Your travel plans may find you scratching an adventuresome itch, but that’s no reason to push the limits without coverage in the event that you need to be relocated because of an accident. Evacuation insurance covers expenses related to transportation if something goes awry in the most harrowing of circumstances.
Typically a membership-based, annual plan, some policies may include Adventure Sports coverage or Trip Interruption coverage. Evacuation plans often have some additional flexibility, offering options such as “Hospital of Choice” preference for medical evacuation.
Medical evacuation insurance plans provide coverage for evacuations and repatriation for individuals who travel either internationally and/or for business reasons on a regular basis. It’s a type of insurance which, as the name suggests, focuses on emergency medical evacuations, international security evacuations, and repatriation. Medical evacuation plans handle the coordination of these efforts and they take care of payments to the rescue team as well.
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WHO SHOULD BUY THIS COVERAGE? |
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Individuals And Families On A Cruise: The medical facilities on a cruise ship are limited and if you experience a medical emergency, you’ll want coverage to coordinate and pay for your evacuation to obtain proper medical care. |
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Travelers Headed To Remote Destinations: If you are planning to travel to remote regions of the globe, where medical care may be nonexistent, you’ll want assistance if you are severely ill or injured. |
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Missionaries And Foreign Aid Workers: Often missionaries and foreign aid workers travel to politically dangerous areas or regions that are damaged by natural disasters. Be sure you can save yourself if something happens to you, so you can continue doing important work. |
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Business Travelers Working Abroad: When you work in a foreign country, you may have access to your own health care or universal health care, but you won’t have coverage to be returned home if something truly terrible happens without medical evacuation insurance. |
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WHY BUY MEDICAL EVACUATION INSURANCE? |
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You are working on a volunteer project in the middle of the jungle and have a heart attack. |
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Your teenage son has an accident with a jet ski while on a family cruise and suffers a severe concussion at sea. |
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On a hike to a waterfall in Costa Rica, your wife slips off the trail and breaks her leg. |
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Your parents are traveling with you to Rome when your father experiences a stroke. |
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Your daughter’s graduation trip ends in a horrific traffic accident miles from home. |
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WHAT’S COVERED? |
Coverage types and limits differ based on what type of evacuation plan you purchase. Most evacuation plans include coverage for:
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Emergency Medical Evacuation |
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Emergency Reunion |
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Repatriation of Remains |
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WHAT’S NOT COVERED? |
Most plans don’t cover expenses related to an injury or illness that does not result in evacuation – keep in mind that Evacuation coverage is specifically for evacuation-related expenses only, not medical expenses or other costs associated with an emergency.
In Summary
It’s likely not inexpensive, easy or quick to get from one place to another in a pinch abroad. If you have reason to believe evacuation is worth being covered based on the way you’re traveling, Evacuation coverage is a safe bet.
