“On The Worst Day Of My Life . . .”
A member’s experience illustrates the value of the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program, and the need to know what it covers.
National President
Jon Walker, F268778
jwalker@fmca.com
I would like to tell you why your membership in FMCA is the best bargain in the whole RV world. One reason is that your $75 annual dues include a medical transportation insurance policy that everyone, young and old, should have if they are traveling anywhere by RV. This insurance policy — the FMCAssist Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program — is so important to all of us that the FMCA Governing Board voted again this past August to keep it as part of our membership dues. As long as you are a full family, life, or associate member of FMCA, you are covered. If you were purchasing this policy on the open market, it would cost you hundreds of dollars in many cases.
Unforeseen events can happen to any of us, at any time in our lives. We hope that we never have occasion to use FMCAssist, but it is a comforting and secure feeling to know that we do have it if an emergency arises. How much value can you put on this coverage? Priceless.
Recently, I received a letter from one of our newer members, Melody Petersen. She and her husband, George, had just purchased their dream motorhome, sold their sticks-and-bricks home in San Diego, and set out to see the world. Then the unimaginable happened. Let Melody tell you in her own words:
What to do when the unexpected happens?
On the worst day of my life, FMCAssist offered some relief, and could have offered more had I called sooner.
My husband and I had just bought a new RV, sold our San Diego home, and hit the road to travel the United States. We were in Eugene, Oregon, on July 12, 2019, just seven weeks into our travels, when I was abruptly awakened in the middle of the night by a loud noise. My husband had just fallen from an apparent heart attack; he had hit his head and was not responsive. The medics came fairly quickly, but, unfortunately, my husband took his last breaths as they entered the motorhome, where they applied CPR without success. My husband had passed away.
I was distraught, the RV park was full, and we were required to leave the following morning. I had not yet learned how to drive the RV, and I wasn’t in any condition to drive anyway. Thankfully, friends in the area came to my aid and got the motorhome moved.
But then what? Questions came in, requiring decisions and action that I was not prepared to handle. Yet I dealt with the details with the medical examiner’s office and the funeral home. Family had made reservations to fly into Eugene that same day to help get me and the RV back to San Diego. Then I called FMCAssist, only to realize they could have helped coordinate the details and transport me and the RV back home.
In an already difficult circumstance, as we headed south, there were complications with the RV, which made the trip even more stressful and traumatic. Had I called Seven Corners, who administers the FMCAssist program, right away and allowed them to make the arrangements to get me and the RV back to San Diego, a great deal of the added stress and trauma would have been eliminated.
I thought we were fairly well prepared for emergencies, but what I didn’t consider was that in the moment and shock of such a tragedy, the mind is not clear and the thoughts of what to do next do not come easily.
While I may not have received all the assistance that FMCAssist has to offer, they were still there to help me take care of the burden of expense to get us home. FMCAssist and Seven Corners were wonderful, and I wouldn’t travel in the future without them.
Having the contact number for FMCAssist readily available, along with a reminder to call right away, would be a good idea for all FMCA members, in the unfortunate event it is needed.
I am thankful for the assistance I received, and I have passed the knowledge of what is available to my other RV friends and family.
Thank you, FMCA, for offering such a valued service with membership. I can’t begin to express my gratitude.
Melody (and George) Petersen, F469956
Sondra and I send our heartfelt wishes to Melody. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We are so glad that FMCAssist was there for you when it was needed.
As Melody mentioned, it’s so important to have the FMCAssist info on hand as you travel. In the event of an emergency, first call 911. Consult with the attending physicians. If you need medically required transportation to another facility or other assistance, call Seven Corners (administrators of the FMCAssist program) right away: (877) 202-4176 (U.S. and Canada); (317) 582-2619 (collect worldwide).
Since we can’t predict when a medical emergency will occur, it’s critically important to understand what’s included (and excluded) in the FMCAssist policy. To view the full Schedule of Benefits, visit www.FMCA.com/fmca-assist or check the Member Benefits Guide in the January 2020 issue of Family RVing when it arrives.
Please share with all RVers you encounter the value of being an FMCA member. Please do not let your membership lapse, even if you no longer RV; as an associate member, you still have all of these valuable, needed benefits.
Holiday wishes. It is hard to believe that December 2019 is here. It seems just yesterday I was writing to you about the gifts we received at this time last year . . . the gifts of dedication, gratitude, learning, accomplishment, enthusiasm, friendship, and love.
As your president, I pledge that I will continue to work for you. I will remain dedicated to solving issues as they arise. I will proceed with enthusiasm, learning more every day, as we accomplish the work of FMCA. As so many members know, our volunteering for FMCA leads to making new friendships, enjoying current friendships, and loving every step of the journey.
I would like to close my December message, as I have the past couple of years, with one of my favorite poems written by FMCA past national president Charlie Schrenkel in 2000. Here are the first and last verses:
“Snowflakes flutter in breathless air,
And settle down without a care
Upon the brown and tarnished leaves,
Which form a carpet ’neath the trees.
And all across this fairy land,
The fields, the hills, where pine trees stand.
The quiet of this winter’s night,
Brings peace on earth by morning light.”
On behalf of all the staff at FMCA national headquarters, Sondra and I would like to wish our Christian friends a very blessed Christmas, and to all of our other friends, happy holidays. And a very happy new year to all!
Until the next time, don’t forget that it still is all about having fun!
Spread The Word About FMCA: Reap Rewards
Just think . . . If every member were to recruit just one RVer to join FMCA, the association would double in size — exponentially expanding the buying power when FMCA negotiates new benefits. YOU reap rewards when your club grows.
The Rewards Keep Coming As You Keep Recruiting
FMCA members earn a $10 voucher for each new member recruited. Apply vouchers toward your dues renewal, event registration fees, business card orders, or FMCA Store purchases.
BONUS! For every new member you recruit through December 31, 2019, your name will be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. Visit https://www.fmca.com/recruit-new-members-earn-rewards to learn more.
As the holiday season approaches, don’t forget that FMCA membership makes the perfect gift! Introduce your favorite RVers to the fun and fantastic benefits of belonging to FMCA by purchasing them a gift membership and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card. Visit fmca.com/giftfmca to get started.
FMCA National Office Holiday Closure
The FMCA national office will be closed Tuesday, December 24, through Wednesday, January 1, in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. It will reopen on Thursday, January 2, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Summer 2020 Convention Note
FMCA’s Executive Board has voted to withdraw from contract negotiations to stage the association’s 102nd International Convention & RV Expo at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, July 29 through August 1, 2020.
After many months of waiting to receive a contract for signature, the Executive Board determined that the time had come for FMCA to look for another location to stage this event.
FMCA officials are currently busy vetting other sites for the association’s 2020 summer convention and hope to have an announcement about a selected location in the coming weeks. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause our members.