What is Search & Rescue Insurance?

Search and Rescue coverage, often referred to as SAR insurance, is a travel insurance benefit that covers the rescue costs associated with finding a traveler that becomes lost or goes missing during a covered trip.

This benefit is designed for travelers that are visiting remote destinations or plan on participating in recreational activities while away from home. For example, a traveler may need this coverage in the event they get disoriented while backpacking and cannot find their way to safety.

Not all travel insurance plans include coverage for search and rescue missions. Coverage limits, exclusions, and eligibility requirements differ by policy.

What Does Search and Rescue Insurance Cover?

Search and Rescue is a type of insurance coverage that can provide reimbursement for qualified rescue expenses in the event you, or a travel companion, gets lost or goes missing while participating in a recreational activity during your trip.

Most travel insurance policies that offer this benefit will cover the cost of a single organized rescue mission by a private search and rescue team or a government entity. Coverage limits, meaning the maximum dollar amount a plan will reimburse, typically range from $10,000-$50,000 depending on the policy.

Some travel insurance companies can provide advanced payment for rescue services if its required by the agency or authority in charge of the rescue mission.

Examples of rescue-related expenses that a travel insurance company may cover in the event of a SAR claim include:

  • Fuel costs
  • Operating costs
  • Vehicle rental and repair costs
  • Other equipment expenses deemed appropriate to find the missing traveler

Search and Rescue Insurance Eligibility Requirements

In order to be covered by your policy’s Search and Rescue benefit, you must first meet its specific eligibility requirements. Knowing these requirements prior to departing for your trip can help you mitigate the chances of having your claim for reimbursement denied.

Below are a few parameters that must be met before you’re deemed eligible for coverage:

  • A formal report must be made to an agency or authority that can initiate a rescue mission
  • The rescue team bust be provided with enough credible, specific details about how, when, and where you or your travel companion is located
  • The rescue team must determine that search and rescue services are required

Common Search and Rescue Exclusions

Not all search and rescue missions can be covered by travel insurance. Every travel insurance policy that offers Search and Rescue insurance will enforce exclusions that limit the scenarios and expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement.

To view the Search and Rescue insurance coverage exclusions for a specific policy, you may reference its Certificate of Insurance at any time.

Examples of common exclusions for SAR insurance include:

  • High-Risk Activities: Participation in activities that have an increased risk of leading to a rescue mission, such as heli-skiing, backcountry skiing, base jumping, or paragliding. Your insurance company may take into account your skill level and level of expertise to determine if the activity that led to the rescue efforts is considered high-risk.
  • Personal Fines & Penalties: Any financial penalties you incur as a result getting rescued, such as trespassing, reckless conduct, or criminal sanctions imposed as a result of your actions.
  • Voluntary Actions: Rescue missions resulting from your voluntary decision to hide, or attempt to hide, from the public or law enforcement.

Is Search and Rescue the Same as Medical Evacuation?

No, Search and Rescue is not the same as Medical Evacuation. While both are benefits that cover emergency services, Medical Evacuation is far more common and is found in almost all plans that offer travel health insurance.

While SAR insurance covers the cost to find travelers that are lost, Medical Evacuation provides reimbursement for emergency medical transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility.

Coverage limits for Medical Evacuations are typically much higher than Search and Rescue insurance, with some plans covering medical evacuations up to $2,000,000.

How Much Does Search and Rescue Insurance Cost?

The cost of travel insurance is determined by a wide-range of factors, such as your age, destination, trip length, and the extent of your coverage. Policies that include Search and Rescue coverage are often comprehensive, meaning that they include a wide range of other important travel insurance benefits including Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical, and Travel Delay.

Comprehensive policies average roughly 5-10% of a traveler’s prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. To find a policy that meets your budget and travel needs, we recommend comparing plans from multiple travel insurance providers.

What Does Search and Rescue Insurance Cover?

Getting lost abroad can be a scary situation, and rescue missions can be costly. If you’re traveling overseas, and have an itinerary that involves adventure sports or activities, purchasing a policy that offers Search and Rescue coverage can provide peace of mind heading into your trip.

It’s important that you understand your policy’s exclusions, limitations, and requirements before you depart for your trip. Be sure to carefully read the policy wording when comparing plans, paying close attention to any restrictions or fine print that may apply to your trip.

View the list below to see all of the travel insurance plans found on Squaremouth that include Search and Rescue insurance.

Please be aware that coverage and eligibility requirements for this benefit differ by policy. The tables below show the providers that offer Search & Rescue coverage.

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Search & Rescue by Provider

Last Updated: 12/18/2024
Detour Insurance Detour Insurance
Policy Name and Summary of Coverage
1

@the edge

$10,000 per person

SEARCH AND RESCUE

If You should become lost, disoriented, or be reported missing while on the Trip during a recreational activity that could be anticipated for Your abilities and expertise, the Company will pay on Your behalf up to the Maximum Benefit shown on the Schedule of Benefits, not to exceed four days, costs for one (1) organized Search and Rescue by appropriate authorities.

This benefit can only be activated when someone makes a formal report of Your need for Search and Rescue to an agency or authority that can activate a Search and Rescue, and the agency or authority is provided with enough specific and credible details of how, when, where You might be located so that an official and organized Search and Rescue can be activated.

Specific Waiver of Liability for Search and Rescue:

If You request this benefit, You understand that the Company and any affiliated party offering this Policy do not accept any liability from the rescue situation, and You and all minors, dependents, relatives, and interested or disinterested parties agree to forever waive, any and all liability to the Company or any rescue team, company, entity, and/or volunteer, for injuries, stress, death, disablement, sickness, or any claims, reason, or cause whatsoever from any Search and Rescue used to attempt to reach, assist, or respond in any way to Your Search and Rescue, regardless of whether the Search and Rescue was ever initiated, cancelled, delayed, misdirected, or unable to locate, rescue, or stabilize You. If any part of this is held invalid, it does not invalidate the other parts or any other parties’ waivers.

You must obtain itemized receipts of services and costs from the authorities who seek payment, as well as documentation from the resort at the Trip destination.

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2

@the edge plus

$10,000 per person

SEARCH AND RESCUE

If You should become lost, disoriented, or be reported missing while on the Trip during a recreational activity that could be anticipated for Your abilities and expertise, the Company will pay on Your behalf up to the Maximum Benefit shown on the Schedule of Benefits, not to exceed four days, costs for one (1) organized Search and Rescue by appropriate authorities.

This benefit can only be activated when someone makes a formal report of Your need for Search and Rescue to an agency or authority that can activate a Search and Rescue, and the agency or authority is provided with enough specific and credible details of how, when, where You might be located so that an official and organized Search and Rescue can be activated.

Specific Waiver of Liability for Search and Rescue:

If You request this benefit, You understand that the Company and any affiliated party offering this Policy do not accept any liability from the rescue situation, and You and all minors, dependents, relatives, and interested or disinterested parties agree to forever waive, any and all liability to the Company or any rescue team, company, entity, and/or volunteer, for injuries, stress, death, disablement, sickness, or any claims, reason, or cause whatsoever from any Search and Rescue used to attempt to reach, assist, or respond in any way to Your Search and Rescue, regardless of whether the Search and Rescue was ever initiated, cancelled, delayed, misdirected, or unable to locate, rescue, or stabilize You. If any part of this is held invalid, it does not invalidate the other parts or any other parties’ waivers.

You must obtain itemized receipts of services and costs from the authorities who seek payment, as well as documentation from the resort at the Trip destination.

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Policy Name and Summary of Coverage
3

iTravelInsured Travel LX Basic

$10,000 per person

SEARCH AND RESCUE BENEFIT

If You or Your Traveling Companion become lost, Injured, disoriented or missing, while on Your Trip and while that person is engaging in recreational activities that are considered reasonably safe considering that person’s abilities and expertise, We will pay a benefit on Your or Your Traveling Companion’s behalf, for the costs of one (1) organized Search and Rescue by appropriate authority(ies), up to the Maximum Benefit Amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits.

We will pay the benefit if:

1. a formal report is made for You or Your Traveling Companion who is in need of a Search and Rescue to an agency or authority which can activate a Search and Rescue; and
2. the agency or authority is provided with enough specific and credible details of how, when, where You or Your Traveling Companion might be located, so that an official and organized Search and Rescue can be activated; and
3. a determination that Search and Rescue Services are necessary must be made by the appropriate authority(ies) coordinating the Search and Rescue effort.

We or Our designated Travel Assistance Services Provider should authorize expenses for Search and Rescue in advance. In the event that Your or Your Traveling Companion’s circumstances prevent prior authorization of the Search and Rescue efforts, Our designated Travel Assistance Services Provider must be notified as soon as reasonably possible.

Specific Waiver of Liability for Search and Rescue: If You or Your Traveling Companion or Your Family Member requests a Search and Rescue, You or Your Traveling Companion or Your Family Member understands that We and any affiliated party offering this benefit do not accept any liability from the rescue situation. You or Your Traveling Companion or Your Family Member and all minors, dependents, relatives, and interested or disinterested parties agree to forever waive, any and all liability to Us or any rescue team, company, entity, and/or volunteer, for Injuries, stress, death, disablement, Sickness, or any claims, reason, or cause whatsoever from any Search and Rescue used to attempt to reach You or Your Traveling Companion, provide assistance, or respond in any way to perform the Search and Rescue, regardless of whether the Search and Rescue was ever initiated, cancelled, delayed, misdirected, or unable to locate, rescue, or stabilize You or Your Traveling Companion. If any part of this is held invalid, it does not invalidate the other parts or any other parties’ waivers.

Advance Payment: We will pay covered expenses directly to the service provider if You require Search and Rescue while on Your Trip, and the provider requires payment prior to service. This amount will be deducted from the benefit limit shown in the Schedule of Benefits. You agree to reimburse this payment to Us if: (a) You do not complete the claims process as outlined in the Payment of Claims section; or (b) it is determined that Your Search and Rescue claim is not covered.

Search and Rescue means the search for and provision of aid to You in distress or imminent danger while on a Trip. The Search and Rescue provider may be a private or government entity.

Claims Procedures: You, or Your Traveling Companion or Family Member must obtain itemized receipts of services and costs from the authorities who seek payment, as well as documentation from the resort at the Trip destination.

Search and Rescue Exclusions:

In addition to the General Exclusions, the following exclusions apply to this benefit. Unless otherwise shown below, these exclusions apply to You or Your Traveling Companion. Benefits are not payable for any loss due to, arising or resulting from:

1. heli-skiing;
2. extreme skiing;
3. fines, damages, penalties, or litigation that may be imposed against You or Your Traveling Companion as a result of their activities or actions;
4. the person’s voluntary decision to hide, or attempt to hide, from the public.

These benefit(s) will not duplicate any other benefits payable under the policy or any coverage(s) attached to the policy.

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4

iTravelInsured Choice

No coverage

There is no Search & Rescue coverage with this plan.

Benefits

Additional Information