Boating & Life Insurance

[Ryans_Brother]

I just completed my 2009 benefits elections for work, which includes term life insurance and an accidential death/dismemberment policy, and it got me to thinking....

If I were to die while kayaking, is there a chance my wife and kids would not get paid:?: The only factors considered for my policies are my age and whether I smoke or not, i.e. no questions about "risky" activities. Does it make a difference that I've had instruction and taken a SWR class?

Anybody have any experience or done any research in this area?

Thanks,
Rick

[nike54_la]

With my life insurance, and some others I've looked at, the things that are not covered are hanggliding and sky diving. Have never seen kayaking singled out as a risky behavior but you should read the fine print on your insurance policy or call your provider. They'll be able to answer your questions for sure.

[paddledog]

I asked, my agent (State Farm) and friend, he said I was covered.
Not to say they are all the same. Listen carefully when they rattle
off the list of no-no's.

[bryanpin]

these guys are right. you can act as stupid as you want in your boat. the family will still get their money.

luckily us kayakers haven't gotten the insurance companies attention the way dudes hanging from a parachute which is lodged into power lines do.

but shhhh, if they see a any modern kayak porn, we're screwed.

[Crane]

In addition, I just re-uped my Diver's Insurance policy. I carry it specifically to pay for evacuating me off a desolate river if I get hurt (on the river... and if I'm hurt, it will BE on the river), but it also has riders for medical and life... so, my bride gets a little bonus if I go out paddling or rafting:0)

[Fish]

I did get a letter from my insurer after the last NW Chapter Halloween party saying that a "Blow Log" exclusion was being added to my policy for some reason...

- Fish

[robkanraft]

Crane, Would like to know more about your Diver insurance policy. I tried unsucessfully a couple of years ago to obtain some medical evac trip insurance last year before a western river trip. I thought I found a national company that writes that kind of policy, (under the "travel insurance" definition) but our local contact was clueless. I was finally told that "most likely" a regular medical policy would cover helecopter ambulance but I thought it would be nice to have the additional coverage. I doubt they understood exactly how remote the extraction process could be.

I posed the question to a rafting message board, and got varying first-hand experience answers from "I had to pay for it all", to "my regular medical insurance covered it." Just seems like it would be a good thing to have on a canyon trip.

[Lupe]

Rob - check out: http://www.diversSecurity.com. I'm pretty sure I have the same coverage that Larry has (as I think he was one of several who recommended them to me!).

I got it for a river trip in Utah this summer, but it's year-round coverage and would supplement my private insurance even in the case of a local emergency.

Private insurance typcially covers so little of an emergency evac - this is designed to supplement that coverage. It was definitely worth the peace of mind for me....just in case!

[Heath]

another thing to watch is comepteing in a compition. While I was skateing in my younger years our insurence would not cover me if I was cometeing for money in anyway, form or fashion.

so if you die or get injured always make sure it is during practice or warm ups:)

[Crane]

Yep. Diver's Security Insurance... http://www.DiversSecurity.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
BUT, I've never had to make a claim. The big caveat is that it only covers if the accident happens on the water... not hiking or climbing or wandering around in the dead of night looking for a groover...

[Roger]

Yep. Diver's Security Insurance... http://www.DiversSecurity.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
BUT, I've never had to make a claim. The big caveat is that it only covers if the accident happens on the water... not hiking or climbing or wandering around in the dead of night looking for a groover...

So our instructions, Crane, are if you tp die (god forbid) in a "groover accident." then we are to just drag you down to the edge of water and make it look like it happened on the water?

[Crane]

Well, you might want to rinse me off... while you're there!

[Roger]

Well, you might want to rinse me off... while you're there!

I'll just let the wave and sand take care of you.