DougPaul said:
The American Alpine Club already has rescue insurance (up to $5000 per incident) as part of membership ($75/yr).
http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pages/page/97
Global Rescue also sells services at $329/yr for backcountry rescue "anytime, anywhere".
http://www.globalrescue.com/affinity/AAC/AAC.html.
Doug
The new AAC plan (as of 12/1/2007) is not insurance. The advertising materials explicitly disclaim it to be insurance. It is a "rescue service" from Global Rescue ("GR"), as defined in the
Schedule of Benefits. Among other highlights:
1. There is nothing provided for searching for a lost person. That's right, nothing.
2. The benefit is to "provide, arrange and pay all necessary and ordinary expenses for rescue, air and/or surface transport to the nearest medical facility for Members who meet the Evacuation Criteria. The provision of emergency rescue services shall begin and end at the trailhead. . . . GR will provide services and charge you the excess over $5000 if applicable. A credit card may be required in advance."
Had enough yet? There's more:
3. "MUST CALL RESCUE HOTLINE (i.e., the GR phone number) TO INITIATE SERVICES." And, the "first call must be to GR[.]" That's right, not to 911, but to GR. Here's the explanation that does not appear in the "Schedule of Benefits" but rather in the FAQs:
"
Global Rescue does ask that the first call is placed directly to GR, but understands that there may be times when an AAC member (or someone else on the member's behalf) simply calls the local "911" number first. In those cases, GR needs to be notified as soon as possible, especially while the rescue is still in process. This will allow Global Rescue to provide full capabilities of logistical support to the mission, forming contingency plans and utilizing a full team of evacuation experts. A family member or companion may also make the call to Global Rescue on the member's behalf. When notified in a timely manner before or during a rescue mission, part of Global Rescue's benefit to the AAC is that GR will absorb the first $5,000 worth of rescue-generated costs.
"It is in your best interest to get GR in the loop as early as possible and that means educating next of kin, partners and guides by providing them with instructions and the GR number prior to engaging in the activity. What may potentially become difficult is if GR is contacted after everything has already played out. Global Rescue is not an insurance provider, but rather a rescue service, more similar to AAA’s roadside assistance than to collision coverage.
"Should your rescue be completed without Global Rescue assistance, please contact the AAC to report your rescue and to be advised on your options."
Can you just imagine the happy state of affairs as Fish and Game is offered, midstream, GR's "full capabilities of logistical support to the mission, forming contingency plans and utilizing a full team of evacuation experts"? Fish and Game is not going to surrender its statutory responsibility for managing a SAR incident to a fee-for-service rescue outfit. (Has anybody ever heard of these folks even operating in the White Mountains, the 'Dacks, or BSP?)
You also have the opportunity to send them another $119 to have GR provide "all services anywhere MORE THAN 160 MILES from your home. This includes the full cost of all medical, security and search and rescue teams" up to $500,000. FYI -- Boston to Pinkham Notch is about 155 miles, per Mapquest.
Nope, this ain't it, if "it" is defined as coverage for the proposed liability for SAR expenses imposed on "negligent" recreationists in NH.
Negligence was not part of the cost-of-rescue question... Did you mean something else?
