Medical Insurance through your Employer - Funny Story

[pullhigh 0]

In English please, not lawyerease...lol

[pullhigh 0]

Seriously, I think the main factor is that you had this insurance prior to skydiving. Everything I purchased has been since skydiving. The first policy was right after my first jump, and was part of a business buyout agreement.

Ganja

[Jayruss 0]

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Here is a stat for you... 1 in 10000 active jumpers in the US will die this year. Does 1 in 10000 active motorcycle racers die every year?

Death isn't what scares the insurance companies, death is cheap. It’s survival that cost so much.

__________________________________________________
"Beware how you take away hope from another human being."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

[pccoder 0]

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Here is a stat for you... 1 in 10000 active jumpers in the US will die this year. Does 1 in 10000 active motorcycle racers die every year?

Not sure if there even are 10,000 active professional motorcycle racers. However, I would think that at least 1 in 10,000 active motorcyclists will die each year. Aren't statistics fun?? We can make them look however we want to.

PcCoder.net

[Jimbo 0]

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Here is a stat for you... 1 in 10000 active jumpers in the US will die this year. Does 1 in 10000 active motorcycle racers die every year?

Not sure if there even are 10,000 active professional motorcycle racers. However, I would think that at least 1 in 10,000 active motorcyclists will die each year. Aren't statistics fun?? We can make them look however we want to.

PhreeZone misquoted the number, it's closer to 1 in 1,000, not 1 in 10,000. It's interesting though that you quoted motorcycle racing as being more dangerous than skydiving when you have statistics on neither. You'll find, as you stick around here and in the sport, that it's generally the low timers that say that skydiving is safer than (driving|motorcycle racing|other common activities), while those of us who have been here for a while disagree. If you pay close attention, you'll notice that as the newbies become more seasoned, that their opinion changes with time.

-
Jim

"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

[Tailgate 0]

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"I gotta get to the hospital on my own!"

Probable had to thumb a ride while waving my insurance card

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Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man- Sam Walter Foss

[craddock 0]

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Here is a stat for you

People sure do get hung up on stats don't they?

I have had a dozen injuries(fractures/soft tissue damage) to my apendages that required either surgery or had to be stablized via a cast/sling. Half of these were the result of mortorcyle/snowmobile racing (not always occuring durring the actual race)

I started skydiving in July of 98 and during the winter while I was recovering from a broken leg/ankle I purchased a Stiletto 107. I have been swooping high perfomance canopies ever since that cast came off.

Injuries to date Skydiving: 0

My family really wishes I would give up my other sports and just Skydive. It has been the safest thing I have done statisticaly.

I have witnessed my fair share of fatalities and lost good friends in both sports.

They are both dangerous.

And as far as insurance stats are concerned- Walking down the stairs and shoveling the roof are the most dangerous things I do. I seem to be rather clumbsy!

Josh

That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

[stoneycase 0]

LOL. Finally, someone has tapped into the real dangers....household chores and everyday life.

/looks for stats on injuries and fatalties caused by taking out the trash and/or doing the dishes.

Does whisky count as beer? - Homer
There's no justice like angry mob justice. - Skinner
Be careful. There's a limited future in low pulls - JohnMitchell

[happythoughts 0]

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Death isn't what scares the insurance companies, death is cheap. It’s survival that cost so much.

True. The biggest misunderstanding that non-jumpers have is that there is a lot of deaths. The biggest misunderstanding that new jumpers have is that death is all of it. There are a huge number of non-fatal injuries in skydiving. Insurance companies see that.

A femur ususally involves a $7K helicopter ride, $10K of surgery, and another $10 of hospital and rehab. That is what an insurance company actuary looks at, not what is in the newspaper.

Death is cheap, they aren't worried about that.

[Jayruss 0]

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True. The biggest misunderstanding that non-jumpers have is that there is a lot of deaths. The biggest misunderstanding that new jumpers have is that death is all of it. There are a huge number of non-fatal injuries in skydiving. Insurance companies see that.

A femur ususally involves a $7K helicopter ride, $10K of surgery, and another $10 of hospital and rehab. That is what an insurance company actuary looks at, not what is in the newspaper.

Death is cheap, they aren't worried about that.

Ah, if you understand hospital accounting you'd know that it's a

7K helicopter ride for which the insurance co will pay about $700

10K in surgery, more like 30k, for which the ins co will pay about 1k

however they will charge 7K and 30K to their income statements

__________________________________________________
"Beware how you take away hope from another human being."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

[Fast 0]

The coolest thing is that even with very frequent visits to the site over the last month, I don't have to look farther than the first page to see a discussion about saftey of jumping vs saftey of driving/etc.

I was denied coverage on x-rays and a ankle brace because the accident was skydiving related. Oh well. Next time that I end up needing medical attentnion I will make sure they don't find out how I hurt myself :D

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[champu 1]

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I was denied coverage on x-rays and a ankle brace because the accident was skydiving related. Oh well. Next time that I end up needing medical attentnion I will make sure they don't find out how I hurt myself :D

Every dropzone should paint yard markings in the landing area, and have a football and several sets of shoulder pads on hand at all times.

[Mak 0]

Before writing off the insurance company's perception of risk (as reflected in the premiums we pay for coverage) as unreasonable, realize that they do not go by what the actuary "perceives" as risky. Their rates are based on statistics. And statistically, skydiving is a dangerous activity. Our personal experience has little to do with the rates they charge, since they see an entire population of skydivers compared to most of our experiences.

That being said, it's funny how often I see the same reasoning repeated among my fellow skydivers - "I've been in/seen x number of car/motorcycle/whatever wrecks, but never been hurt skydiving. Therefore, skydiving is safer." I don't see too many of the 1000 jump+ folks say this - I wonder why.

And just to counter the numerous examples of happy safe skydiving vs deadly highway driving, in the five years I've been jumping I've known more people hurt/dead skydiving than I know hurt/killed in any other kind of accident. This doesn't mean that my experience reflects reality, it's just another data point and insurance rates are based on a collection of many such data points.

So, why the long-winded reply? Here's how to avoid paying high premia - get lost in the noise. For example, work for a big company which has many workers - where the additional risk you impose on the health carrier is within the statistical limits of the insurance company. Or, at the very least, don't draw attention to the fact that you skydive. If the contract doesn't specifically exclude skydiving you win. If it does the company you work for isn't likely going to pay higher rates overall just because of you anyway. The HR guy asking the insurance agent about you specifically is a bad move IMO.

Similarly for life insurance which often specifically excludes skydiving/GA accidents. Join a large enough group that has low-risk individuals - for example the ACM or IEEE (the engneers will understand), and get insurance through their group plans. But don't be under the illusion that skydiving is safer than most other things you do in life. It might make you feel better, but unless you're in a really hazardous occupation or you drive under the influence, it probably isn't true.

Mak

[BikerBabe 0]

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Here is a stat for you... 1 in 10000 active jumpers in the US will die this year. Does 1 in 10000 active motorcycle racers die every year?

No. I'm assuming you are including all forms of motorcycle racing, in which case there are definitely more than 10000 people doing it, many of them small children. It's rare to see a death because of all the safety requirements...

Part of the reson that insurance companies perceive (whatever...probably not the right word) motorcycle racing as less risky is the sheer number of rules and regulations the racing organizations have in regards to machines, safety equipment, race venue requirements, etc. If there were something in skydiving analogous to SNELL or a piece of safety gear that could act like a suit of 1/4 inch thick leather, the insurance companies might change their tunes.

Now from personal experience, both my husband and I suffered serious injuries doing our hobbies last year (me-skydiving, him-motorcycle roadracing), so thank god we're in the military and covered.
Both are risky, yes. Is skydiving more risky? Probably so.

Unfortunately, I bet the only way to get insurance companies to lower their rates/provide coverage for skydivers is to regulate skydiving more and more, which most of us don't want.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[Decibel 0]

If you're single and own about $5-10k of stuff (time to buy more rigs!), there's not much you need to worry about for life insurance, since that's about what it will cost to put you in the ground. Of course if you have kids it's a very different story; you need to make sure they at least know how to pack so they can feed themselves if you go! ;P

[PhreeZone 20]

Sorry, the Stat I put up was wrong. Its 1:1000 skydivers die every year.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[adamUK 3]

Similar experience:

Recently went to the local bank and my personal banker (the bank gives you an inexperienced new hire to cross sell you stuff to make you feel as though the bank values your custom). Anyway, today's thing was life insurance. So I patiently listened to the spiel and then got to the questions bit when I told her (smiling) that I enjoy rock climbing, ice climbing, have a motorcycle licence, surfing, snowboarding and have just taken up sky diving. I think she relised that I just been intentiionally wasting her time.

I do the same with those turkeys who ring me as soon as I get home from work: I let them patter on for a good 5-10 minutes thinking that they will get the sale - then tell them I am not interested and hang up - buggers they are!

Hmm, looking at the list I seem to be a bit of an adrenaline junkie but I am actually a scaredy-cat.