Global Medical Evacuation Coverage for Travelers: A Frank Discussion

March 31, 2022

Written by Joelle

An in-depth look at Medjet Assist Global Medical Transport

“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

After decades of travel, I have just recently gained a better understanding of the importance of Global Medical Evacuation coverage and how it works. I, like many, had some misconceptions about how it functions within my travel insurance policy. Luckily I have never needed it. One in every 30 trips ends in a medical emergency, and over 2 million travelers a year require medical transport. Now that I know the risk, I will never travel again without it, and I recently purchased my first annual membership.

In my medical career, I quickly learned the importance of knowledge empowering the patient. A patient who understands what is going on can interact with the medical team, which often results in better care and involvement of the providers. 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 fully 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 your 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 while traveling internationally, is often in the $100,00-250,000 range based on distance and the severity of your condition. The membership cost is very reasonable (promise) and gives you peace of mind if the unimaginable happens.

Most travel insurance policies carry medical Evacuation, but did you know they only get you to the nearest adequate medical facility, not back home?

What is Global Medical Evacuation Coverage?

Having a travel blog involves constant research and staying on top of travel news. In recent years, many stories have hit close to home. Suffering and loss could have been reduced during a time of crisis. As a result, this encouraged me to change my approach to the coverages I purchase for my travel 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 this was a good option for me, it could be for our readers. The true inspiration to write this came when I recalled my years working in a hospital where people came from all over the world to receive the state-of-the-art treatment we provided. Often we had families who spoke little to no English thrust into a world where everything was foreign to them while fighting for their life. They experienced difficulty communicating basics with the medical team and often felt unsure if all was being done. They were lonely, being so far away from their family and friends during one of the most challenging times 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 only adds enormous stress, fear, and financial burden. Most importantly, it impacts healing. It is best to be home, in a system where you speak the language and have the best care at your disposal.

But my travel insurance covers emergency medical evacuation, doesn’t it?

Virtually all travel insurance policies have an emergency medical evacuation component. I frequently hear that I have all the coverage I need, so I don’t need more. But have you looked at the fine print?

The reality is this; they will transport you to the nearest adequate facility to provide you with the care you need. That will likely be in the country where you become ill/injured or the closest country nearby. It is rarely, if ever, back home to the United States. Below is an example of the language found in travel insurance policies.

“Medical Evacuation can provide coverage for transportation of a traveler to the nearest adequate medical facility in the event of a medical emergency during their 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 based on 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.”

Travel insurance medical evacuation coverage and how it is used is the insurance company’s decision. 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.

Learning from real-life scenarios

You are traveling in rural Spain with a tour group. The vehicle you are in gets in 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 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 major 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.

You are now in a major hospital but don’t speak the language or can effectively communicate with the doctors. Interpreters can be brought in but are not there when nursing staff and off-hours physicians provide care. The hospital and medical system may not be up to your accustomed standards and may be challenging to navigate. You are far from home, away from family and friends. You could be alone or have only one person there to provide support. It is not hard to imagine how terrifying this could be.

I can get home; I have a high limit for my medical Evacuation

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may not be able to travel for months unless medically evacuated. Your policy said it paid up to $500,000 for travel, so you are confident you can then get back to the States. However, that is NOT the case. The allowance is only to the closest hospital to provide you care, not back to the States or 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 the $250,000 range, which is prohibitive for almost all of us. As you recover, you are now stuck in a foreign nation, possibly for months. If your family is there with you, that will help, but what if they have a job they need to return to, or your kids 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 occurs in many forms that could require hospitalization. Severe falls, head injuries, hit by a vehicle, ATV accident, public transportation accident, natural disaster, hit by a bicyclist, severe foodborne illness, heart attack, sports or adventure injury, stroke, pancreatitis, Covid, 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

You want to be close to home at a medical facility that will provide you with the care you need, where you speak the language, and have your support system near you.

You can buy peace of mind, worth its weight in gold. That is what insurance is all about, for the what-ifs, especially the big what-ifs. There is no better coverage for Global Medical Evacuation transport than Medjet Assist. I will never leave home without it, and neither should you. The quality and reliability of Medjet are exemplary, and there is no better value for your dollar.

Do I still need travel insurance?

YES, YES, YES! Travel insurance policies have so many other essential elements that are invaluable. We always, absolutely 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 a good idea at all, and this comes from someone who adores her Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Our travel insurance article goes more depth on that as well.

Where can I find Global Medical Evacuation coverage that brings me home?

A lot of research was done to find the best and most reputable company. We chose Medjet Assist 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 air Global Medical Evacuation transport back home at no cost cap. 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.

India to Alberta, Canada, 6,725 miles from home, Costs $156,538. Cost to member 0.

Florida to California, all within the USA. Cost of transport $34,789. Cost to member 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 the home hospital of your choice, and a family member can accompany you. There are no exclusions for sports or adventure-based travel injuries. A medical transfer is available regardless of medical necessity. It will transfer you from hospital to hospital if you require continued hospitalization per the medical team caring for you. If you meet those conditions, they will transport you as requested, not based on an insurance company deciding for you. If you want to get to a hospital near your home, they will transport you there at no added cost!!!

What does a Medjet membership cost?

Annual membership $315.00

Per person up to age 75—one price for all. If you are a frequent traveler, that is a fantastic price. It is not based on your existing health, how long ago you booked your trip, how many trips you take, or where you are going.

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 on the above plans are available as well.

Some Specialty Memberships are for ages 75-84, college students abroad, expatriates who live and work abroad, and motorcycles (they transport you and your bike home).

In my mind, that is an incredibly reasonable price for the peace of mind it provides. The cost may be prohibitive for people traveling on tight budgets, which is understandable. In the case of younger travelers, I know some parents who have purchased the membership for their kids 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 another few months, but you wish to buy a MedJet membership now, you can choose an effective date closer to your actual travel date. This can come in handy when they have some rare sales.

Where is Medjet available?

MedJet memberships are available to US, Canada, and Mexico residents. 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 get them back home when requiring ongoing hospitalization. They are available 24 hours a day.

Of the few companies that offer this service, no one comes close reputation-wise to MedJet, so it is the only one we recommend. They know what they are doing. As always, we suggest you shop prices and options.

Planning to travel? Check out our Destinations page

Medjet has a few expanded plans.

Our focus in this article is on Global Medical Evacuation. Medjet does offer a Medjet Horizon plan that covers not only Global Medical Evacuation but also crisis response. This includes 24/7 Travel Security Response and Evacuation Services due to Political Threats, Terrorism, Natural Disaster, Pandemic, 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. We expect the cost to be substantial, but we did not explore that.

A few common questions people may have

Does it cover Covid?

Yes, Medjet does transport for Covid-19 hospitalizations and other illnesses and accidents that send you to the hospital while traveling abroad.

What does MedJet cover?

Regardless of medical necessity, if a member is hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, Medjet will arrange Medical Evacuation. They will transfer you to the hospital of your choice within your home country with no pre-existing condition exclusions (under age 75), health questions, deductibles, or claim forms. There are no monetary limits to the program’s benefits and no restrictions on the travel amount taken annually. It must be a hospital-to-hospital transfer where you will be getting continued care in the hospital setting.

Who decides if you are eligible for transport?

If you call Medjet, their medical department will consult with your local attending physician to determine your stability for transfer. If you meet the criteria for transport and are medically stable, the decision is yours.

Is there a limit per year?

Members under 75 are allowed two modes of transport per membership year. In the case of a common accident involving multiple enrolled family members, every member of the enrolled family will receive one transport.

If I am being medically transported by air, will a family member be able to be with me during the flight?

Yes, all aircraft have the space for critical patients and one family member.

How long does repatriation take if you are hospitalized abroad?

Medical repatriation timeframes can vary. They depend on many different factors, including but not limited to the time it takes to process the required permits and visas for the countries involved. For details specific to your situation, please get in touch with Medjet before your travels.

What does a family membership encompass?

A family plan membership may include a primary member, a domestic partner or spouse, and up to five dependent children up to age 19 (or up to age 23 for full-time students)

Why is it is membership and not insurance?

No claim forms, subrogation, or bills show up months after your emergency medical situation. They also take care of all communication between the admitting and receiving hospitals and will stay in touch by providing updates to family and friends.

Do they have the resources to transport an entire family if all are in a hospital abroad?

Yes. Some Medjet-authorized affiliate aircraft can transport up to two critical patients simultaneously and dispatch multiple aircraft simultaneously. They can also transport several non-acute patients on a common aircraft through their affiliate network.

Does Medjet operate and maintain its own aircraft?

No. Medjet is an authorized Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) utilizing the services of licensed Part 135 air carriers to meet your air ambulance transportation needs. Medjet does not own, lease, or operate any aircraft and has no affiliation with any direct air carrier. As an IAC, Medjet contracts for air transportation services in its own name and coordinates the provision of Global Medical Evacuation services for your flight. Licensed direct air carriers operate all flights.

How do I know the aircraft and crew transporting me are safe?

Medjet requires all authorized medical aircraft to be twin engines with a minimum of two pilots specially trained and certified for the specific aircraft they are flying. Medical teams must be specially trained to care for critically ill or injured patients at altitude, with experience in short- and long-range air medical transport missions. All authorized affiliates must comply annually with Medjet Assist standards regarding liability insurance limits and pilot and medical crew training.

What medical services do the aircraft have?

Aircraft operated by Medjet Assist authorized affiliates are fitted with state-of-the-art medical equipment and can act as flying intensive-care units. All aircraft can accommodate one critical patient, a family member, and a medical team.

Does Medjet cover pre-existing conditions?

There are no pre-existing conditions. The are no health questions or exams. There are no adventure travel exclusions.

Final thoughts

Enhance your international and domestic travel protection for Global Medical Evacuation by purchasing a Medjet membership. It is something that you hope you will never need, but if you do, it will be one of the most invaluable purchases of a lifetime. Isn’t your peace of mind worth it?

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