7 Myths About Medical Evacuations

David A. Farcy / January 3, 2022 /

Most people have heard of medical evacuations, but they may not know how they work. Many myths surround the process, as people have different ideas about what medical evacuations are and when they are necessary. In reality, medical evacuations can be critical to saving a life, and they can also offer several other benefits in a crisis. 

Explore some common myths about the process and find out the truths behind them.

1. Medical Evacuation Is Automatically Covered in Travel Insurance

If you’re wondering about medical evacuation coverage, you may think you have protection with general travel insurance. In reality, travel insurance and medical evacuation services are quite different from each other. Travel insurance provides more logistical coverage for travel, such as for lost baggage. Medical evacuation is the service that gets you to the nearest hospital that can treat your condition.

Medical evacuation services come from a membership plan rather than a policy, entitling you to these transportation services when you need them outside of your home country. You’ll take a medical flight with an experienced team to get you safely to the nearest hospital or specialist. They can also provide case management assistance and other services while you’re receiving health care. 

2. Medical Evacuations Are Only for Emergencies

Medical evacuations often occur because of an emergency where a patient must be rushed by air to the nearest hospital. However, patients or their families may need evacuation services in other situations as well. An ongoing illness or injury could require that a patient receive medical transportation services to get comfortably and safely home. If someone dies overseas, medical repatriation can bring them back to their home countries to be laid to rest.

For individuals with unique transportation needs related to their health, medical transportation can be planned ahead of time to help optimize their travel experience and protect their health.

3. I Don’t Need Medical Evacuation Coverage Because I Have Existing Health Insurance

Some people believe health insurance coverage includes medical evacuation services, but this isn’t the case. These two services have some significant differences. Health insurance is limited to paying for your medical bills, and it typically won’t cover transporting you to a health care facility. If you’re injured in another country, your coverage can’t help you get home.

You’ll need to add a trusted medical evacuation membership to get safe transportation back home with an expert medical team.

4. I Only Travel Domestically, So I Don’t Need Medical Evacuation Coverage

If you don’t travel outside the country, you might think medical evacuation coverage isn’t necessary. However, it’s vital to consider what could happen if you’re in a remote area of your country. Should you have a severe injury in another state, how will you get home to your local doctors?

Many of the services medical evacuation providers provide are for members within their home countries who need to get back home.

5. Medical Evacuation and Air Ambulance Coverage Is Too Expensive

In an emergency with no preparation, you can expect to foot some staggering bills. Air ambulance services can cost a significant amount when you need them last-minute to get the proper care. With the right preparation, you can help reduce these costs. Having a strategy and membership in place can help you get the services you need for safe transportation and insurance claims filings.

6. Insurance Doesn’t Cover Medical Evacuations and Air Ambulances

Medical evacuation services and health insurance work separately. Many standard travel coverage policies will handle repatriation or evacuation for you. However, the payout you receive will largely depend on the type of insurance you have, whether you had preexisting conditions and how you were injured or became ill.

7. Coverage Offered by My Credit Card Is Enough

Your credit card can help you pay for some medical costs if you need them, but it probably won’t be sufficient if you’re in an emergency. Your card cannot provide the required coverage for a medical evacuation or transportation, generally speaking. Having a medical-specific plan in place before you travel can give you a stress-free experience. 

Trust REVA for Medical Evacuation Planning and Management

When you work with REVA, we’ll handle all the details for you, so you can relax and enjoy your travels. If you need us, our caring, highly experienced, HIPAA-compliant staff will manage all the logistics of medical transportation for you and help you get to the right healthcare provider as quickly as possible.

If you’d like more information on our services, speak with us and request a quote today.