If you plan on taking a trip to the Everest Base Camp, make sure that you are insured. As prevention is better than cure, you should always cover your travel and trekking experience with insurance, even if you are an experienced trekker.
Moreover, the trek to the Everest Base Camp is not very severe in itself. The thing is that even small injuries or cases of lost goods can lead to severe challenges and threats on the trek. Therefore, you need to be completely aware of what you will be facing at the high altitude, and what type of insurance you must get.
To sum it all up, we have prepared this post to guide and ensure your protection while on the trek. So, let’s go through some of the challenges that might end up getting out of hand.
Altitude Sickness: The Everest Base Camp’s altitude is 5,364 meters above sea level, while the highest point stands at 5,550 meters in Kalapatthar. even if you are an experienced hiker, this is a significant physical challenge.
Furthermore, general trekking insurance only covers you up to 3,000 meters. As a result, you should check with your agency for their recommended insurance to ensure that you have adequate coverage. Everest Base Camp Trek Insurance is recommended for treks up to 6,000 meters.
If you experience symptoms of altitude sickness while hiking, you must take two steps. The first step is to use proper acclimation techniques. Because Acute Mountain Sickness is the cause of altitude sickness, adhering to proper acclimation techniques as prescribed by your guide is critical.
Second, if the acclimation procedures are ineffective, your only option is to descend. The descent can be accomplished by mule ride or medical evacuation by helicopter. As a result, if you are properly insured, you will not have to pay for evacuation or medical treatment.
Trekking Accidents During Everest Base Camp Trek
Accidents while trekking is uncommon but unavoidable. Minor accidents can quickly become severe in the high altitude and bitter cold. This means that twisting an ankle, pulling a muscle, or cutting yourself on a rock can become excruciatingly painful.
However, the Everest Base Camp Trek is the most popular. You will find other adventurers and a first-aid kit easily even if you don’t have one.
Nevertheless, you should always check your insurance policy for helicopter evacuation in the event of a serious injury. This should be added to your standard hospitalization coverage.
Illness and Medical Evacuation:
Traveling to a new location can result in a variety of illnesses. Similarly, while trekking, you may experience diarrhea or dehydration. Before traveling to Nepal, it is best to consult with your doctor. To avoid illness, you can get the necessary vaccinations.
So, if you are unlucky and fall ill, make sure you are prepared for it. Your insurance should provide coverage for a wide range of illnesses as well as proper medical evacuation. As previously stated, helicopter evacuation is the most effective method. However, if you are not insured, it can cost you a fortune.
Baggage Loss/ Theft:
This is the most incurred accident while traveling. Therefore, most insurances already cover the loss of goods. But, what you should be aware of is the value of goods covered by your insurance.
While trekking, you need to carry essentials such as hiking boots, trekking equipment, sleeping bags, and so on. These goods result in quite an expensive bundle. Consequently, the loss or theft of these goods can be quite troublesome, to say the least.
If your insurance does not cover much, you should carry the expensive materials in your hand luggage, and always wear your hiking boots. Hence, in case of any mishap, you can replace some cheaper goods and still keep on trekking.
Flights/ Trip Cancellation:
International flight cancellations are covered by your insurance. But, included in your Everest Base Camp Trek, is the domestic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Make sure that this domestic flight cancellation is also covered by your insurance.
As for trip cancellation, it is the worst-case scenario. This happens when the weather is extremely bad. Most of the general insurance covers this but make sure you check to confirm.
Things to Consider While Purchasing the Everest Base Camp Trek Insurance/ How to Choose Everest base camp trek insurance?
Excess Amount: The excess amount in your insurance will give you additional financial security. Most of the insurance includes an excess amount. This is the amount you have to pay if you decide to claim on your insurance. It is a way of you accepting a small part of the risk yourself.
For example: If your health deteriorates and you need to take the helicopter to descend, the cost of a rescue helicopter might be USD3,500-USD10,000. If you had a $500 excess, you’d pay the first $500 and the insurer would pay the remainder.
While a few insurances have USD700-900 as the excess amount, the ideal excess amount would be USD100-200. Where you pay USD100-200, and the insurance covers the rest.
Claim Policy: Another important consideration when purchasing insurance is the insurance claim policy. You can make a claim for your insurance in a variety of ways. You must ensure that you are able to claim the funds as soon as possible.
Some insurance policies can only be claimed after your return to your home country. Therefore, if you don’t have enough funds already, you will be in a tight spot.
Extra Expense Coverage: Various other expenses require to be covered and you should be aware of those. Some of them are hotel booking cancellations, medical treatment, and loss of goods. You should make sure to choose the insurance that gives you the most coverage and benefits.
List of Travel Insurance
Australia
www.fastcover.com.au -Fast Cover
www.worldnomads.com/au/ -World Nomads
https://www.sevencorners.com – Seven Corners
Australia & New Zealand
www.covermore.com.au (Cover-More Travel Insurance)
www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au and www.tid.com.au (Travel Insurance Direct)
www.1cover.com.au (Cover Travel Insurance)
www.internationalsos.com/en (International SOS)
USA & Canada
www.worldnomads.com (World Nomad)
www.mondial-assistance.ca (Mondial Assistance)
www.travelinsurance.ca (TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators Ltd.)
www.travelguard.com (Travel Guard)
www.globalrescue.com (Global Rescue)
United Kingdom
https://www.campbellirvineinsurance.com (Campbell Irvine)
https://www.snowcard.co.uk/ (Snowcard)
www.thebmc.co.uk (British Mountaineering Council)
www.firstassist.co.uk (First Assist Services Limited)
http://www.alpine-club.org.uk (Alpine Club)
Europe
www.europ-assistance.com (Europ Assistance)
www.ihi.com (IHI Bupa)
http://www.alpine-club.org.uk (For Austrian and Eastern Europe)
Poland
www.signal-iduna.pl (Signal Iduna Ubezpieczenia)
Singapore & Malaysia
www.worldnomads.com (World Nomad)
www.msig.com.my (MSIG Assist)
RHB
Cigna
Netherlands
www.alpenverein.at World Wide Insurance Alpenverein)
Nordic Countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
SOS International
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