It's a dark day for TOUR reporter Jörg Wenzel. For one story, the passionate mountain biker has conquered the cul-de-sac to the 2,229 metre-high Männlichen in central Switzerland. Grindelwald's local mountain lies directly in front of the magnificent backdrop of the mountain giants Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The weather is marvellous. After a rest in front of the mountain inn, he hurtles back down the 14 per cent steep road in the upper section. But the downhill rush only lasts a few hundred metres. A bang - the front tyre bursts. At 70 kilometres per hour, Wenzel loses control of his bike and becomes a projectile. He only regains consciousness in hospital.
The result of the crash: a destroyed collarbone and seven broken ribs, three of which pierced his lungs. Luckily, the accident happened in the Swiss mountains, where helicopter rescues are part of everyday business and the hospitals are of a very high standard. What's more, Wenzel had - as he does every year - taken out additional health insurance for travelling abroad, which unbureaucratically covered the costs that were not covered by his statutory health insurance, such as the helicopter rescue or the patient transport back to Germany.
Cycling expert Dirk Zedler, who has already accompanied numerous TOUR training camps in various countries, can tell of far more frightening events: "I once spent two hours on the road in Sicily with a cyclist who had fallen and broken his pelvis. Despite Italian communication via our hotel, no rescue vehicle could be organised, so we ended up taking the injured man to hospital in a taxi." Zedler also remembers the conditions in the hospital there with mixed feelings. On the other hand, he recalls an accident during training in Catalonia, Spain, where rescue and care were exemplary. "You can't make a rule here. The situation varies greatly from region to region, from case to case," says Zedler. Dr Sebastian Zimatschek, head of the rescue team at the Schwalbe-TOUR-Transalp, confirms this using the stage race as an example: "You don't have to travel that far afield to realise this. In South Tyrol, for example, everything runs almost as well as in Germany. But as soon as you cross the provincial border into Lombardy, which is only a few kilometres away, there is often a lack of communication. And not all doctors abroad speak English."
ADDITIONAL INSURANCE WHEN TRAVELLING ABROAD
Sebastian Zimatschek (medical director of the rescue team at the TOUR Transalp) strongly recommends taking out separate health insurance for travelling abroad. If you are travelling frequently, you should opt for year-round cover. Such insurance policies cover accidents worldwide and, above all, also pay for return transport to Germany, which can incur immense costs. This is one of the key differences to the benefits provided by statutory health insurance companies. Axel Wunsch, press spokesman for Barmer GEK, explains: "In principle, people with compulsory health insurance in Germany can claim the necessary benefits in the EU, EEA (European Economic Area, editor's note) and Switzerland that are provided by the health insurance system in the host country." However, the catalogue of benefits can differ significantly from the one in Germany, emphasises Wunsch. The insured person must also expect to have to pay the usual co-payments abroad. These could be significantly higher than in Germany. "Furthermore, by decision of the Federal Insurance Office, a statutory health insurance fund may not finance the repatriation of a patient to Germany under any circumstances, even if this would be medically advisable or necessary."
REPATRIATION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT ABROAD
In the case described above, repatriation was not the top priority, as the injured person was guaranteed optimum care in Switzerland. Nevertheless, Jörg Wenzel was to be transferred to a German hospital after around two weeks. However, depending on the severity of the injury and the possibly inadequate treatment options in the respective country, repatriation may be unavoidable right from the start. Or it may turn out after a few days that you are not satisfied with the treatment at the local hospital. Important: You should therefore always have the contact details to hand when talking to the insurance company, for example the emergency hotline number. Either way, if you don't have supplementary insurance, you will be stuck with the costs of repatriation. And these can quickly amount to 10,000 euros or more! In contrast, the monthly premiums for international travel health insurance, which have fallen sharply in recent years, seem like a tip. For example, insurance through the ADAC (also for non-members, from 13.90 euros depending on the service package) or the Alpine Club (from 6 euros for members). Alpine Club members also enjoy the worldwide "Alpine Safety Service" at no extra cost, although this is explicitly limited to alpine sports such as mountain biking. However, statutory health insurance companies also generally work with insurance companies where you can take out an additional policy for abroad for comparatively little money.
CRASH - These tips will help you do everything right at the scene of an accident, even abroad.
- It is not usually necessary to call the police in the event of damage to property. Unless the injured party cannot locate the person who caused the accident or the property damage is very high.
-If people are injured, always call the police (emergency number 110). The same applies if the question of fault cannot be clearly clarified.
- If motor vehicles are involved in the accident, make a note of the licence plate numbers and exchange the data (addresses, liability insurance).
- Secure evidence (in the event of third-party involvement): If possible, document the scene of the accident or the course of events with photos in case there is later a dispute about who was at fault. The contact details of any witnesses are also important. Legal expenses insurance is also advisable for accidents abroad.
KLEINGEDRUCKTES - What you should pay particular attention to when taking out health insurance when travelling abroad
- As a rule, insurance companies offer packages with various benefits, from basic cover to various extras such as daily hospital benefits or compensation in the event of disability following an accident.
- For what maximum duration of a single trip does the insurance cover apply?
- Does the cover only apply to holiday trips or also to other (longer) stays abroad?
- Are there any restrictions for certain sports?
- Are there any restrictive conditions for repatriation to Germany? For example, only if it is medically absolutely necessary? Or does the cover already apply to "reasonable" or "justifiable" conditions?
- Some insurance policies require an excess for medical and medication costs (e.g. 50 or 100 euros per claim)
- Are there any restrictions on the choice of doctor?
- Are there restrictions on the maximum cover of costs?
- Does the insurance pay an immediate benefit in certain cases? Or do you always have to pay in advance before the costs can be subsequently claimed from the insurance company?
INTERVIEW with Sebastian Zimatschek
Sebastian Zimatschek is a specialist in anaesthesia and medical director of the rescue team at the Schwalbe TOUR Transalp powered by Sigma
TOUR If an accident happens on a cycle tour abroad, what should I do?
ZIMATSCHEK If a mobile phone is available, dial 112 first. This Euro emergency number will always put you through to someone who can at least organise help. Then give the five most important facts: Where did it happen? What has happened? How many people are injured? What are the nature of the injuries? Who am I to report the accident?
There are various emergency apps for mobile phones. Do they help?
In any case. For example, the free Echo112 app. It uses the mobile phone's GPS receiver to determine the user's position and sends the coordinates to the emergency services. This also works in many other countries outside Germany.
If it has to be done quickly, can you request a helicopter directly?
Only an emergency doctor can order the helicopter in the conventional sense. Ultimately, it is up to the dispatcher at the rescue coordination centre to decide which resources to use. It is important to describe the course of the accident, the severity of the injuries and the condition of the casualty clearly. The clearer the information, the better.
How do you communicate if the accident happens in the Pyrenees, for example, and you don't speak French?
Ideally, of course, in the respective national language. You can often get further with English, but there are definitely weaknesses in this area. You can't always assume the standard we are used to in Germany. My tip: Always persevere in English. At some point, the person will realise what it's all about or get an English-speaking colleague on the phone. It's also a good idea,
Depending on the country you are travelling to, it is also a good idea to prepare a note with the most important emergency phrases and take it with you. For example, "I've had an accident and need help". Then it is immediately clear
what is at stake.
Do you have any tips for Italy, where German cyclists relatively often go on holiday?
Here, for example, I would make a note of the number of the rescue control centre in Bolzano, where they speak German as well as Italian. They can then organise a rescue, even if you need help elsewhere in Italy. You can also try to find contact points in other countries that understand you before travelling.
