Cost of rescue and body recovery

Kinda a morbid topic, but I'm trying to be practical.  

I'm looking at options for life insurance and trying to figure out the best level of coverage.  The biggest cost from the result of my death that I can imagine is a body recovery.  Those choppers are expensive!  Does anyone know how much a rescue of that magnitude would cost?  I'm talking plucking a body off a wall or out of a ravine deep in the backcounty.  If you have any info about who pays for rescues and recoveries in general (I know this could vary based on the state and land manager), that would be appreciated as well.  

Before you ask, my policy doesn't explicitly exclude any type of climbing or other "extreme activity" at this moment.

I was active for about four decades doing volunteer SAR in Southern Arizona, working a fair number of body recoveries.  At that time, our services were unpaid, and choppers were provided by highway Patrol and the local Air Force Base.  I never herd of a charge for the highway patrol birds, and the Air Force charged the time to "training.".  The helo pilots welcomed the SAR calls - much more challenging than their normal runs.  i am unaware of any charge being passed on to survivors or relatives or the estates of the deceased.

This has also be the case more recently, working at Channel islands National Park.  The NPS doesn't charge for rescues unless there has been some particularly blatant violation of the rules.

Actually, the retrieval of an injured victim can be far more expensive than a body recovery.  There is much less urgency in getting the body out and sometimes you don't even need a helicopter.

I would consult with a reliable insurance agent about this, but i don't think it is much of a problem -probably rare enough that it is not a concern.

It's up to the respective County's Sheriff department to provide/coordinate SAR efforts.  They also have to provide the funding.

They can't make anyone pay for rescue.  They can suggest a donation of up too $500.

Adam Fleming wrote: If you have any info about who pays for rescues and recoveries in general (I know this could vary based on the state and land manager), that would be appreciated as well.

As mentioned, it depends on the state. In our case (Utah), it's at the county level, and it really depends on the wealth of the county. Salt Lake, Wasatch, Summit, and other counties absorb all costs. Juab county, which has very little in financial resources, charges for rescues, IIRC.
I'm not sure about Grand county (Moab).

Also in Utah there's this: https://secure.utah.gov/rescue/

like Marc said, it's all about where you are (state county etc..) in CO, none of our SAR teams will charge for a rescue or recovery, but if a helo is used AND that helo is private, they may charge you.

edit: just a side note, i have started using ad hoc insurance coverage like Spot and Buddy for when i go on larger adventures. you can start and stop coverage as needed.

AAC membership is probably cheaper than a monthly insurance payment, plus you will get the service when you need it, and not have your insurance company tell your loved ones they're not paying for it.

Ma Ja wrote: AAC membership is probably cheaper than a monthly insurance payment, plus you will get the service when you need it, and not have your insurance company tell your loved ones they're not paying for it.

Are you seriously relying on the AAC coverage in the event that you are charged for a rescue? It would only cover a small portion, if you were charged. $12,500 doesn't go too far, and it's only $7500 outside the US.

Unless you're being an idiot, you won't be charged for SAR in most of the US. If you are going somewhere where that is not the case, get legit coverage to keep you from financial ruin.

Ma Ja has the correct idea, (you can also "up" coverage if you're planning on being above 7000m ) I'm not 100% sure their "rescue" covers "body" removal-transportation, but ask.

Our body recoveries (local fire department) are free of charge, with long line recovery (from a helo) provided by the county sheriff helicopter. There is no charge unless you use an air ambulance service, then expect a huge bill on par with a new imported car purchase with ALL the trimmings. Once you are transferred to an ambulance (air or ground) is when the $$ starts clocking. Ground is in the thousands, air is in the tens of thousands. Be careful out there!

We won't be needing your body back, thanks and neither will you. Nothing to recover, I'm afraid. Extracted bodies are quickly forgotten. Stay in-situ and become a legend!

Your coverage is denied. Appeals are problematic.

I've heard that Yosemite SAR can decide to charge you if you need a rescue becuase you didn't have appropriate equipment/clothing/were being a dumbass.  Does anyone know any stories about how much they charge or what the threshold is for "appropriate" precautions/equipment?

Sam Skovgaard wrote: I've heard that Yosemite SAR can decide to charge you if you need a rescue becuase you didn't have appropriate equipment/clothing/were being a dumbass.  Does anyone know any stories about how much they charge or what the threshold is for "appropriate" precautions/equipment?

hmm, im not sure this is true. Since you are in a national park, i believe the cost of the actual rescue is free. now, this excludes ambulance and transportation which you may be charged for, i'm not sure. 

In RMNP, i have never heard of anyone being charged for a rescue by the park.

$28,895.35 -- I'll send you my bank routing info.
I can put a fluffy bunny or unicorn slip cover for the body bag for you too.

Sam Skovgaard wrote: I've heard that Yosemite SAR can decide to charge you if you need a rescue becuase you didn't have appropriate equipment/clothing/were being a dumbass.  Does anyone know any stories about how much they charge or what the threshold is for "appropriate" precautions/equipment?

This was true in the '90s, I don't know why it would have changed. The policy back then was that you would be charged with "creating a hazardous situation" and fined an amount equivalent to the cost of the rescue. Things like not bringing adequate weather protection on a multiday route, or bringing a down sleeping bag (which is not going to stay dry in a rainstorm on a wall) or relying solely on down clothing for warmth.

In Utah you can purchase a search and rescue card, which will cover all the nonmedical costs of rescue.

​Link​​​ which explains it much better than I can.

It is reasonably priced at $25/year or $100/5 years.

The most expensive part of a rescue/recovery is definitely getting a medevac flight. Usually the NPS or CHP (in Cali) will pluck you out of the mountains, and they usually don't charge. Then they will transfer you to either a medevac aircraft or ground ambulance. This is where things get pricey. If you aren't seriously injured you can refuse transport and have a friend pick you up, but if you take the ride it will cost you. You would be well off to get medevac insurance such as AirMedCare Network (https://www.airmedcarenetwork.com/membership). For around $85 a year, you can get a medevac flight for no out of pocket cost. This network includes most air medical transport services in the US. This could save you tens of thousands of dollars if you ever need a medevac flight. If you're already dead, it probably won't cost too much. The most expensive situation would be if you were seriously injured.

down sleeping bag on el cap is a hazardous situation...and yes they will send you a bill

american alpine club insures its members as noted above

fishings permits give $ to SAR

donate to SAR

I actually have a personal story that pretty much matches your description.

I had a partner (and good friend) take a huge fall in chossy terrain in a remote river-canyon in Wyoming.
A helicopter was used for the body recovery, no one ever even mentioned money/payment.

I know in NH (this is about 6-7 years ago) if you needed rescue because you were unprepared to the level of negligence, then you could be charged as much as $30k. 

You may want to take a step back and reconsider whether you really need life insurance in the first place. Is there someone in particular whose finances you want to protect? For example, do you have a spouse or children who depend on you for support? If not, who would be the beneficiary of your insurance policy? Bear in mind that your family isn't automatically responsible for your debts in the unlikely event of your premature death. Unless you've got dependents who rely on your earnings, it may make more sense to use the cash that you'd otherwise have spent on insurance for some other purpose, such as paying off loans, or contributing to a savings plan like a 401k.

Alex Nelson wrote: The most expensive part of a rescue/recovery is definitely getting a medevac flight. Usually the NPS or CHP (in Cali) will pluck you out of the mountains, and they usually don't charge. Then they will transfer you to either a medevac aircraft or ground ambulance. This is where things get pricey. If you aren't seriously injured you can refuse transport and have a friend pick you up, but if you take the ride it will cost you. You would be well off to get medevac insurance such as AirMedCare Network (https://www.airmedcarenetwork.com/membership). For around $85 a year, you can get a medevac flight for no out of pocket cost. This network includes most air medical transport services in the US. This could save you tens of thousands of dollars if you ever need a medevac flight. If you're already dead, it probably won't cost too much. The most expensive situation would be if you were seriously injured.

Yeah, one of the mountaineering federations I'm in got hammered (well their insurance) because after an accident in Alaska the victim wasn't declared dead on the spot so medi-vacced out. A six-figure bill instead of free.