Rescue Insurance
Coverage A – Basic Rescue Insurance
Subject to the terms and conditions of this policy and the limits of liability set forth in the Declarations, We will pay on behalf of any Member in good standing of the Named Insured all Emergency Rescue and Evacuation (including helicopter evacuation) costs and expenses which any such Member becomes legally obligated to pay for Emergency Rescue and Evacuation of such Member anywhere in the world. We will settle or defend, as We consider appropriate, any claim or suit for Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs. Our duty to pay for Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs or to settle or defend claims or suits seeking such costs ends when We have paid our limit of liability for such costs as set forth in the declarations page of this policy and the following.
Worldwide Outfitter & Guides Association, through its Underwriters, will pay any and all emergency rescue and evacuation costs and expenses for which an American Alpine Club (“AAC”) Member in good standing may be legally responsible for emergency rescue and evacuations of such AAC Members anywhere in the world, subject to the following:
The maximum payment per club member is $5,000.00 in any annual policy period. Covered emergency expenses for transportation, medical services and supplies necessarily incurred during the rescue and evacuations resulting from hiking, climbing or backcountry skiing activities are covered. In addition, up to $2,000.00 will be reimbursed for the costs of retrieving and transporting to the nearest international airport the body of a covered AAC Member who died while engaging in the above covered activities.
There is a $200.00 deductible per Club Member per accident.
Emergency rescues and evacuations relating to trips to climb; peaks over 6,000 meters are not covered, except as set forth in Section II below.
Such rescues or evacuation must be necessary for medical or safety reasons. The emergency rescue and evacuation must either (a) be certified by a legally licensed physician to have been necessary for emergency injury or illness or (b) be certified by a mountaineering ranger or the mountain rescue officer in charge to have been necessary under the circumstances to prevent likely injury. Rescues or evacuations for convenience only or otherwise not meeting the above criteria are not covered.
Coverage begins and ends at the trailhead. Rescues or evacuations relating to accidents while traveling to or returning from the trailhead are specifically Excluded. Costs relating to searches for missing persons are specifically Excluded.
Coverage is excess to any other valid collectible insurance, which the insured person may have to cover any qualified rescue or evacuation. A claim for payment must first be made by the insured person to any health, travel or other insurance which the insured may have in effect that will pay all or part of the rescue, medical or emergency evacuation expenses.
There is a per accident limit of $10,000.00. If more than one AAC Member is involved in an emergency rescue or evacuation resulting from the same occurrence, the total amount payable will be no more than $10,000.00. This amount will be pro-rated to the persons insured in a proportion equal to their covered expenses. If a rescue or evacuation involves one or more AAC Members and one or more Non-AAC Members, common rescue expenses will be paid on a pro-rate basis for the AAC member ONLY, up to the per Member limit of $5,000.00 and per accident limit of $10,000.00.
- No more than $100,000.00 in covered emergency rescue, evacuation and accidental medical expenses will be paid in any annual policy period for all persons insured under the AAC program. The costs of military evacuation flights operated by the U.S. Military or Air National Guard within the United States are not covered costs or expenses, unless the insured is billed for such costs by such entities.
Coverage B - Optional Per-trip Coverage
Upon submission and acceptance of a separate application for coverage completed by a Member and upon payment of an additional premium to be established by Us, and subject to the terms and conditions of this policy and the limits of liability set forth in the Declarations, We will pay on behalf of any Member in good standing of the Named Insured all Emergency Rescue and Evacuation (including helicopter evacuation costs and expenses which any such Member becomes legally obligated to pay for Emergency Rescue and Evacuation of such Member on trips to elevations above six thousand (6,000) meters in height anywhere in the world. We will settle or defend, as We consider appropriate, and claim or suit for Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs. Our duty to pay for Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs or to settle or defend claims or suits seeking such costs ends when We have paid or limit of liability for such costs as set forth in the declarations page of this policy.
Applications for Optional Per Trip Coverage must be submitted to us at least thirty days prior to the commencement of the trip.
The additional premium must be paid before We will issue the Optional Per Trip Coverage. Optional Per Trip Coverage will only pay Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs for Members who are specifically listed on the endorsement or memorandum issued for such coverage while on the specific trip for which the coverage was issued.
AAC Members in good standing may also obtain emergency rescue and evacuation coverage for trips Worldwide as follows:
A separate application must be made on forms provided by the Worldwide Outfitter & Guide Association. The form will require at least the following information.
a. Name and address of person to be insured.
b. Name, location and height of peak involve.
c. The duration of trip (trailhead to trail head).
The insured person shall pay at the time the application is accepted. At the time the application is accepted, the insured person shall pay per the following schedule.
a. $9.00 per day or $100.00 minimum charge for trips to peaks between 6,000 and 6,999 meters.
b. $12.00 per day or $150.00 minimum charge for trips to peaks over 7,000 and 7,999 meters.
c. $18.00 per day or $225.00 minimum charge for trips to peaks between 8,000 meters and up.
There will be a $10.00 processing fee and also a late fee applied to any trip application not received at least four weeks prior to your departure date of 50%. There is a $500.00 deductible per Club Member per occurrence. All of the provisions of Section I above apply, except for subsections 2 and 3.
Optional Per-trip Application Form
Exclusions
We do not provide coverage under this policy for:
- Any Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs on trips to elevations over six thousand (6,000) meters in height worldwide, regardless of the altitude at which the Emergency Rescue and Evacuation takes place, however, this exclusion will not apply to any member who has purchased Coverage B – Optional Per Trip Coverage, for the particular trip upon which the Emergency Rescue and Evacuation takes place;
- Any Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs on trips worldwide unless the Member incurring such costs has purchased Coverage B – Optional Per Trip Coverage on trips over the six thousand (6,000) meters, any trips under the six thousand (6,000) meters is covered under the basic policy, for the particular trip upon which the Emergency Rescue and Evacuation takes place;
- Any Emergency Rescue and Evacuation that is not necessary for safety or medical reasons;
- Any Emergency Rescue and Evacuation which takes place prior to arrival at the trail head;
- Any Emergency Rescue and Evacuation which takes place while returning from the trail head;
- Costs for or arising from searches for missing persons;
- Costs of military evacuation flights conducted by components of the United States Military or National Guard within the United States unless the Member is billed for such costs by the Military or National Guard entity involved;
- Costs or expenses of medical treatment except for emergency first aid rendered to the Member in connection with and during the course of the Emergency Rescue and Evacuation;
- Costs of transport to hospitals other than the hospital with facilities for treating the Member’s injuries which is located nearest to the point of rescue.
Conditions
- Member’s Duties Following an Emergency Rescue and Evacuation
a. Obtain the written certification of
i. A legally licensed physician that the rescue or evacuation was necessary for medical reasons due to injury or illness or from a mountaineering ranger or the mountain rescue; or
ii. A mountaineering ranger or the mountain rescue officer in charge of the rescue and/or evacuation that the rescue and or evacuation was necessary under the circumstances to prevent life threatening injury and was not for convenience.
b. Within thirty (30) days of the completion of the rescue:
i. Submit the claim to us in writing with the following documentation:
The written certification required by paragraph a) of this Conditions Section:
Copies of all claims, bills and demands for payment received from any person or party for services performed in connection with the rescue/evacuation;
A detailed explanation of the events and occurrences which gave rise to the rescue or evacuation and of the evacuation itself, including the identities and addresses of all other persons who were with the Member at the time of the events which gave rise to the rescue and of all organizations and persons known to have been involved in the rescue; and
All documentation in your possession relating to the rescue or evacuation.
ii. The claim is to be submitted to:
Prime Insurance Syndicate, Inc.
8722 South 300 West
Sandy, UT 84070
phone: 800.321.1493
fax: 800.482.4337A copy of the claim must be submitted to:
Doug Colwell
The American Alpine Club
175 East 50th Street
Boise, ID 83714
phone: 208.344.6565
fax: 208.344.7398
email: dcolwell@harrisdean.com
- Other Insurance
a. The insurance provided by this policy will be excess over any other valid and collectible insurance available to the Named Insured or to the Member whether such other insurance is stated to be primary, excess or contingent;
b. when both this insurance and other insurance provide on the same basis, whether primary, excess or contingent, We shall pay that proportion of the Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs set forth in the applicable contribution provision below:
i. Contribution by Equal Shares – if such other insurance provides for contribution by equal shares, we shall not be liable for a greater proportion of such loss than that which would be payable if each insurer contributes an equal share until the share of each insurer equals the lowest applicable limit of liability of any one insurer, or the full amount of the loss paid. With respect to any amount of the loss not so paid, the remaining insurers will then contribute an equal share of the remaining amount of the loss until each such insurer has paid its limit in full or the full amount of the loss is paid;
ii. Contribution by Limits - if all such other insurance does not provide for contribution by equal shares, we shall not be liable for a greater proportion of such loss than the applicable limit of liability under this Coverage Contract bears to the total applicable limit of liability of all other valid and collectible insurance or self-insurance against such loss.
c. If this Coverage Contract and any other Coverage Contract issued to you by us or any company affiliated with Us apply to the same Emergency Rescue and Evacuation, then our total maximum limit of liability under all the Coverage Contracts issued to you by us and any companies affiliated with us shall not exceed the highest applicable limit of liability of any one Coverage Contract issued by us or by an affiliated company specifically to apply as excess insurance over this Coverage Contract.
Limits of Liability
a. Per Member for Each Event Limit of Liability, as shown in the Declarations, is the maximum amount We will pay for Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs for any single Member for any one Event.
b. Per Party for each Event Limit Liability, as shown in the Declarations, is the maximum amount We will pay for Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs for any single Member for any one Event. Where more than one Member is involved in an Emergency Rescue and Evacuation arising from the same event, the Per Party for Each Event limit of liability, if less than the total of the Per Member for Each Event limits of liability applicable to the Emergency Rescue and Evacuation, shall be allocated to the Members involved in proportion to their individual liabilities.
c. Annual Aggregate Limit of Liability, as shown in the Declarations, is the maximum amount We will pay for all Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs for all Members during the term of this policy. Purchase of Coverage B – Optional Per Trip Coverage by Members shall NOT serve to increase the Annual Aggregate Limit of Liability as shown in the declarations and payment made under Optional Per Trip Coverage shall be included within this limit.
Deductibles
a. The Deductible Per Member for Each Event set forth in the Declarations shall be the amount of Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs which shall be paid by the Member for each Emergency Rescue and Evacuation for which the Member is legally obligated to pay.
b. Coverage B – Optional Per Trip Coverage Deductible Per Member shall be the amount of Emergency Rescue and Evacuation costs which shall be paid by a Member who has purchased Coverage B – Optional Per Trip Coverage for each Emergency Rescue and Evacuation for which the Member is legally obligated to pay.
Legal Action Against Us - No person or organization has a right under this Coverage Contract to:
a. Join the Named Insured or the Insurer as a party to any suit against an insured; or
b. Sue the Named Insured or the Insurer under this Coverage Contract unless all of the terms of this Coverage Contract have been fully complied with.
c. A person or organization may sue the Insurer to recover on an agreed settlement or a final judgment obtained after an actual trial against a Member, but the Insurer will not be liable for damages that are not payable under the terms of this policy, or that are in excess of the applicable limit of insurance available to the insured. An agreed settlement means a settlement and release of liability sighed and/or authorized in writing by the Insurer or the insurers authorized representative.
Definitions
Emergency Rescue and Evacuation, whenever used in this policy, shall mean the rescue of a person covered under this policy during the course of any climb, hike, trek, expedition or related activity and their evacuation to the nearest appropriate location of safety or, if appropriate, to the nearest hospital with facilities for treating their injuries, provided that such rescue and evacuation is necessary because:
a. The person covered by this policy has been injured to an extent that makes completing the activity or withdrawing from it without assistance which is not available from other persons in their party unreasonably dangerous or impossible; or
b. Unexpected natural conditions arise which make completing the activity or withdrawing from it without assistance which is not available from other persons in the party unreasonably dangerous or impossible.
Event, whenever used in this policy, shall mean the injury or unexpected natural conditions which give rise to an Emergency Rescue and Evacuation.
Insure, Named Insured or You, whenever used in this policy, shall mean the Named Insured identified in the Declarations.
Insurer, We or Us, whenever used in this policy, shall mean the company, syndicate or exchange issuing this policy.
Member, whenever used in this policy, shall mean a Member in good Standing of the Insured.
Administrative Matter
The AAC will provide the Worldwide Outfitter & Guides Association (the "Association") the number of AAC Members in good standing at the beginning and end of the policy period. The premium due will be calculated based upon the number of Members at the beginning of the policy period. At the end of the policy period an audit will be completed of Members/participants and guest days used during the policy period.
After receipt of a claim by the Worldwide Outfitters & Guides Association claims office, the AAC will promptly certify whether or not the claimant was a Member of the AAC in good standing at the time of the rescue or evacuation involved in the claim submitted.
"Affiliated," "corporate" or "temporary" Members of the AAC will not be covered. The AAC, Lloyd’s Of London and the Association will jointly evaluate the extension of the rescue insurance program to such Members, including the premium and terms and conditions under which such coverage might be extended.
The Association will promptly notify the AAC of all claims made and will keep the AAC up to date regarding the processing of such claims.
The Worldwide Outfitter & Guides Association herein agrees that it will not offer climbing emergency rescue, evacuation and medical coverage insurance to any person or entity, except through the AAC program described above, as long as the AAC maintains the above insurance through the Worldwide Outfitter & Guides Association program.