“All human plans [are] subject to ruthless revision by Nature, or Fate, or whatever one preferred to call the powers behind the Universe.”
Arthur C. Clarke 2010 Odyssey Two
- An In-depth Look at Medjet Global Medical Transport
- What is Global Medical Evacuation coverage?
- Why Sharing the Option of Medical Evacuation Coverage is Important?
- But my Travel Insurance Covers Emergency Medical Evacuation, doesn't it?
- Learning from Real-life Scenarios
- Here is the Bottom Line
- Do I Still Need Travel Insurance?
- Where can I find Global Medical Evacuation Coverage that Brings Me Home?
- Let’s look at some real-life examples from Medjet
- I am on a Budget; the Cost of this Must be Exorbitant.
- What does a Medjet membership cost?
- Where is Medjet Available?
- Medjet has Expanded Plans.
- Common Questions People Often Ask
- Closing Thoughts
- Our Top Recommended Travel Products
An In-depth Look at Medjet Global Medical Transport
I recently gained a better understanding of how Global Medical Evacuation coverage works and its importance after decades of travel. Like many, I had misconceptions about how my travel insurance policy works. Luckily, I have never needed it. One in 30 trips ends in a medical emergency, and more than 2 million travelers a year require medical transport. Now that I am aware of the risk, I will never travel without it again and will purchase annual memberships.
In my medical career, I quickly learned the importance of empowering patients with knowledge. A patient who understands what is happening can interact more effectively with the medical team. This often results in better care and greater provider involvement. Knowledge is power, and in Global Medical Evacuation, it may make a life-and-death difference.
Let us talk frankly about the realities so you can get better protection moving forward. I hope to provide some insight into the value and importance of having Global Medical Evacuation coverage. As a medical professional, I won’t hesitate to speak to the facts, not to instill fear but to educate. An educated consumer is a powerful one.
What is Global Medical Evacuation coverage?
Global Medical Evacuation coverage will comprehensively cover the cost of having you flown home from anywhere in the world or domestically if you become hospitalized 150 miles or more from home. It will arrange air medical evacuation to the home-country hospital of your choice for continued inpatient care. All you pay is a membership fee, and they cover all costs, including a medical team to care for you during transit. Medical transport, especially when traveling internationally, typically ranges from $100,000 to $250,000, depending on the distance and the severity of your condition. The membership cost is very reasonable (and we promise) and will give you peace of mind if something unimaginable were to happen.
Most travel insurance policies include medical Evacuation Coverage, but did you know that it typically only gets you to the nearest adequate medical facility, not back home?
Why Sharing the Option of Medical Evacuation Coverage is Important?
Maintaining a travel blog requires ongoing research and staying informed about the latest travel news. In recent years, many stories have hit close to home. Suffering and loss could have been reduced during the crisis. As a result, I changed my approach to the travel coverage I purchase for my trips abroad. It was the right choice to protect my family and myself. I found that missing piece in an impressive company called Medjet. Medjet is the premier global air-medical transport membership program for travelers.
If Medjet is a good option for me, it could be a good option for our readers. The inspiration for this came from recalling my years working in a hospital. People came from all over the world for the state-of-the-art treatment we provided. Often, families spoke little to no English, thrust into a foreign world as they fought for their lives. They had difficulty communicating basic information to the medical team and often felt unsure whether everything was being done. They were lonely, far from their family and friends during one of the most challenging periods of their lives. It was so often heartbreaking to watch the toll it took.
Is that what any of us would want in a time of crisis? It adds stress, fear, and financial burden. Most importantly, it impacts healing. It is best to be at home, in a system where you speak the language with the highest level of care.
But my Travel Insurance Covers Emergency Medical Evacuation, doesn’t it?
Virtually all travel insurance policies have an emergency medical evacuation component. I often hear that I have all the coverage I need and don’t need more. But have you looked at the fine print?
They will transport you to the nearest appropriate facility for your care. That will likely be in the country where you become ill or injured, or in the closest country. It is rarely, if ever, back home to the United States. Below is an example of the language found in travel insurance policies.
Travel insurance, medical evacuation coverage, and their use are at the insurance company’s discretion. They determine if, where, and how you go. It may not be the best facility, but they take complete control, and you have little to no say in what happens. That is pretty scary in a crisis.
In Their Words
“Medical Evacuation can provide coverage for transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility in the event of a medical emergency during a trip. Repatriation can transport a traveler’s remains back home.
In coordination with our designated Assistance Company, a legally licensed Physician must order the Emergency Medical Evacuation. They must certify that the severity of Your Accidental Injury or Emergency Sickness warrants Your Emergency Medical Evacuation to the closest adequate medical facility. The Assistance Company, or we, must review and approve the necessity of the Emergency Medical Evacuation due to the inadequacy of local medical facilities. The Emergency Medical Evacuation must be coordinated through the most direct and economical conveyance and route possible, such as air or land ambulance or commercial airline carrier.”
Learning from Real-life Scenarios
You are traveling in rural Spain with a tour group. The vehicle you are in gets into an accident, and you have a severe injury. You are brought to a small local hospital, but it cannot care for someone with such severe injuries. You contact your travel insurance company to arrange for medical Evacuation. If they agree that you need a better-equipped hospital, they will arrange transportation to the closest and most capable medical facility to care for you. That could be in a significant city in Spain, such as Madrid or Barcelona. Maybe even to a neighboring country. Even in-country, the cost of these medical evacuations can reach six figures. Your travel insurance policy should fully cover it.
Imagine you are in a major hospital and don’t speak the language or cannot communicate effectively with the doctors. Interpreters can be brought in, but they are not there when nursing staff and off-hours physicians provide care. The hospital and medical system may not meet your accustomed standards and can be challenging to navigate. You are far from home, away from family and friends. You may be alone or have only one person to support you. It is not hard to imagine how terrifying this could be.
I can get home; I have a high limit on my medical Evacuation Coverage.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may not be able to travel for months unless medically evacuated. Your policy states it covers up to $500,000 in travel expenses, so you are confident you can return to the U.S. However, that is NOT the case. The allowance is only for care at the closest hospital, not for return to the States or for care close to home. Their job is done; they met the terms you agreed to when the plan was purchased.
The cost of medical transport from overseas to the U.S. can reach $250,000, which is prohibitive for most of us. As you recover, you will likely be stuck in a foreign nation for months. If your family is with you, that helps, but what if they have a job they need to return to, or your children need to return to school? We all know that having our loved ones near us during difficult times is invaluable.
It is not always a vehicle accident.
The above scenario can take many forms and may require hospitalization. Severe falls, head injuries, being hit by a vehicle, ATV accidents, public transportation accidents, natural disasters, being hit by a bicyclist, severe foodborne illnesses, heart attacks, sports or adventure injuries, strokes, pancreatitis, COVID-19, and on and on. Several of these events have happened to friends, or I have seen them occur while traveling. This is the reality, we all have known loved ones, or ourselves, hit with sudden health issues. It doesn’t always happen close to home.
Here is the Bottom Line
If you want to stay close to home at a medical facility that provides the care you need, speaks your language, and keeps your support system nearby, then MedJet is for you!
You can buy peace of mind, and it’s worth its weight in gold. That is what insurance is all about—covering the what-ifs, especially the big what-ifs. There is no better coverage for Global Medical Evacuation transport than Medjet. I will never leave home without it, and neither should you. Medjet’s quality and reliability are exemplary, offering the best value for your dollar.
Do I Still Need Travel Insurance?
Yes, travel insurance policies include many other essential elements that are invaluable. We always buy travel insurance for every trip abroad. We wrote an article on the importance of travel insurance and how to find the best deals. You can read it by clicking HERE. Many people rely on what their travel credit card offers, which is not advisable. This comes from someone who adores her Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Our travel insurance article goes more in-depth on that as well. If you’d like to go directly to the source for our travel insurance, visit Squaremouth.com.
Where can I find Global Medical Evacuation Coverage that Brings Me Home?
Extensive research was conducted to identify the best and most reputable company. We chose Medjet for our Global Medical Evacuation coverage. Medjet is a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating. They have been in business for 30 years and have a stellar reputation. Lloyds of London also backs them. Their sole purpose is to provide members with air medical evacuation back home at no cost. They pay 100% of the costs.
Let’s look at some real-life examples from Medjet
Chile to Georgia, USA —6,085 miles from home —costs $107,887; cost to member: $ 0.
From India to Alberta, Canada, a distance of 6,725 miles, costs $156,538; cost to member 0.
Florida to California, all within the USA. The cost of transport is $34,789; the cost to the member is $ 0.
I am on a Budget; the Cost of this Must be Exorbitant.
You may suspect this kind of service would be prohibitive for most of us to purchase. They transport you back to your chosen home hospital, and a family member may accompany you. There are no exclusions for injuries related to sports or adventure-based travel. A medical transfer is available regardless of medical necessity. It will transfer you to another hospital if your care team recommends continued hospitalization. If you meet those conditions, they will transport you as requested, not based on an insurance company’s decision. Should you choose a hospital near your home, they will transport you there at no additional cost.
What does a Medjet membership cost?
Annual membership starts at $315.00 for a single person and $425 for a family.
Available up to age 74—one price for all. If you are a frequent traveler, that is a fantastic price. It is not based on your health, the time since you booked your trip, the number of trips you take, or your destination.
Short-term memberships start at $99
This is an excellent option for those who travel abroad once a year and do not need an annual membership.
Family memberships for the above plans are also available.
Some Specialty Memberships are available for individuals aged 75-84, college students studying abroad, expatriates living and working abroad, and motorcycle riders (who transport you and your bike home).
In my view, that is a very reasonable price for the peace of mind it provides. The cost may be prohibitive for people traveling on tight budgets, which is understandable. For younger travelers, I know some parents who have purchased memberships for their children to provide peace of mind while abroad. Working in the medical field, I am too aware of tragic stories, and all I can do to minimize the trauma is important. It isn’t about being paranoid; it is about being smart.
TIP
If your trip isn’t for a few months, but you’d like to purchase a MedJet membership now, you can set an effective date closer to your travel date. This can come in handy when they have some rare sales.
Where is Medjet Available?
MedJet memberships are available to residents of the US, Canada, and Mexico. Medjet is a U.S.-based company. Any member more than 150 miles from home, even on the other side of the world, can access Global Medical Evacuation transport assistance to return home when requiring ongoing hospitalization. They are available 24 hours a day.
Of the few companies that offer this service, none come close to MedJet in reputation, so it is the only one we recommend. They know what they are doing. As always, we suggest you shop for prices and options.
Planning to travel? Check out our Destinations page
Medjet has Expanded Plans.
Our focus in this article is on Global Medical Evacuation. Medjet does offer a Medjet Horizon plan that covers not only Enhanced Global Medical Evacuation but also crisis response. This includes 24/7 Travel Security Response and Evacuation Services for political threats, Terrorism, Natural Disasters, Pandemics, and Violent Crime. 24/7 Crisis Response to Kidnap for Ransom, Disappearance, Wrongful Detention, Blackmail & Extortion. Trip Intelligence and e-Alerts. Legal referrals. Emergency Medical Cash Advance up to $60,000! This can be particularly helpful when international hospitals require payment in advance for treatment.
Initially, we assumed the cost would be significantly higher than the cost of medical evacuation coverage alone. Another good lesson for us is to conduct the research. It is $159 more per year than the medical evacuation only, totaling $474 per year. For a family, it is $614. That is what we purchase now.
Common Questions People Often Ask
Closing Thoughts
Enhance your travel security—both abroad and at home—by investing in a Medjet membership for Global Medical Evacuation. You hope you’ll never have to use it, but if the unexpected happens, it could be one of the most valuable decisions you’ve ever made. Isn’t the peace of mind of knowing you’re protected wherever you go priceless?
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Flights, Accommodations, and Everything You Need to Book in One Place
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Travel Insurance
Squaremouth.com
Our favorite travel insurance site!
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To empower you as a consumer, we recommend you read our blog post on why travel insurance is essential and how to secure the best coverage from leading companies at an affordable price.
MedjetAssist
Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world
Medjet is a leading provider of global air medical transport. Unlike traditional travel insurance, which typically covers medical evacuation to the nearest facility, Medjet goes further by ensuring you’re transported back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you’re stable enough to fly. Medjet offers membership plans that focus on medical transport, while Medjet Horizon provides expanded coverage for broader protection. Individual trip policies start at just $99, and annual policies are available for around $300. Most policies have an age limit of 74.
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Accommodations and Airfare
Booking.com
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours
Booking.com connects millions of travelers to unforgettable experiences, a wide range of transportation options, and incredible places to stay—from homes to hotels and beyond. As one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces, it supports well-known brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes. For its convenience, variety, and reliability, it’s our preferred booking platform.
Expedia and VRBO
Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours
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Transportation
Daytrip
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Shopping
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