Questioning buying travel insurance? Read this:

what does it say?

In brief - article stresses the point of getting travel insurance for the unexpected.

Maine woman went on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Greece. She was riding an ATV in Mykonos when she crashed into a rock wall, breaking her ribs, pelvis, and tail bone.

Ms. Sturrup wasn't happy with the care she was getting at the Greece hospitals she was put in -- ultimately, Sturrup wanted to recover with her family in Old Town and have her sister, Kyla Harrison's, care.

That's why Sturrup made the $88,000 decision to pay for an air ambulance to bring her from Greece back to the United States.

Sturrup's family is fundraising to help cover the $88,000 it cost to get her home. They say that travel insurance is something they will never go without now on trips.

The article does not state if the family set up a Go Fund Me page (as the fundraising) to help defer the costs.

It is excellent advice to get travel insurance for any mishaps that may happen - even if you are a younger person - as the woman in the article/video is. Should not have to rely on the bank accounts of family or the public in general. Be prepared.

I understand the point the article makes, but I'm curious about one point. It sounds like Ms. Sturrup may have opted for a medical evacuation that wasn't medically necessary. Whether or not that's actually the case, it mades me wonder whether travel insurance would cover evacuations that aren't medically necessary. Health insurance usually doesn't cover elective items, but maybe travel insurance works differently. Does anyone know?

If I heard the video correctly, had the traveler taken out insurance, she would have been covered.

Update - I listened to the video again: They have a clip of a travel expert who states that a coverage of $250,000 in this case would have covered the air ambulance ride back to the States.

I take out travel insurance. As of yet, never had to use it. But it is an insurance for peace of mind should anything costly happen.

it mades me wonder whether travel insurance would cover evacuations
that aren't medically necessary

It's up to the local doctor (in Greece). If the doctor feels that the patient will be more comfortable recuperating at home or a facility close to home and can provide documentation to the insurance company, then the repatriation clause of the policy kicks-in and will cover the air ambulance and nursing services while in transit.

Whether or not that's actually the case, it mades me wonder whether
travel insurance would cover evacuations that aren't medically
necessary.

There are probably other factors besides medical necessity for the need for medivac home? For instance, an adult traveling alone with minor children?

A friend of mine had to pay $75,000 to be flown home to the USA by a staffed medijet. We always buy medical evacuation insurance.
We have both received medical care all over the world, not hospitalised rather treated in ERs. Travel insurance paid us back for costs incurred. One of the least expensive we encountered for medical care was Greece, 3 Euro total for ER, stitches by an MD, and follow up care in several hospitals as we traveled through out the country.

A very, very expensive lesson to learn. Never leave home without it...

Sorry, Nigel, I should have just told the story instead of providing that link..oh well, next time..

Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for posting. I did some searches after my posting to see what evacuation insurance covers and how much it costs. All of the summary comments I read about policies include the phrase "medically necessary," but it sounds like doctors have discretion in deciding what's medically necessary. I'll read the relevant clauses in the Terms & Conditions when I go to buy a policy to make sure I understand exactly what that insurer considers to be a medical necessity.

In checking my previous policy (Travel Safe Classic), I noticed that it is not only the physician, but also the "Program Medical Advisor" who determines whether an evacuation is "medically necessary". That policy also covers, to some extent, non-medical emergency evacuations, limited in scope and dependent on a travel advisory or warning from the US State Dept. As usual with insurance, one must read one's policy very carefully.

I have Med Jet Assist. This leaves where you are flown to up to you, once you are stabilized. They will take you to your hospital at home. You have the authority, not hospital administrators, insurance administrators, etc. It covers me beginning at 150 miles from home, all year long. Then, if you need it, get a small amount of medical coverage, as you won't be at foreign hospital for long.

One reason I have this is that I often travel solo. My family does not have to hurry off to a foreign hospital as I will be flown home as soon as I am stable, and there are experts watching my case for them. My daughter or husband can deal with whatever the problem is from home.

We bought a one-year policy from Seven Corners via Squaremouth. Too many stories like this..

These stories seem to appear in the news on a fairly regular basis, but it seems that not everyone is getting the message about travel medical insurance. Here's another example, albeit one with a more tragic outcome - https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-woman-dies-friend-barely-survives-thailand-jeep-accident .

I'm a firm beleiver in medical insurance, especially as I had to use it on my last trip. My policy included transport to home "if medically necessary", and I imagine that would have been determined by consultation between the attending physician and the physicians working for the insurance company. Fortunately I was able to use a commercial flight instead.

I even get medical insurance if travellng to another province within Canada.