What is Emergency Travel Medical Evacuation Insurance and Why Do I Need It?

What is Travel Medical Air Evacuation Insurance?

Travel medical air evacuation insurance protects you, should you be hospitalized due to an injury or illness that occurs while traveling domestically or abroad, when a transport is necessary.

How is Evacuation Insurance Different From Travel or Trip Insurance?

Travel or Trip insurance can cover a wide range of services including trip change/cancellation charges, travel delays, lost baggage, medical evacuation, and emergency medical expenses.

In the event of a medical emergency, trip Insurance policies may come up short where it will matter most – if there is a medical emergency. Although the plan may cover the cost of a medical evacuation, these transports are typically limited to the 'nearest suitable hospital'. This often leaves you far from home, and even outside the U.S. if traveling abroad.

Many trip insurance plans are limited to $10,000-$20,000 in medical coverage and may not provide the protection you need in a critical situation. Even if some emergency medical expenses are covered by your health insurance while traveling, your out-of-pocket costs could include large deductibles and out of network charges.

Why Should I Purchase Medical Evacuation Coverage?

In the current pandemic it may be more important than ever to have the right coverage when you travel. Airline companies are planning to increase foreign travel over the next few months, and many countries are requiring proof of medical evacuation coverage before entering their country.

If you want to be at home in the event of an emergency, rather than in a distant domestic or foreign hospital, you'll want to consider emergency evacuation insurance before taking your next trip.

Are all Medical Evacuation plans the same?

It's important to note that not all Medical Evacuation plans are created equal. Actually many are not real insurance, but rather assistance or membership programs that are not regulated by the insurance industry.

True insurance companies are rated by A.M. Best Company for financial stability and the ability to pay claims. You know you are truly protected when you purchase from a highly rated insurer.

Membership and assistance plans are unable to provide the option of purchasing emergency medical coverage because they are not insurance policies. Thus you could be exposed should you incur medical expenses, even if a medical evacuation is warranted.

What Coverage Should I Look For?

Here's the coverage you want to look for when you are researching Travel Medical Evac insurers.

• High policy limit ($500k or more)
• International & Domestic Coverage
• Transport to HOSPITAL OF CHOICE
• Transport of companion/family member
• Vehicle return
• Highly accredited, fully equipped, state of the art, medical air transport providers
• Emergency Accident and Sickness Expense Coverage Option ($50k or more)

You also want to ensure your insurance provider has an A.M. Best rating of A or better.

Make sure you review plan details as many can have limited coverage both in terms of benefits and policy dollar limits. Ideally the plan will provide robust medical evacuation coverage to one's home'hospital of choice', not just the 'nearest suitable facility' and an option to include coverage for medical expenses, that does not exclude any infectious diseases, with a policy limit of up to $100,000.

How Will My Companion or Family Member be Transported?

If possible, your companion or family member will ride with you when you are air evacuated. However, if this poses a risk to yourself or the medical personnel on the aircraft, they will be flown by commercial flight to the nearest airport to your home hospital.

What is 'Vehicle Return'?

If you and your companion/family member must evacuate due to a medical emergency, and you have driven your vehicle or RV to your destination, your evacuation coverage will pay to have the vehicle returned to your home.

What is the Emergency Accident and Sickness Expense Coverage Option?

This optional medical coverage can provide for the cost of one or more of:

• Physician services
• Hospital stays
• Lab tests, X-rays, exams, and treatments
• Ground ambulance
• Prescription drugs
• Therapeutic services
• Emergency dental expenses

Conclusion

At a time when travel insurance is more relevant than ever, be sure you are covered by travel insurance you can count on. Whether you secure coverage for a single trip, an extended stay or even an annual plan, travel with peace of mind that you're protecting your health and finances - your family will thank you.

TME Travel Insurance

Mexpro offers Emergency Medical Evacuation and Travel Medical insurance from TME Travel Insurance, an A.M. Best A-Rated insurer you can trust.

TME Travel Insurance plans not only provide premier hospital of choice medical evacuation and many other services, but also the option to secure coverage for emergency accident and sickness expenses when traveling up to 180 days on any given trip. This coverage can reimburse everything from hospital expenses, physician services, treatments, X-rays, diagnostics, ground ambulance and even emergency dental expenses.

Mexpro's travel medical evacuation plans have no infectious disease exclusion. Many other programs are excluding infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

Please contact us if you have further questions toll-free at (855) 639-7761 or mexico@mexpro.com.