Evacuation Insurance -- why buy

A friend who did not have evacuation insurance paid $75000 out of pocket to be flown to the U.S. on a medical jet with nurses, doctors.

A friend of mine from Chicago was in SW Florida when she had an accident. She couldn't sit up and wanted to get back to her doctors in Chicago.

She didn't have insurance. A medical flight was out of her budget so an ambulance was arranged to drive her to Chicago. She said it was horrible.

When she told me afterward, I told her about Medjet Assist. She signed up that day.

If you are a member of AARP, you can get a discount.

Additionally, they now offer evacuation insurance for things like war, natural disasters, terrorism, and the like.

I am curious if those with MedJet also buy trip insurance. I buy trip insurance primarily for the medical portion and so I can get back home.

I recently purchased MedJet's medical evacuation for our trip in October. I thought is was relatively cheap considering and also used the AARP discount. I'm even considering upgrading to an annual membership as we travel quite a bit domestically also. I didn't purchase medical insurance as our insurance covers "emergency" needs while traveling internationally.

I have Medjet for evacuation and I do buy trip insurance as well. I'm on Medicare, which doesn't cover me out of the country, so I need medical insurance while traveling.

I hope I never have to use any of it!🙂

Three types of insurance at play here. To answer the above question about having a Medjet policy in addition to travel insurance:
-Med evac -- I buy Medjet Horizon annual policy which covers more evac possibilities, plus will get me to a home facility instead of just the nearest facility. https://medjetassist.com/membership-options
-Medical -- My Medicare Supplement Part F covers $50,000 lifetime benefit for international travel. While I have always covered at least that amount with my travel insurance, I'm considering GeoBlue annual policy for cheap, medical only coverage including pre-existing conditions without the buy within 14 days of booking policy. GeoBlue includes some evac, but the phone rep told me it is only to the nearest facility. https://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com/
-Travel Insurance -- Last two trips were covered under an Allianz annual policy. Timing doesn't work to cover the next two trips with an annual policy, so I bought a Basic plan for each trip, enough to cover non-refundable costs. https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/find-a-plan
-Reading the fine print on all policies is a must. If you call for clarification and don't agree with the answer, call back to talk to someone else. Make lots of notes about who, when and what.

I'm not recommending any of the above insurances, just stating what I buy. I probably over-insure, but that's my comfort level. We also would be considered over-insured at home for homeowners and auto.

My career was as a Hospital Social Worker. Part of my job was to help arrange transport for patients to get back home. It wasn't so bad in Idaho because it was mostly people who'd had some kind of car wreck or accident on the highway BUT when I worked in Florida for 20 years we had lots of snowbirds who were frail. Getting people back to New York or Michigan or Canada was expensive even 25 years ago and if they needed medical care on the way....unbelievable.

When I first returned to Europe after things opened up in Fall 2021, I bought $1 million coverage for med-evac in case I needed to be flown home on a ventilator. I now buy $500k for Europe.

From reading a bunch of policies over the years, I think a shopper needs to read the language very carefully. Basic policies will have wording to the effect of "evacuate to the nearest facility which can provide care" whereas what people are talking about here is "evacuate to the medical facility of your choice". Which is how you get home to the US. I think the term evacuate has thrown some people off, when it could mean just the ambulance to the local hospital.

I would like to hear from someone who has actually used a medical evaluation policy. As a natural skeptic, I have a hard time believing that a $40,000 flight will be offered to someone who paid a few hundred dollars premium. Anyone have an experience to share?

It’s important to note that while one may have medical evacuation insurance, if we North Americans are in Europe, one has to also be medically stable enough to fly. Case in point: our April Netherlands trip was cancelled as my spouse experienced a collapsed lung a few weeks before (no reason why, just a fluke). No flying permitted for several weeks so if we had already been in Europe, our stay would have been extended. (And in reference to the other thread about refundable versus non refundable travel expenses, all of our hotels and Business Class flights were fully refundable. Because he has some lung damage from Covid in Dec 2019, we never assume travel insurance will kick in because of the ‘pre-existing condition’ clause that can be used a bit too easily, even though we have excellent coverage). As a retired medical social worker, I became aware of other medical conditions that can make one unsuitable to fly for a period of time so something to be prepared for insurance wise.

Stan brings up a good point. Read your policy carefully.

I have an annual travel insurance policy. It has medical evacuation coverage. However, it will only get me to the nearest hospital that can treat me.

I also have a Medjet Assist policy because it will transport me to the hospital of my choice.

People ask how a policy costing only a few hundred dollars covers a medical evacuation flight that could cost tens of thousands? Well, what about automobile coverage. You might only pay a few hundred dollars for auto collision coverage yet will reimburse you if your $50,000 car is totaled. That's insurance. They bet that they will make more than they have to pay out.

Thanks very much Horsewoofie, well explained and a great thread. You've reminded me to get cracking on an EXCEL spreadsheet looking at what the various insurance / credit cards actually offer me currently, including fine print, I suspect there's some overlap but that's ok. Thank you!

Simpgolf,
I had an AIG Travel Guard policy for my Rick Steves Southern England tour in April 2023 when I injured my right knee on the tour bus in Devon England. Our tour guide diverted the tour bus to Exeter where there was a hospital with emergency services. Long story short, I called the medical evacuation phone number for my Travel Guard policy and immediately was in touch personally with a representative. Everything was handled via my iPhone, sending emails and photos of my documents and the signed doctor’s signed diagnosis. Taxi at 3 am to the tour hotel to meet up with the tour, tour guide took me on crutches to my room, outfitted for a handicapped individual. Phone calls with the medical evacuation team to arrange for my transport to a London hotel at Heathrow and flight home. They bought a $10,000 ticket business class ticket to my home airport. Then I was reimbursed for my non refundable costs, like the 7 days of the tour I missed. And other costs, etc., after I submitted all the receipts and documents. The medical evacuation team were incredibly kind, competent and communicative every step of my way home. The policy cost several hundred dollars and was worth every penny.

Judy B, thanks for the report. Glad it worked well for you. But I have spoken with several people who buy medical evacuation insurance thinking that they get to choose if and when and to where they are evacuated. I always encourage them to read the policy conditions carefully. Clearly your injury qualified for evacuation under the terms of your policy, but I assume you had to provide documentation from doctors and hospital which was reviewed by insurer before your flight and reimbursements were approved.

As several posters have mentioned, the devil is in the details. Read ALL the fine print! While i'm not certain, I'll bet lunch the terms and conditions of the policy(ies) were written by lawyers employed by the companies issuing the policy(ies).

Simpgolf,
Yes, I had to provide a letter from the doctor detailing my injury and permission for travel by air and elevation of my foot which meant business class on a Delta Air flight.

I would like to hear from someone who has actually used a medical evaluation policy. As a natural skeptic, I have a hard time believing that a $40,000 flight will be offered to someone who paid a few hundred dollars premium. Anyone have an experience to share?

Well I have not actually experienced it [I live in Switzerland], but I know two people who have been hit with very serious bills that were covered...

The first was a Japanese gentleman in his late 60s, the father-in-law of a friend of mine here. He suffered a heart attack and needed to be air evaced from a mountain hut they were staying in. The first helicopter could not land and the second eventually took him out on a gurney hanging from the bottom of the helicopter. The bill for the use of two helikopters came to almost 200K which was covered by his insurance.

The second case brings up a topic i don't think was covered - what happens if you are not in a position to go home. Again it was a case of a 60 year old having a heart issue. This was the father of a work colleague from Brazil and the incident took place in the Jura. He had to be air lifted to the nearest hospital at a cost of 70K, but the big issue was that he was not stable enough to be repatriated nor sick enough to remain in hospital more that a month, but needed additional out patient treatment until he reached a point where he could be sent home. The hospital, plus the outpatient, plus the cost of his stay ran to almost 100K and this was follow by a bill for a doctor + nurse to accompany him on a commercial flight home of 20K. Luckily it was all covered by an insurance his daughter had taken out for him to cover his holiday.

The problem with statistics is that they are useless to you when something goes wrong, so consider carefully the type of couver you want to have. You will never be refused treatment in Europe, even if you have not insurance, but you can expect to only be covered for the most basic care offered to locals. And in particular in Switzerland that means even the cost of an ambulance is not covered.

Sandancisco, tack så mycket. Glad the thread is helpful.
Thanks everyone for your replies. All are helpful to sort through the maze of insurance.

Gail, a quick read of Medjet’s docs is that you have to be medically stable to fly, you need to be accepted into a hospital of your choice. You either fly business class on a commercial flight or if needed a medically designated flight, both with an medical attendant.

Gail, it's good you're thinking this through. I have no concern about the quality of care or even the language barriers. What I'm considering is not a limited illness like COVID or a broken leg, but, a stroke or heart attack, severe burns, a spinal cord injury etc. Things that you wont be getting long-term restorative care in a foreign country. And that for which you might not be conscious enough to make a decision on where you're going, if you even have a choice.

Re Jim's post - mountain rescue by air is a thing all by itself. You will be charged if you have to be rescued from a mountain by helicopter in Austria or Switzerland, possibly other countries, and ordinary travel insurance may not cover it. If you are doing serious mountain climbing you are generally advised to get a specific rescue insurance policy for those countries.

"Extreme Sports" most likely are not covered. Check how your policy defines these.

RE: Extreme Sports. I have yet to read a policy that excludes non-competitive horseback riding. I always look because if possible, and back willing, I like to add a trail ride. So if I’m riding on a beach in Ireland and fall off, I’m covered.

Horsewoofie, Enjoy!

If you are doing serious mountain climbing you are generally advised
to get a specific rescue insurance policy for those countries.

And these policies aren't even expensive. You can sign up with REGA in Switzerland for 40,- a year. And in my case that covers medical evacuations worldwide...

My aunt is German, but she had a medical issue in Tunisia. While the doctors and medical staff there were wonderful, it was a super stressful situation. You are already stressed when you are ill or injured, and when you pile on unfamiliarity (not just with medical terms, but in her case, with the common language of English) it exacerbates it. She was medically evacuated, leaving us only with getting my uncle (who speaks practically no English and usually relies on my aunt for any and all travel arrangements) back to Germany. My aunt was well cared for, information was readily available, and we were free to focus on reassuring and rebooking my uncle.

I recommend it!

I think it depends. In Switzerland having insurance is pretty much the default, so the insurance companies can keep prices low because they have lots of subscribers, but only a few cases a year.

If prices are low everybody gets insurance, which keeps prices low.

If prices are high only people that really think they might need it get insurance, and that keeps prices high.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/a-reminder-about-having-proper-travel-insurance-especiallly-medical-evacuation
I am reposting this thread about a chap i met in Prague several years ago, true story and another reminder on good travel insurance. BTW I am heading to the airport in about 30 minutes for another trip to Prague ( my second this year so far)

Tom_MN, I think the only way your question can be answered is to compare the fine print in the policies' documents.

I'm becoming convinced that not very many people are getting insurance for transport beyond to the nearest capable medical facility.

I do think that MedJet is unique in what it offers as it gives you a choice of facility. It is not actually insurance; it is a membership. A lot of insurance policies distinguish between medical evacuation and repatriation. For example, the GeoBlue annual policy that I looked at first covers evacuation to the nearest adequate facility. Following a medical evacuation, the ”repatriation” coverage will take you to your home location. This could be a specialty medical transport or commercial airline, depending on the need.

I think the bottom line is that people need to read what the policy handles with regard to evacuation and repatriation and make sure they are satisfied with what is being offered.

Here is what it says on the MedJet Assist website:

Most travel insurance will not move you from one hospital to another unless it’s deemed “medically necessary”, meaning the facility you are in cannot properly treat your illness or injury. Medjet transports do not depend on “medical necessity”, meaning even if you’re in a perfectly good hospital where you are (anywhere 150 miles or more from home), if you want to be moved to a hospital at home that is YOUR choice.

Tom, I think we are talking about two different policies and I wasn’t precise with the name. GeoBlue has an *Annual Multi Trip * Trekker Choice policy. Several people on this board have recommended it. They gave me a quote and I am not a student and not working abroad. GeoBlue also has expat plans; I believe you are referring to those plans.

Laura, as you said, GeoBlue’s Trekker Choice plan is an annual medical plan. Here is the link https://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com/mobile/index-2.cfm
This is the travel medical annual plan I will be buying.

Just to clarify: during my phone call with a GeoBlue rep, they only do medical evacuation to the nearest facility. She brought this up, I guess to manage expectations, which I had none. My goal is annual travel medical coverage without worry of pre-existing conditions denied.

For those interested in GeoBlue this link gives a table summary of the two annual plans. Including a link to what it DOESN’T cover.

In addition to MedJet assist look at Airmed International. A very similar medical repatriation membership. Airmed is cheaper ($265), but almost identical if you use the AARP discount for MedJet. They have some very slight differences in their terms so compare them.

Importantly, both require access to ground transport to get you to an airfield for their flight or commercial flight. Neither company does emergency “mountainside/middle of the rainforst” type evacuation.

The big difference is that over the age of 75, MedJet requires a medical questionnaire and doctor’s letter, and they don’t state the price on the website. Airmed does not have a maximum age.

Last year I did an extensive deep dive since we had recently retired and would be taking multiple trips per year. Previously our University health plan included international coverage.

My husband is on Medicare (with a medigap that includes some international costs) and I am on an individual marketplace plan that only covers emergencies for domestic travel out of my area and a big fat nothing for international.

I decided to buy GeoBlue Trekker (annual) for both of us. It covers emergency transport at the location and will pay cash up front if required for the hospital and then they work with your insurer (medicare) to get back what your insurer should pay.

We have also had an annual Airmed membership for years. We’ve done a number of trips to Central and South America where I have greater concerns for the quality of hospitals outside of the big capital cities.

If taking an expensive organized trip (Amazon, Galapagos, etc) I will buy regular trip insurance with the cancel for any reason rider. I self insure independent trips (where airfare can be canceled for credit and hotels canceled). Yes, I will have to eat some costs but since I have the medical/emergency covered it isn’t worth it to me to purchase.

I read terms and conditions, FAQs, websites, and this forum, for about 3 days, to feel I was making the right choice for us. It isn’t easy!

The sad truth is, you won't really know if your insurance is any good until you need it. But it's really just too risky not to have some.

And just to repeat, look at several policies and see all the different kinds of coverage you can get and make sure you have what you need/want. Stuff like lost bags and trip interruption are not worth the money to me but they might be vital for you.

If you have your insurance from work, investigate that. You might be good, you might not.

The two standard comparo sites are, squaremouth and insuremytrip.