Medical Evacuation Insurance/Assist Need Recommendations
Mar 16, 2005, 1:58 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: AA,DL,CO,HILTON<STARWOOD
Posts: 10
travel insurance
Just yesterday I purchased a policy from Travelguard for a 17 day trip to Spain and Morocco next month. For $95 I got (for 2 people) $50,000 coverage for medical expenses (hospital, doctor, etc.) and $1,000,000 !!! for evacuation.EACH.tHIS is primary coverage as opposed to AMEX PLATs secondary. If something adverse should happen Travelguard will transport us and pay for treatment at the nearest "quality" medical facility until we are stabilized. The, if further treatment is deemed necessary and we are capable of being transported they will evacuate us back to our hometown and hospital of choice. There are no age limits on this as opposed to Medjetassist which is 75.
Mar 16, 2005, 4:00 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southern California
Programs: The usual for over 7 Million paid miles flown to date... My first paid flight was on a DC3.
Posts: 1,518
Mar 16, 2005, 4:28 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: AA,DL,CO,HILTON<STARWOOD
Posts: 10
travelguard
Originally Posted by LouiseMc
I checked out Traveguard and from what i found for the $1,000,000 evacuation coverage it is only to the closest adequate facility. I must be looking in the wrong place. Where did you find it on the website. Thanks
Mar 16, 2005, 6:41 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 336
Insurance
The only problem with most is that they will evacuate you home but they will only pay for a one way coach ticket or an upgrade if deemed necessary. I do purchase from "insuremytrip" all the time which is a great place to comparison shop. What I was mainly concerned about - I wanted medical help home if I needed it and not just a plane ticket.
Mar 21, 2005, 11:52 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 1
I found something great!
I also just purchased a similar policy for my two-week trip to Kenya and Tanzania, for me and my fianc from www.internationalsos.com. The policy was only $150 for both of us and after a lot of research I found it to be well worth the money. I found out that International SOS has the biggest evacuation network in the world!! Not only do they have their own fleet of plans but they have complete intensive care units on them and a doctor even flies with you. My plan comes with $1,000,000 of evac coverage and they say that they can get me even out of the most remote places. There may be cheaper plans out there but I'd rather spend a little extra to make sure I make it home from my trip alive.
Nov 28, 2007, 8:56 pm
#22
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,946
Possibly ther cheapest, best medevac insurance around
After using Search and finding the most recent thread, which also lists DAN, I wanted to "alert" other FlyerTalk members about Divers Alert Network evacuation insurance. (Disclaimer) I am a longtime member, and also purchase an additional insurance product for dive-related injuries. but:
Divers Alert Network (non-profit)
Individual membership $29 per year; Family membership $44 per year ($5 additional if a non-US resident)
"When you join DAN, you are automatically enrolled in DAN's travel assistance plan and your family is covered with your family membership. If you travel at least 50 miles/80 km from your permanent residence, TravelAssist is there to help 24 hours a day. DAN TravelAssist, through MedAire, Inc., arranges emergency medical evacuations for any medical emergency - and provides many more benefits - for you and your immediate family members.
IMPORTANT: DAN TravelAssist must arrange ALL evacuations. If you make your own emergency evacuation arrangements DAN TravelAssist will not reimburse the cost.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
* Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
Covers up to a maximum of $100,000 per person (if a Family Membership) for an emergency evacuation, or medically necessary repatriation.
* Prescription Assistance
Locates and arranges to send medication or eyeglasses when it's possible and legally acceptable.
* Medical Expense
Advances up to $5,000 for hospital admittance or discharge deposits.
* Medical Monitoring
Work with local medical providers and relay necessary information to the member and the member's family until the situation is resolved.
* 24-Hour Worldwide Medical Information and Assistance
Provides 24-hour multilingual assistance and consultation along with non-diving related medical referrals to physicians, hospitals and specialists."
Age limits: none. Pre-existing condition denial: none. Health information or exams to be submitted to: none.
Does it work? A friend of mine developed a pulmonary infection in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and they medevacced her to Sacramento CA to her home town and Kaiser medical facility, after she called and they conversed with her doctor.
This will cover me in a car accident in the fog on the highway to Oroville, north of my home town, as an example, or in Indonesia.
Divers Alert Network (non-profit)
Individual membership $29 per year; Family membership $44 per year ($5 additional if a non-US resident)
"When you join DAN, you are automatically enrolled in DAN's travel assistance plan and your family is covered with your family membership. If you travel at least 50 miles/80 km from your permanent residence, TravelAssist is there to help 24 hours a day. DAN TravelAssist, through MedAire, Inc., arranges emergency medical evacuations for any medical emergency - and provides many more benefits - for you and your immediate family members.
IMPORTANT: DAN TravelAssist must arrange ALL evacuations. If you make your own emergency evacuation arrangements DAN TravelAssist will not reimburse the cost.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
* Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
Covers up to a maximum of $100,000 per person (if a Family Membership) for an emergency evacuation, or medically necessary repatriation.
* Prescription Assistance
Locates and arranges to send medication or eyeglasses when it's possible and legally acceptable.
* Medical Expense
Advances up to $5,000 for hospital admittance or discharge deposits.
* Medical Monitoring
Work with local medical providers and relay necessary information to the member and the member's family until the situation is resolved.
* 24-Hour Worldwide Medical Information and Assistance
Provides 24-hour multilingual assistance and consultation along with non-diving related medical referrals to physicians, hospitals and specialists."
Age limits: none. Pre-existing condition denial: none. Health information or exams to be submitted to: none.
Does it work? A friend of mine developed a pulmonary infection in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and they medevacced her to Sacramento CA to her home town and Kaiser medical facility, after she called and they conversed with her doctor.
This will cover me in a car accident in the fog on the highway to Oroville, north of my home town, as an example, or in Indonesia.
DAN (Divers Alert Network) has pretty decent coverage and they do cover nondiving medical emergencies. Their repatriation includes flying you, dependent children and or travel companions home. They'll even fly someone to your location if you are traveling alone and need to be hospitalized for more than 5 days. They cover evac as well.
Their TravelAssist is part of the basic membership and they offer both family and individual policies.
You can check out the details at www.diversalertnetwork.org
I hope you never need to use these services, but its nice to know you have them just in case!
Their TravelAssist is part of the basic membership and they offer both family and individual policies.
You can check out the details at www.diversalertnetwork.org
I hope you never need to use these services, but its nice to know you have them just in case!
Jun 23, 2010, 10:57 am
#23
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,944
The latest issue of International Travel News, July 2010, page 56, is also enthusiastic about the medical evacuation program available through Divers Alert Network (DAN) membership. The DAN evac program does appear to be comparatively a bargain.
DAN website specifies that medical evacuation covers both diving and non-diving accidents. When I called to ask, a CSR indicated that the med evac policy does cover illness also.
The evacuation has to be arranged by DAN, of course. No age restrictions.
Note, however: It covers medical evacuation, as medically necessary, to the nearest qualified medical facility. (only) This is what the CSR said when I called to ask.
IOW, if you are across the world, you will not be transported to your choice of facility near your hometown.
In contrast, MedJet says it will transport to the traveler's choice of facility (assuming medically indicated by a physician and assuming that the company makes the arrangements, of course). And AMEX might do the same. (But check with AMEX to be sure you are covered through your card or if you should purchase this coverage as an optional add-on.) MedJet becomes more costly depending upon the traveler's age, and AMEX appears to have preexisting condition clauses, though I am not certain how/if these would impact.
I don't guarantee the above info. Also, please note, I am not an insurance agent, nor do I play one on TV.
DAN website specifies that medical evacuation covers both diving and non-diving accidents. When I called to ask, a CSR indicated that the med evac policy does cover illness also.
The evacuation has to be arranged by DAN, of course. No age restrictions.
Note, however: It covers medical evacuation, as medically necessary, to the nearest qualified medical facility. (only) This is what the CSR said when I called to ask.
IOW, if you are across the world, you will not be transported to your choice of facility near your hometown.
In contrast, MedJet says it will transport to the traveler's choice of facility (assuming medically indicated by a physician and assuming that the company makes the arrangements, of course). And AMEX might do the same. (But check with AMEX to be sure you are covered through your card or if you should purchase this coverage as an optional add-on.) MedJet becomes more costly depending upon the traveler's age, and AMEX appears to have preexisting condition clauses, though I am not certain how/if these would impact.
I don't guarantee the above info. Also, please note, I am not an insurance agent, nor do I play one on TV.
Last edited by SkeptiCallie; Jun 23, 2010 at 11:51 am Reason: clarification
Jun 23, 2010, 3:39 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 13
Medical evacuation insurance
There are lots of policies out there - and if you're looking for one that will fly you home to your facility of choice, then you're going to pay a lot for it - worth it, I say. TravelGuard offers their Platinum policy (pricey, but worth it, especially after I landed in a hospital in St. Petersburg 18 months ago) that provides this service.
Most domestic policies offer nothing of this nature - just reimbursement for services rendered at the time (with up-front payment required).
Yes, TravelGuard is part of AIG, but they're good.
Most domestic policies offer nothing of this nature - just reimbursement for services rendered at the time (with up-front payment required).
Yes, TravelGuard is part of AIG, but they're good.
Jun 23, 2010, 4:34 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,944
There are lots of policies out there - and if you're looking for one that will fly you home to your facility of choice, then you're going to pay a lot for it - worth it, I say. TravelGuard offers their Platinum policy (pricey, but worth it, especially after I landed in a hospital in St. Petersburg 18 months ago) that provides this service.
Most domestic policies offer nothing of this nature - just reimbursement for services rendered at the time (with up-front payment required).
Yes, TravelGuard is part of AIG, but they're good.
Most domestic policies offer nothing of this nature - just reimbursement for services rendered at the time (with up-front payment required).
Yes, TravelGuard is part of AIG, but they're good.
I note that they seem to cover preexisting conditions, a real bonus. The transport back home is under their "repatriation" option, not their evacuation option, which appears to be just to nearest suitable facility, in case anyone is checking off the components of the policy they want. An important distinction, in case anyone misses it and wants it, to be sure to specify the repatriation option.
They also have an add-on option for sports coverage for evac/repatriation evidently. It looks good. (Well, maybe except for the cost
--OTOH, a lot less costly than paying for emergency evac oneself.)I did a lot of research on the various companies some time ago and didn't encounter this plan by Travel Guard. Had I, I probably would have chosen it. Don't know if this option is newish (by that I mean after I did my research, which has been, as I say, some time ago, at least several years), or if I just missed it before.
Whatever, good to know this policy exists--the TravelGuard Platinum policy, as you indicate, and evidently pricey, but seems to have excellent features.
Hope you're fully recovered now. Just out of curiosity, how long did it take for them to decide that you needed emergency repatriation and how long to arrange it?
Jun 23, 2010, 7:14 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Mile-High Club, Marriott Plt, SPG P-75, PC Plt, Hyatt Dia, Carlson Gold, BW Dia
Posts: 1,845
If you are a student, the ISIC ( www.myisic.com ) includes travel and repatriation insurance.
Jun 23, 2010, 9:58 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: LAX / SNA
Programs: AA Life PLT 3MM/ NZ Gold
Posts: 158
I used MedjetAssist in May from Maui to So. Calif. My wife had a breathing problem and was hospitalized in Maui. We were flown home within two days of contacting MedjetAssist. I can not speak more highly of this service. There was no debate or hassle in using there service. They were extremely professional about the entire experience. The only requirement is that the person to be transported be hospitalized and they require that the patient be transported from hospital to hospital. Can not speak more highly of the staff on the plane from the RN to the RT to the pilot and co-pilot. I would not travel without it.
Jun 25, 2010, 5:01 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 95
does anyone know the range on the jets that travel evacuation thing uses?
it would be a pain if they have to keep landing and refueling to get from new zealand to the usa
it would be a pain if they have to keep landing and refueling to get from new zealand to the usa
I have just been going over options for this and discovered that although most insurance companies offer the evacuation insurance, it is usually just to the closest suitable hospital. I was concerned about getting home if something terrible should happen after being stabilized. I have a friend who was transported from New Zealand to the west coast of the U.S. He was in a coma after an auto accident and the cost was $70,000. Check this article out - http://www.usatoday.com/travel/colum...ncatelli_x.htm. I have bought the MedJet coverage for a year and there are family rates I believe.