the AT, there almost always is some
one out there who will help you out.  A special warning re Lyme disease;
it's out there, you will have ticks on you at some point, so check
yourself regularly, and if in ANY doubt, get a blood test to make sure,
for if it is treated early on (i.e., within the first month or two), it
is almost always 100% curable, but if it is not treated early on, it can
result in serious, permanent effects, including permanent nerve damage,
permanent arthritic type symptoms, etc.

no need to panic, but there are "bugs" out there that deserve your
respect, just as the bears, moose, other creatures deserve it . . .

hike on,

Thru-Thinker

Jan Leitschuh wrote:
> 
> Wow!
> They equate scuba diving, spelunking or riding with someone in a private
> plane with bungee-jumping, sky diving and horse racing!
> Pretty broad range...
> 
> KarenS62@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > > pmags@yahoo.com wrote:
> > > > I would like to know what is exactly an extreme
> > > > sport.
> >
> > According to the definition I found on a trip insurance plan, the definition of extreme sports not covered is:
> >  "Injury sustained while taking part in the following activities: Amateur or professional sports or athletics, except this does not include Amateur sports or athletics which are non-contact and undertaken solely for leisure, recreational, entertainment or fitness purposes unless such sports or athletics are otherwise excluded by this provision. The following are excluded: mountaineering where ropes or guides are normally used; and aviation (except when traveling solely as a passenger in a commercial aircraft); and hang gliding, sky diving, parachuting or bungee jumping; and snow skiing or snowboarding, except for recreational downhill and/or cross-country snow skiing or snowboarding (no cover provided whilst skiing away from prepared and marked in-bound territories and/or against the advice of the local ski school or local authoritative body); and racing by any animal or motorized vehicle; and spelunking; and subaqua pursuits involving underwater breathing apparatus; and j!
>  et!
> >   skiing; and any other sport or ath
> > letic activity which is undertaken for thrill seeking and exposes you to abnormal or extreme risk of Injury."
> >
> > Every site I saw had a slightly different definition as it is defined specifically by each insurance provider. This pretty much leaves it open for them to decide that any activiy is an extremem sport.
> >
> > POG
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > AT-L mailing list
> > AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l
> 
> --
> ========================================
>     Jan Leitschuh Sporthorses Ltd.
> 
> http://www.mindspring.com/~janl2
> 
> E-mail:  mailto:janl2@mindspring.com
> 
> ========================================
> _______________________________________________
> AT-L mailing list
> AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l