ndvalium
Rescue Director
I have been asked a few times lately about what happens when someone gets hurt at an off road race. Not about how medical care is provided but what happens afterwards. When the bills start coming in. Having shared way too many Go Fund Me links in the last decade, I can tell you no one is ever truly prepared.
There appears to be a big misconception among some on what is covered and how it is paid. Even some of the top tier experienced and funded teams. So I thought I would try and help everyone understand based on my experiences.
I won’t speak of SCORE as I have not been involved with them since Sal and Paul turned it over and am not familiar with their Mexico operations these days but as far as racing any form of motorsports in the US, the race promoter does not carry medical policies to cover racers in the event they are injured. Best in the Desert, SNORE, MORE, KOH – None of them carry Medical insurance for your injuries if something happens. Racers, Crews and anyone else associated is responsible for their own care and subsequently, their own medical costs. This includes but not limited to: Transportation by ground or air, Emergency Care, Hospitalization, Rehabilitation or anything else associated to your care. If you are a SCORE racer, I encourage you to ask SCORE directly how it works in Mexico.
Promoters carry many forms of insurance and almost all are focused at various forms of liability insurance that is required by the various permitting agencies.
Crossing a state highway? That’s a policy. Take out a fence on private property? That’s a different policy. Selling alcohol on site? Oh that’s a big policy. Allowing spectators? Let me add some zeros to this policy. These are all liability policies in various formats. When you pay an “insurance fee” to a promoter on their entry form, these are the insurances you are covering. Not you own private medical coverage.
Now many will say, “Well I have medical coverage through my job.” or whatever:
That more often than not means absolutely nothing. In almost every single policy, there will be a disclaimer that will eliminate coverage for competitive events. This can be Motorsports or even something as simple as many of the 1 ball sports. You often need an addendum to your policy to cover higher risk activities. Now in some cases, the way the medical facility charts the incident, insurance may cover it not knowing it was part of an organized race.
I know of at least one race promoter that is looking seriously into medical coverage for racers. While I wish them nothing but success, 28 years of professional band aid applier experience tells me this is potentially not only cost prohibitive but in order to cover any person, from any country, and any pre-existing medical condition could be a significant challenge to coordinate.
Now lets talk Helicopters:
First off lets be clear, helicopters in Mexico, vs the US is like comparing Apples to Matchbox cars. In Mexico your private helicopter can, will and should be used to get you the help you need in a shortest amount of time. Your “personal paramedics” on board are going to do what they can to help you in the situation and have very little if any personal liability.
In the US however, the FAA governs things that happen on board helicopters. Patients being flown for definitive care at a medical facility can only be transported by medical licensed and certified helicopters. If you show up at a US hospital in a private helicopter your pilot can potentially end up in a lot of trouble. Are some willing to risk that for the situation? Yes they are. Is it the right thing to do in some situations? Yeah it probably is! I have made that call before. Given the facts of the situation at the time, I would do it again.
A private helicopter in the US with a paramedic on board is not a medical helicopter. They are not allowed to practice as a paramedic and are violating many laws by attempting anything more than basic first aid. If your team Paramedic is starting IV’s, giving medications, or other advanced skills, they are violating many laws and are risking their license / certification. Again there are many willing to risk this and that is their decision to make. This is number one reason my team has transitioned to a professional, licensed, insured group with an on site medical director at events. It allows us much more capabilities and skills to provide to the racers.
I have in the past pushed extensively getting medical helicopter insurance. Air Method’s Advantage is the one I recommended to the racers I support as they cover all the events that we do races at. However as some found out this last month, that program has been shut down. (The insurance not Air Methods) I am currently waiting for communication back on what that means for the future. They are no longer accepting renewals but current policies remain in place until their expiration. I pay for my entire team to carry this insurance each year in case things go bad. A 50-60,000.00 bill wiped clean by a 35.00 subscription per year is a no brainer for me. Hopefully something new comes out for this type coverage and I will share when I get answers. Their current statement is their patient advocacy counselors will work on your behalf to negotiate a bill settlement, but I am not a fan of this type response.
I don’t have all the answers but I know some in this group have done far more homework than I have on this subject.
So lets hear it. What has worked for you and your team in Mexico or in the US and what do you need to look for and add to your policies to save yourself and your family from deep financial impact when something happens?
There appears to be a big misconception among some on what is covered and how it is paid. Even some of the top tier experienced and funded teams. So I thought I would try and help everyone understand based on my experiences.
I won’t speak of SCORE as I have not been involved with them since Sal and Paul turned it over and am not familiar with their Mexico operations these days but as far as racing any form of motorsports in the US, the race promoter does not carry medical policies to cover racers in the event they are injured. Best in the Desert, SNORE, MORE, KOH – None of them carry Medical insurance for your injuries if something happens. Racers, Crews and anyone else associated is responsible for their own care and subsequently, their own medical costs. This includes but not limited to: Transportation by ground or air, Emergency Care, Hospitalization, Rehabilitation or anything else associated to your care. If you are a SCORE racer, I encourage you to ask SCORE directly how it works in Mexico.
Promoters carry many forms of insurance and almost all are focused at various forms of liability insurance that is required by the various permitting agencies.
Crossing a state highway? That’s a policy. Take out a fence on private property? That’s a different policy. Selling alcohol on site? Oh that’s a big policy. Allowing spectators? Let me add some zeros to this policy. These are all liability policies in various formats. When you pay an “insurance fee” to a promoter on their entry form, these are the insurances you are covering. Not you own private medical coverage.
Now many will say, “Well I have medical coverage through my job.” or whatever:
That more often than not means absolutely nothing. In almost every single policy, there will be a disclaimer that will eliminate coverage for competitive events. This can be Motorsports or even something as simple as many of the 1 ball sports. You often need an addendum to your policy to cover higher risk activities. Now in some cases, the way the medical facility charts the incident, insurance may cover it not knowing it was part of an organized race.
I know of at least one race promoter that is looking seriously into medical coverage for racers. While I wish them nothing but success, 28 years of professional band aid applier experience tells me this is potentially not only cost prohibitive but in order to cover any person, from any country, and any pre-existing medical condition could be a significant challenge to coordinate.
Now lets talk Helicopters:
First off lets be clear, helicopters in Mexico, vs the US is like comparing Apples to Matchbox cars. In Mexico your private helicopter can, will and should be used to get you the help you need in a shortest amount of time. Your “personal paramedics” on board are going to do what they can to help you in the situation and have very little if any personal liability.
In the US however, the FAA governs things that happen on board helicopters. Patients being flown for definitive care at a medical facility can only be transported by medical licensed and certified helicopters. If you show up at a US hospital in a private helicopter your pilot can potentially end up in a lot of trouble. Are some willing to risk that for the situation? Yes they are. Is it the right thing to do in some situations? Yeah it probably is! I have made that call before. Given the facts of the situation at the time, I would do it again.
A private helicopter in the US with a paramedic on board is not a medical helicopter. They are not allowed to practice as a paramedic and are violating many laws by attempting anything more than basic first aid. If your team Paramedic is starting IV’s, giving medications, or other advanced skills, they are violating many laws and are risking their license / certification. Again there are many willing to risk this and that is their decision to make. This is number one reason my team has transitioned to a professional, licensed, insured group with an on site medical director at events. It allows us much more capabilities and skills to provide to the racers.
I have in the past pushed extensively getting medical helicopter insurance. Air Method’s Advantage is the one I recommended to the racers I support as they cover all the events that we do races at. However as some found out this last month, that program has been shut down. (The insurance not Air Methods) I am currently waiting for communication back on what that means for the future. They are no longer accepting renewals but current policies remain in place until their expiration. I pay for my entire team to carry this insurance each year in case things go bad. A 50-60,000.00 bill wiped clean by a 35.00 subscription per year is a no brainer for me. Hopefully something new comes out for this type coverage and I will share when I get answers. Their current statement is their patient advocacy counselors will work on your behalf to negotiate a bill settlement, but I am not a fan of this type response.
I don’t have all the answers but I know some in this group have done far more homework than I have on this subject.
So lets hear it. What has worked for you and your team in Mexico or in the US and what do you need to look for and add to your policies to save yourself and your family from deep financial impact when something happens?
