Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance

You must have adequate travel insurance for your Kilimanjaro trek; you should also check that the policy covers you for high altitude climbing and trekking. I  recommend that you make copies of your policy and keep one copy with you at all times.

Your travel insurance policy should include cover for the following;

  • Cancellation and curtailment
  • Medical expenses including; rescue and repatriation
  • Emergency medical treatment
  • Personal luggage and possessions
  • Personal accident
  • Personal liability and legal expenses
  • Holiday insurance policies that include cover for trekking over 4000m

There are many insurance companies that offer policies that include high altitude insurance and will cover you for climbing Kilimanjaro, here are some of the policies I found that offer this type of cover:

Dogtag – SPORT+ insurance policy; which has three levels of cover.

Snowcard – Activity level 3 insurance policy; which has four levels of cover.

British Mountaineering Council – Trek insurance policy; covers Kilimanjaro but not Umbwe route. (Requires BMC or BMC affiliated club membership).

You must have adequate travel and medical insurance to cover all your vacation activities, including climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and emergency repatriation to your home country. Being a wilderness destination, medical infrastructure in major centers is remote from many locations visited. Therefore coverage for medical evacuation by a Tanzania based scheme is recommended in case of a medical emergency. This is especially relevant to those climbing Kilimanjaro. Government provision of emergency medical response does not exist in Tanzania and thus is carried out by specialized private local medical operators. While international medical insurance is essential it must be combined with a scheme provided by a local medical evacuation operator in order to prevent delay in mobilizing effective local emergency response.

What’s the difference between Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance?

Travel Insurance insures your financial investment in your trip. Typically it covers such things as the cost of lost baggage and cancelled flights, but it may or may not cover costs of medical attention you may need while abroad. Travel Medical Insurance covers costs of medical attention you may need while abroad.

You can’t assume your medical insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave whether or not your medical insurance will cover you overseas.

Why you should be concerned about medical coverage abroad

In many countries, doctors and hospitals expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. / European health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. Those that do provide “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad may not pay for your medical evacuation back to your home country which can cost USD $10,000.00 and up depending on your location and medical condition. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a good idea to take out another one for your trip.

Questions to ask your health insurance company

  1. Does this insurance policy cover emergency expenses abroad, such as returning me to my home country for treatment if I become seriously ill?
  2. Does this insurance cover high-risk activities such as parasailing, mountain climbing, scuba diving and off-roading?
  3. Does this policy cover pre-existing conditions?
  4. Does the insurance company require pre-authorizations or second opinions before emergency treatment can begin?
  5. Does the insurance company guarantee medical payments abroad?
  6. Will the insurance company pay foreign hospitals and foreign doctors directly?
  7. Does the insurance company have a 24-hour physician-backed support center?

Can your Government assist you if you become disabled overseas?

If you become ill or is seriously injured abroad, a consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends. If necessary a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds. Payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler.

For detailed information on physicians abroad, the authoritative reference is The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists, published for the American Board of Medical Specialists and its certifying member boards. U.S. embassies and consulates abroad maintain lists of hospitals and physicians, many of which are posted on the embassy or consulate web site.

When traveling carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of your insurance and a claim form and have a backup copy in your luggage.

Several private organizations will provide medical information and insurance for overseas travelers. Most charge a fee for this service. The following is provided for informational purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied.

U.S.-Based Air Ambulance or Medical Evacuation Companies

AIR AMBULANCE WORLDWIDE, INC.
35246 US Hwy 19 N #210
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
877-922-9675 / 727-781-1198
Fax: 727-786-0897
info@airambulanceworldwide.com

AIR MEDIC – AIR AMBULANCE OF AMERICA
Washington, PA
800-245-9987

AIR STAR INTERNATIONAL
Thermal, CA
800-991-2869 / 877-570-0911
Ft. Pierce, FL
888-633-5381 / 772-380-4167
jimh@americanjet.net
AirStar1@aol.comAMERICAN JETS

EUROP ASSISTANCE USA
4330 East-West Hwy, Suite 1000
Bethesda, MD 20814
240-330-1000
info@europassistance-usa.com

GLOBAL RESCUE LLC
Boston, MA
800-381-9754 / 617-459-4200
memberservices@globalrescue.com


LIFE GUARD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Las Vegas, NV
1-888-FLY’N-ICU (888-359-6428)
lgii@flyingicu.com

MEDAIRE
Tempe, AZ
480-333-3700
info@medaire.com

STAT AIR INTERNATIONAL
San Diego, CA
619-754-6550 / 800-557-5911
service@statair.com 

TRAVEL ASSIST NETWORK CORPORATION
South Bend, IN
866-500-0333 / 574-272-5400
info@travelassistnetwork.com

TRINITY AIR AMBULANCE INTERNATIONAL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
954-771-7911
Contact@TrinityAirAmbulance.com

TRAVELERS EMERGENCY NETWORK
Tierra Verde, FL
800-ASK-4-TEN
ten@intrex.net



International-Based Air Ambulance or Medical Evacuation Companies

AUSTRIAN AIR AMBULANCE
Vienna, Austria
43-1-40-144

JETFLITE
Helsinki International Airport
Vantaa, Finland
358-9-870-2544

EUROPASSISTANCE
Johannesburg, South Africa
27-11-315-3999

GERMAN AIR RESCUE (DRF)
Filderstadt, Germany
49-0711-7007-0
alarmzentrale@drf.de
LUXEMBOURG AIR RESCUE
Luxembourg
352-420-440-1

TYROL AIR AMBULANCE
Innsbruck, Austria
43-512-22422

IAS MEDICAL AIR AMBULANCE
London, England
+ 44 (0) 870-042-1465
info@iasmedical.com





U.S.-Based Travel Insurance Companies

ACCESS AMERICA, INC.
Richmond, VA
866-807-3982

ASA, INC.
International Health Insurance
Phoenix, AZ
888-ASA-8288

BETINS
Tacoma, WA
866-552-8834 / 253-238-6382
info@betins.com

CLEMENTS INTERNATIONAL
Washington, DC
800-872-0067 / 202-872-0060
info@clements.com

CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION
San Diego, CA
888-873-5484

EUROP ASSISTANCE USA
4330 East-West Hwy Suite 1000
Bethesda, MD 20814
240-330-1000
info@europassistance-usa.com

EXPAT GLOBAL MEDICAL
Advance, NC
336-998-9583
john@expatglobalmedical.com

GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE PLANS
Marsh Consumer
Washington, DC
800-282-4495 / 202-367-5097
gateway@marshpm.com

HEALTH CARE GLOBAL
Middleburg, VA
800-237-6615 / 540-687-3166

HIGHWAY TO HEALTH
Fairfax, VA
703-322-1515

INSUREMYTRIP.COM
Warwick, RI
800-487-4722 / 401-773-9300

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GROUP (IMG)
Indianapolis, IN
800-628-4664 / 317-655-4500

MULTINATIONAL UNDERWRITERS, INC.
Indianapolis, IN
800-605-2282
insurance@mnui.com
M. H. ROSS TRAVEL INSURANCE SERVICES
Northridge, CA
800-423-3632

PETERSEN INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS, INC.
Valencia, CA
800-345-8816
piu@piu.org

QUOTEWRIGHT.COM
America’s Travel Insurance Store
East Hartford, CT
800-821-4940
service@quotewright.com

SEVEN CORNERS, INC.
Carmel, IN
800-335-0611 / 317-575-2652

TRAVEL ASSIST NETWORK CORPORATION
South Bend, IN
866-500-0333 / 574-272-5400
info@travelassistnetwork.com

TRAVELEX
Omaha, NE
800-228-9792

TRAVEL GUARD
Stevens Point, WI
800-826-1300 / 715-345-0505

TRAVELINSURED.COM
E. Hartford, CT
800-243-3174

TRAVEL INSURANCE SERVICES
InterMedical Division
Walnut Creek, CA
800-937-1387 / 925-932-1387

TRAVELSAFE INSURANCE
40 Commerce Drive P.O. Box 7050
Wyomissing, PA 19610-6050
888-885-7233
Fax: 800-303-6015
info@travelsafe.com

USA ASSIST
Worldwide Travel Insurance
Los Angeles, CA
877-539-8619










Foreign Based Companies

INTEGRA GLOBAL
Hallein, Austria
43-6245-71303
info@integraglobal.com