I Thought I Was Covered
I’ve always been the responsible one.
Steady job. Regular health check-ups. A solid health insurance policy with a big sum insured. The kind that makes you feel secure just by looking at the number.
So when I booked my dream trek to Nepal, insurance wasn’t even a question in my mind.
I already had it.
“Hospitalization covered.”
“Accidents covered.”
“Pan-India coverage.”
I assumed that meant anywhere.
The Mountains Had Other Plans
The first few days were surreal. Thin air, quiet trails, prayer flags fluttering against snow-covered peaks. I was trekking toward Everest Base Camp — something I had dreamed about for years.
By day four, I started feeling off.
A mild headache.
Then nausea.
Then breathlessness that didn’t feel normal.
The guide checked my oxygen levels. They were low.
“Not safe to continue,” he said calmly.
“We evacuate.”
Within an hour, I heard the distant thud of helicopter blades slicing through the cold Himalayan air.
It felt dramatic. But also reassuring.
I thought: Good thing I’m insured.
The Conversation I Wasn’t Prepared For
Back in Kathmandu, stable and on oxygen support, I made a call to my insurer.
“Yes sir,” the executive said politely.
“Hospitalization is covered.”
Pause.
“But high-altitude trekking beyond specified limits is excluded.”
Another pause.
“Helicopter evacuation in remote mountainous terrain is not part of the standard health policy.”
Adventure activity. Special risk category. Not applicable.
I remember staring at the ceiling of that hospital room.
The helicopter ride that saved me cost more than my entire trek package.
My policy the one I was so confident about was built for city hospitals, not mountains.
What I Learned at 5,000 Meters
Health insurance protects you in everyday life.
But the mountains aren’t everyday life.
They don’t have network hospitals.
They don’t have cashless desks.
They don’t wait for approvals.
They demand evacuation. Immediately.
That’s when I understood something important:
Having insurance isn’t the same as having the right insurance.
If You’re Planning the Mountains
If you’re heading to places like Kailash Mansarovar or trekking deep into the Himalayas like Everest Base Camp or Mera Peak in Nepal, don’t assume your regular health policy will step in.
Ask uncomfortable questions:
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Does it cover high altitude?
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Does it include helicopter evacuation?
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Is adventure trekking excluded?
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Who coordinates rescue on ground?
I learned the hard way but thankfully, I learned.
The mountains were kind to me.
The fine print was not...
Name changed and shared by the trekker.
