MEDICAL REPATRIATION

While many patients who experience injury or illness abroad may desire to return to their home country for treatment, not all will qualify. The first condition for medical repatriation is that the patient is “fit to fly.” This condition means a medical transport company determines a patient can travel safely by air ambulance in their current state of health and remain stable throughout the flight. REVA can develop customized flight plans for many medical conditions, allowing for safe travel home.

Patients using insurance to cover their air transport costs may also need to meet requirements set by the insurance policy to qualify for coverage. These requirements may include determining whether transport is medically necessary, including whether the foreign country can provide the appropriate treatment. At REVA, we don't require patients to have insurance coverage to travel. Some patients may choose to arrange medical repatriation, even without insurance coverage.

Many factors go into the cost of medical transport, meaning each patient will have different expenses. Here are a few factors that may influence the cost:

• Transport location: The distance between the foreign country and the home country can change the cost of medical transport.
• Medical condition: The patient's medical condition may require certain supplies during the flight home to keep them safe.
• Aircraft type: The patient's condition, equipment needed and anyone traveling with them will determine the aircraft that needs to be used.
• Medical crew required: The pilots, nurses and doctors who provide medical care during flight may influence medical repatriation costs.
• Flight urgency: If the patient requires a faster flight, this may impact the expenses. 

While medical repatriation is often costly, it provides access to higher-level care, making it a worthwhile investment. REVA works with insurance providers to cut costs as much as possible. We'll explore the patient's financial options for a seamless process. Our coverage includes most major insurance providers. We are also an in-network provider for Humana.

Patients seeking medical repatriation may face challenges for many reasons, ranging from the international scale to the medical treatment involved. Here are a few of the most common:

• Language barriers: When seeking medical care in other countries, patients may face issues communicating with medical staff and doctors due to differences in language. These differences may lead to difficulties in arranging transport.
• Transportation logistics: Arranging international flights takes effort in regular circumstances. For patients needing medical care during transport, new challenges arise due to the urgency of transport and other issues.
• Equipment and medicine: Patients getting medical repatriation often need supplies transported with them. These supplies include medications and supplies like cardiac monitors, oxygen and IVs.
• Medical complexity: Depending on the medical condition, patients may require specialized care during their journey. These requirements may make it difficult to find transport and medical teams to manage the condition in transport.

REVA meets the challenges patients face during the medical repatriation process by providing comprehensive planning services. We take the difficulty away from patients, families or others planning travel. Our services include translation and interpretation to keep patients informed during transport. We also plan flight logistics and medical care, covering every detail.

The selection process for medical facilities during repatriation depends on the individual patient. REVA allows patients to express a preference for a particular hospital. In this case, our coordinators will work with the receiving facility to arrange acceptance at that facility or find alternatives as needed. 

If the patient doesn't have a preference for a particular facility, REVA's team will assist in the selection process. We will use our medical expertise and partnerships with various medical facilities to ensure the patient gets repatriated to a top-notch care facility. We may make recommendations for facilities near airports to streamline the transport process. Our recommendations may account for the care specialties a particular patient needs and their condition during transport.

Travel insurance may also dictate where the patient gets repatriated. Some travel insurance coverage includes transport to the closest health care facility capable of providing adequate care. Other travel insurance does not cover repatriation, leaving patients with a choice of which facility they would prefer.