How to Add Medical Evacuation Coverage to My Travel Insurance
Emergency medical evacuations occur primarily among injured or sick travelers who cannot receive the medical care they need. When a patient cannot secure adequate care at a local facility, they are safely and quickly transported to a different one with the capabilities to evaluate and diagnose issues and provide the appropriate treatment. Without insurance, the expenses that come along with these medical evacuation services can be costly.
What Is Medical Evacuation Coverage?
Medical evacuation insurance provides coverage to individuals in case they need an evacuation or repatriation. Individuals who frequently travel abroad often purchase medical evacuation insurance plans. Should the need for a medical evacuation arise, the insurance helps cover the transportation charges from one facility to the next, including the costs of qualified medical personnel administering the transport.
The amount of coverage and medical condition stipulations vary between insurance companies.
Why Medical Evacuation Coverage Is Important
Evacuation coverage is essential mainly because it’s rarely part of standard health plans. The cost of an evacuation flight or ambulance depends on a patient’s location, what resources are available, the severity of an illness or injury and the location of the nearest qualified facility. In extreme situations, the cost of an uninsured evacuation can be up to several hundred thousand dollars.
An evacuation insurance plan provides peace of mind to both a traveler and their loved ones. Every traveler should consider medical evacuation insurance, especially if they will be in an area with limited medical resources. Some examples might include:
- Families taking a vacation or cruise outside their country.
- Foreign aid workers or missionaries.
- Business travelers working overseas.
- Travelers headed to secluded or developing areas.
- Military personnel without evacuation coverage.
Travelers should even consider coverage if they plan on spending time in a remote part of the U.S.
How to Add Medical Evacuation Coverage to My Travel Insurance
Standard travel insurance plans sometimes include medical evacuation insurance. Plans that don’t have coverage upfront can be modified before a traveler departs their home country. Most programs provide this coverage for travelers for as little as several days up to a maximum of one year, depending on the policy.
Premium insurance add-ons can help cover repatriation costs for the trip home and the choice of medical providers or facilities.
Adding evacuation coverage can be as easy as contacting your travel insurance provider. Costs of added insurance vary by company.
How REVA Can Assist You With Medical Evacuation
When a life is at stake, time is everything. That’s why REVA stands ready to help in the most critical medical emergencies. Our experienced and caring staff can arrive at the scene quickly and transport a patient to the nearest appropriate facility.
We’ll stand by your side during the entire process, from arranging transportation to providing qualified medical professionals to taking care of your insurance claim. Our staff is available to help you 24 hours a day, seven days per week. For over 30 years, REVA has safely transported patients across the world.
To learn more about our services, call us or contact us online today.