An Insurance Experience
by Gottfried Pollhammer
As every mountaineer knows, some rocks have a tendency to move. Descending to the Aletsch Glacier during a Bernese Oberland meet organised by Martin Haydon, it was fairly obvious to me that the small boulder below onto which I was about to step was somewhat unstable. What I had not bargained for was that it actually tilted in a completely unexpected way. Although I only slightly overbalanced, my fairly heavy rucksack behaved according to the law of gravity and simply pulled me over.
I eventually found myself some way further down, with quite a few parts of my body hurting, particularly my left leg which was stuck between some rocks above me. It soon became clear that I would not be eating my evening meal at the Konkordia hut later that day. Robert carried my rucksack back to the Gletscherstube hut which we had passed half an hour earlier, and somehow I managed to drag myself back there with the help of my walking poles. I was lucky that my injuries were not too bad, and the others could continue on their way, albeit after some considerable delay. The warden of the Gletscherstube telephoned Air Zermatt for a helicopter which arrived half an hour later and, in spite of some pain, I thoroughly enjoyed a marvellous flight down the Rhone Valley, where the helicopter landed on the roof of Visp Hospital. During the flight a doctor made sure that I was all right, whilst a mountain guide checked my credentials in the form of my AAC Sektion Britannia membership card. Air Zermatt could thus rest assured that my flight would indeed be paid, however unreliable I might turn out to be.
Within a few minutes after my arrival at the A&E ward, I was thoroughly examined by a doctor, and a number of X-rays were taken, particularly of my obviously damaged leg. The results came back at a similar speed, and the surgeon entrusted with my treatment soon explained to me that an operation would be necessary to insert some wires and a screw into the damaged bone. As it was best to have the operation as soon as possible, I found myself on the operating table less than an hour later, where the surgeon performed his engineering miracles under spinal anaesthesia. The next day, drains were removed, and instead of a plaster cast, a superior, easily removable and fully adjustable high-tech Vacuped splint was fitted. I also received daily physiotherapy until my discharge four days later.
In addition to my Alpine Association Worldwide Service (AWS) cover through my AAC(UK) membership, I also had other appropriate holiday insurance. I decided that I would only claim for rescue from AWS, as this was not covered by my private insurance. I was aware that the cost of my medical treatment would not be paid by AWS as I was eligible to be treated under EHIC in a public hospital in Switzerland, as a UK citizen/resident. The same would, of course, apply in all EU countries, and also Liechtenstein and Norway. It should however be noted that as AWS allows only a maximum amount of €7,500 for medical expenses, additional insurance covering mountaineering is highly advisable when climbing in countries not mentioned above. Using my private holiday insurance for my hospital stay offered some advantages such as cover for the cost for some of my medication, my crutches and my splint which otherwise I would have had to pay myself. (Most normal holiday insurance policies do not cover mountaineering risks and would therefore not provide any assistance with medical claims following a mountaineering accident.)
I could, of course, have claimed from AWS for transportation back to the UK, but I did not do so as, again, this was covered by my private holiday insurance. I did, however, spend some considerable time on the telephone, arranging transportation home with my insurance company. In the end, they handled everything efficiently. On discharge, I was taken by taxi to Geneva Airport. Three seats had been reserved for me on a very full aeroplane to Liverpool so that my damaged leg could be kept in a raised position during the flight, and I was taken from the airport back to my home by taxi.
A day or two after my return home, I telephoned the AAC(UK) Office in Wareham and told them about my accident. They immediately sent me a claim form which, as instructed, I forwarded directly to the OeAV’s insurers in Innsbruck. They use a fully bilingual German/English form, i.e. all entries can be completed in either German or English.
Some two weeks after my accident, I received an invoice for just under CHF 2,400 from Air Zermatt for my scenic flight to Visp, payable within 30 days. (I was very pleased to see that rescue flights do not attract VAT in Switzerland!) Although this invoice was only issued in German, I do not think anyone would have any problems with a document of this kind. I simply forwarded it to Innsbruck, and as I did not receive any reminder from Zermatt, I assume that the bill was promptly settled. The whole process was thus very simple, and it clearly showed me that the insurance included with AAC(UK) membership is a highly valuable benefit. Due to the restricted medical benefits included, it is however important that a valid EHIC card is obtained before travelling abroad and preferably carried when mountaineering in countries where EHIC applies. In case this should be lost whilst on holiday, it is useful if your EHIC number is given to a contact person in the UK, or failing that, your NI number could be made available in a similar way. If travelling abroad by car, appropriate repatriation cover through a motoring organisation or insurance is highly useful, as having a car repatriated from far away could otherwise be a financially memorable experience. For my part, I am now fully recovered and have been on quite a few high mountains in the Alps since my somewhat painful experience in the summer of 2008. As this was my first real accident after 50 years of mountaineering, I hope I will not need to use the AAC(UK)’s excellent insurance services again for at least another 49 years.
Editorial Note: An EHIC has a 5 year life; check the expiry date on yours before departure.
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Last updated 20 February 2010