Do you carry health insurance info while riding?

[rubysoho]

A bit of a spin-off from the unidentified cyclist who died. I read a few people carry a road ID. Does this include health insurance information?

Right now I tuck my drivers license and a credit card in one of my bike bags but I'd like to get a bracelet or something that is easier for a medic to find if I am ever seriously injured. I do have health insurance but have not been carrying that information.

What do you carry and how?

[OakLeaf]

I don't go anywhere without my health insurance card.

No, they aren't legally allowed to refuse minimum life-sustaining care, but they can delay more expensive procedures that might make a big difference, and they might send you to a charity care hospital which could potentially be farther away and much busier than a closer private hospital.

It depends on where you live I suppose. I've seen too much of the health care system from the inside, in my work.

You should be able to get extra copies of your insurance card if you need them. If it's paper, Scotch tape on both sides works as well as any lamination. I scotch-taped my organ donor card in 1981 ... and that's another thing I never leave home without.

[shootingstar]

I always carry it....actually alot of Canadians would find it inconceivable not to have health insurance coverage when engaged in any sport anywhere.

Or not have health insurance period.

[Bike Chick]

I carry a photocopy of my drivers license with contact info on the back in my flat kit but never thought about my insurance card until a friend had a blackout and subsequent crash on a charity ride and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. She was wearing her road id and had a copy of her drivers license but her insurance card was 30 miles away in her wallet. She and her husband now take their insurance card on every ride and she is thinking of getting a new road id with her insurance info on it. Not a bad idea.

[pll]

I carry my health insurance card (and the car insurance one, too) with my driving license. My Road ID has the insurance member number.

[Crankin]

My regular, pocket sized wallet, with everything in it, fits in a jersey pocket, so the answer is yes. In addition to my Road ID.

[SheFly]

I'm awful. First, I have a RoadID, but don't always wear it. Second, I don't carry ANY form of ID with me when I ride - not my license or my health insurance (I do have my cell phone - usually).

I think putting hte insurance info on the RoadID is a good idea, assuming your insurance provider doesn't regularly change. If you are in a bad accident and in urgent need of care, they aren't going to look through your seat bag, etc. to find your health insurance card.

SheFly (who promises to go back to religiously wearing her RoadID)

[goldfinch]

I've been bad about carrying any kind of ID. I just forget. This is really risky because sometimes I am in towns where no one knows me and it would take a while for my spouse to track me down.

A friend of ours got me a medical alert flash drive, much like this:

http://cdn.americanmedical-id.com/images_build/scroller_ETXXSWXX_240_alt.jpg

In this drive I have contact numbers, temporary and permanent addresses, and all sorts of medical info as I have a couple of chronic conditions. I now leave it in my bike bag tool kit.

[Aggie_Ama]

I carry a Jimi Wallet (http://www.thejimi.com/store/wallet.php) with it in there. They are thin, fit nicely in a jersey pocket. I can carry my drivers license, insurance card, a credit card and some cash.

I need to get a Road ID though because I am allergic to penicillin. I used to ride solely with my husband who knows this but now I am more adventurous and need to take care of myself. ;)

[OakLeaf]

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/health/policy/16care.html?_r=1 Anything that applies to people with Medicaid, applies doubly to people with no identifiable insurance coverage.

My insurance card stays in my jersey pocket with my ID and phone. EMTs might not look for it, but once I was stabilized, law enforcement and/or hospital personnel would be trying to ID me, and they would find both.

Don't forget that if you live alone - or if you and your spouse are injured in the same wreck - there may not be anyone who can find your insurance information for days or weeks, if it's not on you.

I suppose RoadID is probably safe, but I honestly don't trust that their systems are as secure as financial institutions' (which are still sometimes hacked). I guess if I wanted a bracelet/collar type of thing, I'd make my own on the dog tag machine. I seriously doubt they store any information on the machines at the pet food store.



Amanda, tell me about that Jimi wallet - I can't tell much from the website. Will they fit a phone? Are they watertight? Can you remove that clip without compromising the watertightness?

[Becky]

I belong to Medic Alert, never leave the house without one of my bracelets (one of which is a Road ID with my MA info on it), and MA has all of my info accessible by phone.

[yellow]

Laminated photocopy of DL and insurance card as well as a very small card that lists emergency phone numbers in my seat bag. Hardly takes up any space. I have a road ID too but usually forget to wear it.

[indysteel]

I use a Road ID that has my health insurance info (along with my name, address and emergency contact) on it. I also have a laminated card in my seat bag with the same info on it, along with a few additional emergency phone numbers.

[Owlie]

Like Crankin, my regular wallet is small enough that it fits in my jersey pockets, so yes.

[jessmarimba]

I do now. I had to wait for my "emergency" surgery because we needed permission from the health insurance. I didn't have my wallet with me, or something (maybe I had my wallet but not a physical copy of the card? my memory is a little fuzzy now). I knew who the provider was and they were able to call the insurance with my social security number and get everything cleared up, but it would've been a lot easier for all involved if I'd just had it on me. Especially since I live alone, so it's not like I could just call someone to bring it.

[PscyclePath]

I carry my wallet in my left jersey pocket, and also a wrist RoadID with my emergency contact info and my medical insurance provider & member number.

A couple of months ago I did a traffic skills class for the regional ambulance service when they were putting together their paramedic bike team. It was a good learning expereince for me as well, when we were talking about their experiences in responding to bike & other crashes, and one question I had was where was the best place to carry ID, and where did they look when a victim was non-responsive. Turns out the wrist Road ID was an excellent choice, followed by the "dogtag" style. I also note that when I was hit by a drunk driver early last year, one of the first places that the fireman looked when he checked me out was my pulse, and came up with my ID there.

I'm single, and if they do call my emergency contact (Hub), she's 3 hours away in Mississippi. So I've gotten a little more serious about having that sort of info on me for when they eventually find me dead in a ditch somewheres...

Tom

[Catrin]

I wear my "interactive" RoadID (where they can call in for my health and contact information) and copies of my drivers license and health insurance card. I am just afraid of losing them which is why I carry copies and not the actual cards/paper.

I need another RoadID band though, it keeps coming unattached - this is the velcro version. Thinking about the rubberized version eventually. The velcro only comes unattached when I am taking my Camelbak on/off, the problem is I don't always notice it when it happens :o

[pll]

I'm single, and if they do call my emergency contact (Hub), she's 3 hours away in Mississippi. So I've gotten a little more serious about having that sort of info on me for when they eventually find me dead in a ditch somewheres...


Same here. My family lives in a different country, so a friend is my emergency contact. I have made legal arrangements for her to have power of attorney if needed, as well as granted her proxy access to my health record. Hopefully we will never have to use any of that, but you never know. For the same reasons, I should work on a will to make the worst case scenario simpler. <ugh>

[KathiCville]

I wear a Road ID bracelet engraved with my insurance provider, member number, and two emergency contacts---one near my home and one in the Shenandoah Valley where I frequently ride. I don't always remember to put it on when I go out, so I also have a copy of my insurance card tucked into my underseat bag.

I had an extra line on the engraved tag on the bracelet so I also included my pick-up truck license number, for what's it worth. I often drive to wherever I'm riding in the country and figured it wouldn't hurt to include it. If I'm seriously hurt, my truck is going to be stuck wherever I parked it. By including the info on the bracelet, the police can be tipped off that it's not an abandoned vehicle. :-)

[maggie's sister]

I always wear my road ID and recently tossed by insurance card in the seat bag. My boyfriend who is on about 90% of the rides that I do, is the contact person on my ID. I also have a close friend listed. Ultimately, this concerns me since they aren't legally able to make medical decisions on my behalf and most of my family is marginally estranged. I suppose that I should draw up a health care directive and select them as my proxies.

[Melalvai]

After my daughter's wreck, I signed us up for Air Evac. It's only $50 a year for the family and if she had had to be flown all the way to Columbia, it would have cost us about $25,000, because helicopter is not covered by medical insurance.

They give you a bunch of stickers to put around your home and in your vehicles. I put one sticker in the car, and one sticker on each of our bicycles. I also carry the membership card in my wallet. The part that makes me feel better though is that one of the stickers is on her bicycle.

[radacrider]

Since I primarily commute, I have everything with me in a small purse.:D

I do have a RoadID (dog-tag style) that I wear all the time - you just never know when something will happen, not just for riding. I have the Interactive account, so all my info is there and available to emergency workers.

I went interactive so I could more easily keep information up to date. My profile also indicates I have an advanced directive filed with my primary care doc and my attorney.

[jobob]

A bit of a spin-off from the unidentified cyclist who died.

Good thread, thanks for starting it!

This was the main reason why I posted the story, to show how important it is to always carry ID and yes, insurance info, even on a ride that might not be very long.

side note: still no news that the poor guy has been identified! :eek:

I always carry a small zippered pouch in my back jersey pocket with my contact numbers, insurance info, and ID (an expired drivers license but all the info is the same as my current DL). That's in addition to a RoadID wristband. Although my husband and many close friends were on the scene immediately after my crash a couple of years ago, it would have been bad news if I were on my own or with people who didn't know me, if I didn't have ID, contact numbers, and health insurance info.

[Norse]

I wear a wrist Road ID and carry my DL and an insurance card in my seat bag.

[Aggie_Ama]

Oakleaf - Here is a little Demo on the Jimi wallet. I agree their website is a little bare bones, I got to play with mine at the LBS first. http://thejimi.com/wallet/demo.php

It is not thick enough for a phone, I carry my phone in a baggie although many of my teammates have a sleeve for their Iphones that is fairly interesting. The Jimi is splashproof, sweat proof and snaps fairly tight. I think it would leak if completely submerged because it doesn't have a seal between the two parts that open. The clip is removable if you don't want to use it. I used to have a little cloth wallet and after every ride it was disgusting feeling. For under $15 it was worth a shot, I like it. Think there could be improvements such as tighter seal, maybe a slightly thicker model, plastic is thick but I have seen thicker. Overall I think for the cost and function it is a pretty nice little wallet.

[Catrin]

I use the Jimi as well - it holds the copies of my DL and insurance card, and a couple of $$ if I need it. It fits most anywhere which is a nice advantage and it does stay closed. Not bad for $10!

[rubysoho]

Thanks for all the responses! I just ordered a RoadID bracelet with my health insurance info on it. :D

[Grog]

I am in Canada but unlike Shootingstar I seldom carry my (provincial) health insurance card with me. I know that care will not be any different if I land at a hospital even if they don't know my medicard number. I just wear my RoadID (which has contact numbers on it but also my year-of-birth) and a little bit of money, credit card, etc. in a jimi style wallet.

[Eden]

I carry my wallet, with ID and my insurance card when I ride, but I recognize that a person can fairly easily be separated from their things in an emergency situation, so I also have a road ID too and it has my insurance info engraved on it. My husband thought that number can change too easily, but I had a spare line, so I figured that there was no harm in it. Plus I race and I *don't* carry a wallet when I do that - so I wouldn't have my insurance card on me if, forbid, I had a severe accident in a race - but I do wear my road id. I went with the wrist ID on the recommendation of an ER doc (was it TXdoc?) here.

[amb]

I am a fairly new rider (March) and I have been carrying my DL, debit card & some cash in a ziploc. After reading this, I just ordered a Road ID and included my health insurance ID #. Thanks all for reminding me the need to get one. Stay safe out there! I have heard of several bicycle deaths this week (both here and locally). So sad.

[evangundy]

TE carries the jimi wallet :-)
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPP_JIMI.html

My main wallet has a removeable insert - I can take it out and put it in my bike bag - it is small and holds DL, ins card, debit card and a little cash. Then goes back into the main wallet, into my purse, when I get home from the ride.

Great thread by the way!
Edna

[tangentgirl]

I carry my driver's license, insurance card, credit card and a little cash, wrapped up with an hair tie. It's prettier than a rubber band.

My cell phone has a listing of ICE - for In Case of Emergency.

I used to have a little laminated card I made with emergency info, allergies, etc., but since i moved i haven't made a new one. Need to do that.

[loopybunny]

A bit of a spin-off from the unidentified cyclist who died. I read a few people carry a road ID. Does this include health insurance information?

Right now I tuck my drivers license and a credit card in one of my bike bags but I'd like to get a bracelet or something that is easier for a medic to find if I am ever seriously injured. I do have health insurance but have not been carrying that information.


I wear the interactive RoadID, which does include vital insurance info if I choose to include it on my profile. I have current medications listed, major injuries (especially since I have a recent traumatic brain injury), doctors, medical record number, etc.

Great thing about the RoadID is that the info stays on you. According to my friend, when I had my accident, everything was scattered (I have no memory of the accident). If I didn't have the information on me, then the EMTs may not have had access to what they needed because my friend was unable to provide it. (I'm now a testimonial on RoadID.com here (http://www.roadid.com/Testimonial/testimoniallist.aspx?GoBackURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.roadid.com%2fTestimonial%2fTestimonialList.aspx%3fpagecounter%3d3%26hash%3d199&TID=199&nolist=true).)

On top of the RoadID which I wear all of the time since my accident, not just when I ride, I also carry my driver's license and insurance card in my jersey pocket.

[denda]

I wear my "interactive RoadID".