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How to avoid a $100,000 airfare
Emergency medical evacuation is a product most people probably don't think they need. It sounds almost exotic, as if one's trip would need to be inherently dangerous to justify the purchase.
Well, think again. Emergency medical evacuation is far from necessary for every vacation, but travelers concerned about potential health problems or accidents, or who are traveling to relatively remote destinations or even just taking a cruise, may feel a bit more comfortable knowing they can easily and affordably get to a health care center in the case of a medical emergency. And speaking of affordability, consider that a domestic medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and it can be over a $100,000 for international evacuations.
There are three main players in the emergency medical evaluation business: MedJet Assist, AirMed, and a newcomer, On Call International, which previously only sold coverage to travel insurance companies as a wholesaler. Each program offers annual subscriptions and individual trip coverage options, but the products differ somewhat, as you'll see in this chart.
Still, you can expect a similar set of benefits, not just medical evacuation, but also "family reunion" transportation (when a spouse or other relative needs to join or travel with an ill or injured family member), medical monitoring/consultation, and travel assistance services such as cash advances and legal consultation.
There are a few things to look for when purchasing this kind of service. First, you probably want a program that will bring you to your hospital of choice-anything else sort of defeats the purpose. You'll also want to make sure there are no restrictions on pre-existing conditions, lest you risk being denied transport when injury or illness befalls you. If there are any such restrictions, it should go without saying that you read them thoroughly. Keep in mind that none of the big three evacuation providers provide transport for conditions or hospitalizations already in effect when a customer enrolls in their program. So no breaking your leg before your trip and then signing up for an airlift!
Lastly, make sure you completely understand how the evacuation procedure works. Who decides when an evacuation is necessary? What circumstances qualifies a person for evacuation? Can customers literally be evacuated from anywhere on the globe to any medical facility they choose? One distinction between On Call and its competitors is that it provides coverage starting at 50 miles from home, versus 150 miles for the other two firms. That might not sound like a big difference, unless you're, say, a Manhattan resident who becomes suddenly ill late at night on Fire Island, a barrier island which is just 60 miles from the New York City.
Remember, also, that none of these companies' offerings should be confused with medical insurance, and in virtually all cases, your medical insurance provider does not cover emergency evacuation needs. The two will work in tandem to cover the transportation and medical expenses incurred should you end up in the hospital while traveling.
So again, while medical evacuation coverage is not something most people really need, some travelers may appreciate having in their back pocket.
George Hobica is the founder of Airfarewatchdog™, the most inclusive source of airfare deals that have been researched and verified by experts. Airfarewatchdog compares fares from all airlines and includes the increasing number of airline-site-only and promo code fares.
[Flickr photo via moaksey]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andrew Evans Aug 23rd 2010 3:14PM
As a travel writer who's on the road all the time, I have MedJet Assist. Going the places I go, it gives me a lot of peace of mind. Also, they have a great iPhone app where you can access them anywhere in the world-
Garry Aug 23rd 2010 3:36PM
Medex is also pretty good, I've used them (fortunately not for evacs). International SOS has also been around for a long while.
When one is abroad, a lot depends on the local representatives (doctors) affiliated with these companies. And a lot might possibly depend on someone else knowing that you have evac/med insurance so that they can inform the local embassy or a local provider.
I once had to help another person abroad and somehow figured out that he had emergency med/evac insurance (he was near-comatose and I guess I found the ID card in his wallet). But it was quite difficult to get the local rep (a doctor) to respond because "Why should I? He's already in the hospital." I had to threaten this local physician with bad publicity and a report to the U.S. embassy and to his own company to force him off his duff and to come and attend to his patient/client. He was not happy with me in the slightest, nor I with him.
On the other hand I've met some of the medical and logistics personnel of these companies while abroad and they seem very professional and committed.
Serious medical issues can come up while abroad, I've seen it happen repeatedly. Especially in underdeveloped countries, this can be a very big deal. And your own embassy is more likely to lend a hand (even guaranteeing the bills) if they know you have reputable travel insurance. I've seen that happen too.
Traci Aug 23rd 2010 8:36PM
Wow, this might actually be a great option for vacationers or locals on the Outer Banks, NC. If we have to evacuate due to a major hurricane this could be a good choice for those that are not healthy and couldn't handle a long car trip.
Erin Giordano Aug 24th 2010 5:36PM
Good to see an article on the importance of medical assistance and evacuation. However, if you have a heart attack in Mozambique or for that matter 100 miles from home, are you really going to be the best person to decide to which hospital you should be taken? Do you have that knowledge? Think of it this way, even physicians get referrals from other physicians for their patients...they don't ask the patient directly to provide expert advice. Should you need to be evacuated due to a serious medical emergency, you are likely not the best person to make the decision about where you should be taken for care, worse yet you may be unable to make that choice. Rather, it may be best to let doctors who are experts in the strengths and weaknesses of the healthcare systems around the world determine where you should be treated.
Also, keep in mind, the air ambulance expense is only a component of the evacuation process. If you are treated at an inadequate facility, getting you to where you chose is the least of your problems. First and foremost is that you get the right treatment at the location that is closest and best able to provide the appropriate level of medical care. Then, after successful stabilization and/or treatment, you can be safely returned home, which is part of the repatriation benefit that should go hand in hand with a quality evacuation service. Finally, as a word of advice, always read the fine print and understand the conditions that determine when you get the choice. When you do, some may find that the promises and the reality don't always align.
As the world's leading international healthcare, medical assistance, and security services company, International SOS (www.internationalsos.com), has over 6,000 employees of which more than 900 are full-time physicians who work to provide assistance services to millions of travelers and their families, as well as thousands of caregivers. International SOS conducted more than 16,000 medical evacuations in 2008 and has an established, real-time network of qualified providers all around the globe, including Mozambique.