Emergency situation plan - Hiking in Tasmania

[happyfriggincamper]

Aside from walking with a fully kitted out First Aid pack and an Emergency Location Beacon, I was wondering what precautions people take in the chance that there is a situation that requires specialist assistance (eg: Helicopter rescue). Obviously, safety and care is paramount and first thing in mind when taking a hike, but it can and has happened to many unexpectedly where a wrong step can cause a severe sprain, broken bone or snake bite that renders you immovable.

For piece of mind on the health front (and possibly bank balance front), do people (particularly from interstate) take out any health or travel insurance before heading off on a (5+ day) trek into Tasmania? If a Helicopter rescue and hospitalisation is required, would you be expected to foot the rescue and hospital bill once healed up?

I do not have health insurance, am a member of Ambulance Victoria. Would it be advisable to take out travel insurance for the time spent in Tasmania hiking (if so, what would people recommend) or is it worth paying for an Ambulance Tasmania (or equivalent) membership?

Thanks and regards, Chris.

[byrnesy8]

Hi Chris

Your ambulance cover provides insurance for the helicopter if you had to call on it.

[frenchy_84]

The rescue chopper is a free service provided by the state government. No insurance or membership is required

[tibboh]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I always thought if you set off your PLB and get choppered out, it was a taxpayer funded service. So the rescued person is not out of pocket.

[frenchy_84]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I always thought if you set off your PLB and get choppered out, it was a taxpayer funded service. So the rescued person is not out of pocket.

correct

[dplanet]

Hi Chris

Your ambulance cover provides insurance for the helicopter if you had to call on it.

+1

[taswegian]

Chris we have a different system to Victoria.
Non residents get same treatment as residents.
I'm adding that comment from the reverse situation from an 'experience' a few years back with my son in Victoria.
Was told then by Health Authorities, non residents (of Vic) pay, unlike similar situation in Tassie.

Not aware anythings changed since then.

Tasmania does has many redeeming features

[happyfriggincamper]

Thanks for the replies, but I should have gone to the source (like I have now) for some confirmation. I will post what the Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust respond to me with for anyone else who is interested, or as help to future travellers.

And a few quotes for travel insurance are returning prices around $80 - $140 which is essentially chump change for the piece of mind you get vs. potential hospital charges. WIll have to wait until the Mon-Fri 9- to call and discuss in more detail if it could cover all of the potential situations (including Car B&E).

Also, i don't own a PLB yet, but came across this service which allows them to be hired. Again, have shot off another email with questions.

http://www.epirbhire.com.au/

Cheers,

[frenchy_84]

Plbs can be hired from service tas for 40 bucks a week. I still don't understand gettin travel insurance for peace of mind though. I used the rescue chopper before Christmas with a PLB from service tas, no cost was incurred from either after I used it

[happyfriggincamper]

Plbs can be hired from service tas for 40 bucks a week. I still don't understand gettin travel insurance for peace of mind though. I used the rescue chopper before Christmas with a PLB from service tas, no cost was incurred from either after I used it

Travel insurance would be for any medical/hospital costs.

[biggbird]

Presumably you are an Australian citizen, in which case you would not incur any costs should you be treated in a public hospital down here for any emergency, same as the rest of the country... At least that's the way I understand it! And you definitely will be taken to a public hospital. It may potentially be different should you sustain a long term injury, like ligament damage in a fall etc, where your treatment is not urgent, but then you should be covered by private health insurance.

The only reason I could see for taking travel insurance is for covering potential loss or theft during your trip, but I guess everything is personal preference!

[Lizzy]

I am pretty sure domestic travel insurance does not cover medical- only cancellation, car hire excess, baggage loss etc. specific health insurance is a different matter but if you only get it for a limited time it may not help with rehab like physio after an injury. Medicare covers emergency treatment as stated above.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

It depends on whether you are coming from interstate as to whether travel insurance is a good idea.

I get abused all the time at work by people on holiday who book flights without travel insurance, and miss connecting flights and expect me to hold up a plane full of passengers just for them. If you have tight schedules, or HAVE to be somewhere, buy travel insurance.

Also, if you want to risk your 3-5k worth of hiking gear on aircraft, go right ahead.

The only reason I would avoid travel insurance for hiking in Tasmania would be if I lived there and drove myself around for walks.

[Lophophaps]

There are only a handful of underwriters, so the cover for the policies tends to be similar. Shop around. I recently saw two policies that appear to be identical, with one nearly double the cost of the other. The domestic policy covers cancellation and amendment fees, additional expenses, luggage and personal effects, rental car excess, travel delay expenses, loss of income, permanent disability, accidental death, and personal liability. It is unclear if snakebite is covered, as the snake intended to bite the victim. Is this an accident? The insurer may suggest otherwise.