The Adventure Community Looks At Health Insurance

In a follow up to our post on the challenge of finding health insurance for those who engage in "high risk" adventure activities such as rock climbing, here we look at a case study involving one of the most high risk activities out there today: BASE jumping.

BASE jumper prepares to launch from Christ
the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro

On November 19, 2012, professional BASE jumper Jill Kuzman had just made her 4th jump from a towering sandstone cliff near Moab, Utah, when she experienced every BASE jumper's worst nightmare - her parachute opened backwards, causing her to plummet to the desert floor. Kuzman broke her leg on impact but was lucky to have the immediate assistance of medics and doctors who were jumping alongside her that day. Her competent companions treated her as they rushed Kuzman to the hospital, minimizing the consequences of a fall that could have turned out much worse. Today, Jill Kuzman is off crutches and moving toward a full recovery.

Unfortunately, like many athletes and adventurers, Jill Kuzman did not have health insurance coverage at the time of the incident and quickly racked up $120,000 in medical bills. Friends pitched in and Kuzman herself reached out on Facebook for donations to help offset her cost, bringing in close to $10,000 toward her bills, but a majority of her expenses still remain.

Not long after Kuzman's incident something of a firestorm, focused on uninsured BASE jumpers and adventure seekers, erupted on BASEjumper.com, with some contributors voicing support, others exasperation that someone would engage in such high risk activities uninsured, when accidents are so likely to occur. In his article The Adventurer's Health Insurance Conundrum on National Geographic's Adventure Blog, James Mills outlines the argument that unfolded on the site and examines some of the points that were brought to light, which adventure-seekers across a number of sports must grapple with.

Though Jill Kuzman was not specifically named, Mills points out that many involved in the online exchange felt that she was the unnamed reason for the outpouring of frustration. In her defense, James Mills states, "to her credit Kuzman made a good faith effort to acquire health insurance. Unfortunately as a single payer with three pre-existing conditions, including seasonal allergies, the cost was prohibitively expensive."

Some activities, such as kayaking waterfalls, carry more
risk than many insurance companies may want to take on

And so it is not only with Jill Kuzman, but with countless others. In fact, Mills himself admits that, "from the time I was 26 right up to the day my wife and I got married at the age of 35 I had no health insurance what so ever. For that nine-year period I paddled, rock climbed, and skied with reckless abandon, keeping my fingers crossed for luck all the while knowing that I was one emergency room visit away from bankruptcy. Healthy as a horse, with no pre-existing conditions and gainfully self-employed, I made the reckless decision to go without. Only much later would I realize what a grave mistake that was."

James Mills concludes his in-depth article by musing on President Obama's Affordable Health Care Act, which takes effect in 2014. The Act will require everyone in the United States, with the exception of those in poverty and religious objectors, to purchase health care or face a fine. The speculation that produced the bill surmises that, as Mills puts it, "With a much deeper pool of potential policy holders the understanding is that premium costs will go down as market competition rises. But it remains to be seen."

As you push the envelope, your health insurance company
may push back - with increased rates or loss of coverage

I myself also maintain a certain degree of skepticism, since the major thrust of the Affordable Health Care Act seems to aim at enabling the "everyman" of the US to secure more affordable health care - certainly a worthy cause, but what of world travelers and adventurers, who do not fit "the norm" of American life? Admittedly, I only have surface knowledge of the Act, but as an expat living overseas I have a vested interest in how health insurance companies posture themselves toward overseas care - I can see it going either way. In much the same way, I am interested to see how those voluntarily choosing to pursue adventurous activities, especially "high risk" adventure, are incorporated into the new health insurance coverage landscape.

Mills closes his article astutely: "Even though she [Kuzman] did everything right at the time of her accident shouldn’t the final check of her BASE rig have been up to date medical coverage? Or should a broken and dysfunctional healthcare system be allowed to stifle the creative expression of flight and freedom at the core of the sport? For now it’s up to each individual to decide for themselves."