Adventure travellers may need supplementary coverage

Dangerous sports and high risk activities require more coverage

Travel Insurance News - 03/04/2008

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While many of today’s travellers’ are heading abroad without travel insurance, one travellers knows first hand just how important that policy can be.

Denver resident Jerry Shirley left the United States for an adventure vacation in Costa Rica. Before he left, he decided to buy supplementary insurance, to protect him while he participated in adventure sports abroad.

Shirley was on a jungle zip line when the accident happened. The zip line had no braking system and on his fifth time zipping down the cable, he was unable to stop his descent and collided with an attendant and a tree at the end of the cable.

The accident shattered Shirley’s leg and ankle, requiring 15 pins and screws, two plates and a total of three operations. Without his supplementary insurance, Shirley would have found himself paying thousands.

Not only do many travellers either forget to buy insurance or even consider it a bad investment, but those who hold policies often are unaware of what is covered and what is not. In many cases, medial and life insurance plans exclude participation in high-risk sports such as sky diving, white-water rafting and parasailing. Anyone participating in those sports abroad will need to purchase additional insurance.

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