Travel insurance, medical evacuation?
358
Member
1214 days
triNick posted 19 weeks ago.
I have traveled a lot but haven't bought any but I normally don't go running with the bulls! I guess that part it up to you, if you can stay ahead of them, well then no need.
It's a gamble...
TRImapper.com - visual triathlon finder
TRIJUICE.com - triathlon resource blog
308
Member
215 days
diva_mom posted 19 weeks ago.
Ok, so what my mom said when I was a kid is true - those Ironman guys are crazy.
I want a video report when you get back :)
Don't be so easy on yourself 'cause this one might be all that you have left
1071
Member
296 days
TriSooner posted 19 weeks ago.
Re: The Bulls. From what I've gathered from my not-too-extensive research is that the 'course' is 800 meters of twisty, narrow, cobble-stone streets with high walls to keep the bulls (and you) from getting out. The bulls run it in 3-minutes. Under normal conditions (ie, a track), I could do a 6-min mile pace and out run them. But like any boxer will tell you, "Everyone has a plan till they get hit in the face." So, my plan is just to run like hell and not outrun the bulls, just everyone else. Hence the medical evacuation insurance: If I take a horn to the spleen I'd rather get flown back to the US.
1574
Member
1355 days
brittda posted 19 weeks ago.
I have traveled extensively , but have never had travel insurance. I know at IMC they said you would be responsible for the hospital etc if they admitted you. My personal insurance would cover that stuff, but I would have to pay up front. You might want to just check with your company to see what they cover and how you would be reimbursed.
85
Member
403 days
callco posted 19 weeks ago.
In the spirit of outrunning the other runners, perhaps you could forego the extra insurance and use the money saved to purchase airfare for one of your [slower] friends.
Did I mention that my 800-meter pace is slightly slower than a 6-min mile?
1071
Member
296 days
85
Member
403 days
callco posted 19 weeks ago.
I'm curious. How, exactly, does one get into the bull run? Is there a qualifying event? :)
1071
Member
296 days
TriSooner posted 19 weeks ago.
Show up in Pamplona, Spain, along Santo Domingo street at 8 am during the Festival of San Fermin, July 6 through July 14. Wait for the fireworks to go of and run like hell to the Pamplona's Plaza de Toros (the bull ring). That's about as technical as my itinerary is.
146
Member
256 days
chekmarks posted 19 weeks ago.
But like any boxer will tell you, "Everyone has a plan till they get hit in the face."
FYI: that wasn't any boxer, it was mike tyson. if you are going to use HIS saying, you should at least honor the man by trying to punch the bulls, bite their ear off and then run like hell.
176
Member
271 days
xc800runner posted 19 weeks ago.
You're actually lucky that the running is through twists and turns, as it slows the bulls down. At full tilt, they would run the 800 m in about a minute and a half without them.
I did this a few years back when I was still running the 800m in college and I assure you, it was difficult to stay in front of them. Mostly because you're sharing the road with a few thousand others who can't run as fast even with the adrenaline. But it was the most exciting 5 minutes I've ever had.
1071
Member
296 days
TriSooner posted 19 weeks ago.
chekmarks wrote:
But like any boxer will tell you, "Everyone has a plan till they get hit in the face."FYI: that wasn't any boxer, it was mike tyson. if you are going to use HIS saying, you should at least honor the man by trying to punch the bulls, bite their ear off and then run like hell.
But I'm vegetarian . . . :(
1716
Member
1039 days
4667
Member
1675 days
beads1985 posted 19 weeks ago.
Check if getting gored by a bull is covered by insurance.
If not invest in some steel plates for your drawers.
Nothing to it, but to do it
187
Member
299 days
GGehrke posted 18 weeks ago.
I used Access America travel insurance once (one of those things you check the box for when you buy plane tickets online) and was extremely disappointed. I got a refund for my non-refundable tickets when I had to cancel my trip due to military obligations, but the refund took me a full year of calling their office and being told they would re-issue my check again and again and again. I really did wonder if they intentionally try to stall on claims in hopes that you'll just give up. When I actually read the list of what they covered, too, it was extremely restrictive.
I did get the impression that they would have been better about covering medical issues, but you would need to check very carefully what they do and don't actually cover, and I would be very cautious of Access America (not sure how other companies would be). It was not, however, that expensive in the grand scheme of things.
217
Member
180 days
iamtb13 posted 18 weeks ago.
tri-ac wrote:
TriSooner wrote:But I'm vegetarian . . . :(
don't stress...there's really not much meat in the ear...i hear it tastes like tofu
Of course this implies you have tasted an ear...and there has got to be a good story behind that.
1716
Member
1039 days
81
Member
273 days
M posted 17 weeks ago.
I don't know what the costs are with the medical evacuation. People I know who have taken motorcycle trips in places like Africa have done it, and it seems worthwhile in a case like that.
I dropped a motorcycle in Germany last summer and cracked some bones in my foot. I just used my employer-provided US health insurance card. Here are some thoughts after that experience:
-my total expense was something like 300 euros (including ambulance, exam, x-ray, cast, crutches, follow-up, pain meds, and anticoagulants); some of this was subsequently reimbursed by Cigna (after some hoop-jumping by me); this is much cheaper than it would have been in the US
-this happened in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where the local hospital sees tons of ski/snowboard accidents (lots of experience with breaks, etc); maybe Pamplona is the best place to be treated if you happen to have a major puncture wound?
-I ended up with really cool European crutches, with reflectors on the handles, and met all kinds of interesting people in the waiting room.
-A cast and crutches got me all kinds of free special treatment in the airports and on the plane--golf cart rides, jumping the customs lines, jumping the security lines, etc.
--M
358
Member
1214 days
triNick posted 13 weeks ago.
TriSooner wrote:
I am heading to Germany for Ironman in July, then to Pamplona, Spain to run with the bulls. I’m considering 1) travel insurance and 2) medical evacuation insurance.
1. Hope your race went well! Crazy crowds, wow!
2. I was reading the newpaper this morning and saw this and remembered this post. Hope you still had some legs to stay out of the way...
9 injured in first day of Pamplona's running of the bulls
TRImapper.com - visual triathlon finder
TRIJUICE.com - triathlon resource blog
I am heading to Germany for Ironman in July, then to Pamplona, Spain to run with the bulls. I’m considering 1) travel insurance and 2) medical evacuation insurance. I know many of you travel internationally for tris. Any experience, recommendations for travel insurance and/or medical evacuation policies?
Pics