Why all travellers NEED medical evacuation insurance

Most travellers opt for the standard insurance cover without reading the small print to see what the insurance policy covers – I’ve been guilty of this in the past! Have you considered what would happen in case you need medical evacuation?

What Is Medical Evacuation Insurance?

As a trekker, my first thought was medical evacuation is being air-lifted by helicopter from a mountain as I was from Everest Base Camp. Whilst this is true, medical evacuation is much more than that.

All travel insurance will protect travellers against financial loss with theft, trip cancellations and medical expenses which generally include emergency transportation costs to the nearest adequate medical facility for initial treatment with specific conditions attached.

Hang on though, what if something more serious happens? We never like to think about the worst-case scenario but that is why we need to consider the importance of medical evacuation insurance in the eventuality of hospitalisation or even death!

You should be aware at this stage that medical evacuation is an expensive business without cover and most of us budget travellers will not have the funds to cover the costs which can stem up to $300,000 depending on the situation you find yourself in.

This raises many questions about the level of cover in these unexpected circumstances;

• If my home country has the best medical care, can I be repatriated?
• If I take medical care at the nearest facility and miss my flight, will expenses be covered once my condition has stabilised?
• Will the travel insurance company guide me through the process in case of an accident or am I left to fend for myself?

Checklist If You’re Looking For Medical Evacuation Cover

The biggest mistake most travellers make is that the most expensive insurance will have the most benefits – not always the case! Here’s a checklist of what to look for when considering medical evacuation insurance;

• What destinations are covered? – Many insurers will exclude various countries in their policy for medical evacuation.
• What medical care is covered? Commonly, the policy will only cover you for medical evacuation to the nearest approved medical centre. This facility may not be able to deal with your injury and you may be in a situation where you need to get back to your home country or be taken to another medical centre.
• Are there any limits of cover? Your policy will stipulate the maximum amount the insurance company will pay out. The higher the coverage you opt for generally means a higher limit but check if the amount will be enough.
• Do you have any pre-existing conditions? Different insurance companies will approach this in different ways such as whether you have received diagnosis or treatment within periods ranging from 60 to 180 days. Best to be upfront so you don’t come a cropper on your travels.

Medical evacuation insurance comparison

IATI – Medical Evacuation Insurance

• Unlimited repatriation and 5,000,000 EUR medical expenses – Covers emergency medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation of mortal remains. There are lower levels of coverage with a range of packages available.
• Medical care covered – IATI will cover the cost of emergency transport to the nearest medical centre or the place that provides the most appropriate treatment and even your transport home if deemed necessary.
• Pre-existing conditions not covered – All insurance packages cover initial emergency medical assistance for 24 hours with chronic or pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or congenital conditions. 
• Excluded countries – The cover provided under the Policy excludes those countries that, during your trip, are in a state of war, siege, insurrection or armed conflict of any kind, even when this has not been officially declared.
• Optional additional coverage – Policies cannot be amended or updated on your travels to suit any change of plans.
• Who can buy an IATI cover? IATI is the go-to for Spanish residents but if neither the starting point or destination of the trip is in Spain, you can take out insurance for trips of no more than 120 days.

HeyMondo – Medical Evacuation Insurance

• Unlimited repatriation and up to $500,000 in medical expense coverage – Covers the cost of medical treatment, hospitalization, and transportation to a medical office in case of a crisis. 
• Medical care covered – HeyMondo will cover the cost of emergency transport to the nearest medical centre or the place that provides the most appropriate treatment and even your transport home if deemed necessary.
• Pre-existing conditions may not be covered – Some policies might exclude coverage for medical conditions that existed before purchasing the policy.
• Excluded countries – The cover provided under the Policy excludes those countries that, during your trip, are in a state of war, siege, insurrection or armed conflict of any kind.
• Optional additional coverage – Policies cannot be amended or updated on your travels to suit any change of plans.
• Who can buy an HeyMondo cover? Heymondo insurance is available to anyone. They cover travellers from all over the world while outside their home country. For trips of more than 90 consecutive days outside the usual place of residence, only luggage is guaranteed for trips to and from Spain or the place of residence.

Travelling is one of the best experiences you will have but it pays to be prepared otherwise you may find yourself paying BIG in the long run.  Not every trip is plain sailing, make sure you have the right medical evacuation insurance in place before you head off on your adventure!

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PLEASE NOTE: All of the information provided about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage.