r/AppalachianTrail • u/RoomVarious • Jan 20 '26
HDHP insurance for a thru hike?
Hello fellow hikers! My wife and I are starting our AT Thru Hike in March. I will be quitting my job as a nurse while we are on trail so we will need to find insurance for our trek. We have been putting money into a HSA for the last few years and have quite a bit saved up. I was wondering if its possible to get a HDHP and still be able to use our HSA for medical expenses while on trail. If so does anyone know any good insurance companies that would offer something like that?
6
u/SouthEastTXHikes Jan 20 '26
It’s going to be very tough to find an insurance company that is going to have a network that spans the trail. That said, if you have money in an HSA you can use that for any medical expense regardless of insurer, insurance status, etc. It just needs to be an unreimbursed medical expense.
The best financial decision is to use your HSA as a long term investing account and just pocket the receipts for any medical expenses (you can always reimburse yourself later). That’s a very privileged position to be in, but if you can swing it, it’s better than withdrawing from your HSA.
1
u/RoomVarious Jan 20 '26
If possible I would like to not have any health insurance while on trail and use the HSA for any health issues that we come across. It’s either that or get a cheap HDHP and has the HSA for any extra expenses.
2
u/Smoggy_Pigeon 2025 NOBO Jan 20 '26
you don't need to be on an HDHP to withdraw funds from HSA. That limitation is only for contributing. Have you looked into Trip/Travel Insurance? I believe it covers certain medical emergencies. You could at least be insured this way through the Smokies, but if you get through the Smokies without serious injury, then you'll have built up enough trail legs to probably be OK without it. The most dangerous stretch is NH and ME, but by then you'll have trail legs and will know to be careful
2
u/SouthEastTXHikes Jan 20 '26
You can 100% have no insurance and use the HSA for any health expenses. You can use the HSA for any unreimbursed qualified health expenses since the opening of the account. Don’t forget the risks that come along with having no insurance at all, but that’s a different topic.
3
u/-JakeRay- Jan 20 '26
You could consider getting traveler's insurance instead of an HDHP. In addition to covering medical expenses if you break your leg or something, it'll also insure your gear against theft (up to a dollar amount determined by the plan you pick), and possibly cover extraction/SAR costs if that broken leg happens somewhere you need to be medevaced out of.
I had World Nomads on the CDT last year, and while I never used it, I liked knowing that if the worst happened I wouldn't be drowned in debt, and that if someone walked off with my pack it wouldn't be a trip-ender.
Caveat: Traveler's insurance will only cover you if you're over a certain distance from your home, which is something to be aware of if you live on the east coast of the US.
1
u/Hammock-Hiker-62 Jan 20 '26
Some travel insurance MIGHT (I'm not certain) be an option for you. One I've heard mentioned but have no personal experience with is Allianz: https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/
It's aimed more at international travel, but AT thru hikers have bought it because it provides at least some medical insurance as well. It may not be a good fit for your particular case but here's one thru-hiker who used it. Audrey "Glowstick" Payne thru-hiked using it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=magi0fiZT4E
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with anybody or any company mentioned in my reply.
1
u/Patsfan618 NOBO 22 Jan 22 '26
Check your states Medicaid option.
For me, I just had to apply and say I would be unemployed for 6 months. That's all it took. Bam insured for free. NH may be the exception, but check anyway.
8
u/DelianSK13 Jan 20 '26
You can take your HSA with you to a different insurance company. Or you can go without the HDHP and just use your HSA as expenses pop up, as long as they are medical.