battleface

What is medical evacuation insurance?

Medical evacuation insurance provides financial coverage in case you’re seriously injured or fall ill while traveling far from home and need emergency transportation to a reputable medical facility for treatment. This can mean an evacuation back to your home country or transportation to a suitable facility in another location closer to the destination you’re traveling in at the time the incident occurs.

 

Do I need medical evacuation insurance?

Like most insurance, travel insurance and medical evacuation coverage are designed to protect you when the unexpected happens. Accidents, serious injuries, and illnesses are unpredictable by nature, so it’s important for every traveler to be financially protected. After all, medical evacuations can easily cost between $25,000 and $250,000, depending on how far from home you are when you get injured and how remote the destination is. Additionally, your everyday health insurance coverage may not foot the entire bill.

Just as importantly, they may not have the expertise or global provider network necessary to make arrangements to ensure you get the care you need. Your US health insurer also may not have the knowledge or ability needed to coordinate a complex international medical evacuation, which could include transport to the nearest hospital qualified to treat your condition, a specialized nurse or doctor escort, plus an air ambulance to return home.

It’s also worth noting that a base travel insurance policy may not cover medical evacuation. The medical coverage included with your travel insurance may cover the costs of treatment at a local hospital, but depending on where you’re traveling, a local facility may not have the level of care your injury or illness requires.

 

What does medical evacuation insurance cover?

Medical evacuation insurance provides primary coverage for expenses related to safely transporting you to a reputable medical facility when you are injured or fall seriously ill while traveling away from home. Typically, your policy will pay up to a specific dollar amount and is available for both domestic and international trips.

Medical evacuation insurance protects you from serious financial liability in all kinds of emergency situations, whether you’re in a car accident while traveling, are injured during an unexpected natural disaster, or contract a serious illness abroad, such as COVID-19.

One key advantage of medical evacuation insurance is that it’s a primary benefit, which means that your travel insurance provider may reimburse you directly, instead of having to go through your regular health insurance first. Plus, medical evacuation insurance may cover expenses that are excluded under your everyday health insurance plan.

Also, extremely important is the fact that medical evacuation coverage will generally pay for the expenses up front — you don’t need to pay the costs and then seek reimbursement later.

In addition to covering the costs of evacuation, travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage will pay for the costs to transport your remains back home if you pass away while traveling abroad during a covered trip.

 

What is excluded from medical evacuation coverage?

Most travel insurance providers exclude specific countries from coverage. For example, as of October 2021, battleface specifically excludes Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Niger, North Korea, Mauritania, Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Additionally, some events aren’t covered, such as normal childbirth, acts of war, your commission of a felony, self-inflicted injury, and others. Be sure to read your policy from start to finish.

 

What if I need help coordinating an evacuation while traveling?

If you’re seriously injured or sick and need emergency medical evacuation, you probably aren’t able to arrange all the details and logistics. Luckily, when you have travel insurance through battleface, our 24/7 assistance team can make all the arrangements for you, so you can just focus on treatment and recovery.

 

How else can travel insurance help me if I require a medical evacuation?

When a serious illness or injury interrupts your vacation, your expenses can add up quickly. A comprehensive travel insurance plan will help you recoup costs related to the interruption or early cancellation of your trip, plus reimburse you for lost, damaged, or stolen luggage.

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION

Pre-Existing Medical Condition means an illness, disease, or other condition during the 180 day period immediately prior to the date Your coverage is effective :
  1. received or received a recommendation for a test, examination, or medical treatment for a condition which first manifested itself, worsened or became acute, or had symptoms which would have prompted a reasonable person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment; or
  2. took or received a prescription for drugs or medicine. Item (2) of this definition does not apply to a condition which is treated or controlled solely through the taking of prescription drugs or medicine and remains treated or controlled without any adjustment or change in the required prescription throughout the 180 day period before coverage is effective under this policy.
  3. required a change in prescribed medication. Change in prescribed medication means the dosage or frequency of a medication has been reduced, increased, stopped and/or new medications have been prescribed due to the worsening of an underlying condition that is being treated with the medication, unless the change is:
    1. between a brand name and a generic medication with comparable dosage; or
    2. an adjustment to insulin or anti-coagulant dosage.
If you, or someone you are traveling with, has a Pre-Existing Medical Condition, you can still buy a policy from us but there is no cover for any claim arising directly or indirectly from that condition.

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION

Any Medical Condition that, within the last 12 months, required any:

  • surgery, inpatient or outpatient treatment, referrals or investigations of any sort. This includes being on any waiting list, taking any prescription medication, tablets or required medical treatment (This will not apply to common colds, flu or contraceptive medication);
  • medical advice or treatment for any respiratory condition relating to the lungs or breathing;
  • medical advice or treatment for any heart, stroke or diabetic condition;

Hypertension or high cholesterol controlled by 1 prescription drug only and where the dosage has not been changed within the last 12 months will not be considered a pre-existing medical condition

Coverages Available:

*not all coverages are available in all states
Travel Protection Benefits Limits
Trip Cancellation 100% of trip cost (up to a maximum of $20,000)
Single Occupancy Up to trip cost
Cancel for Any Reason Up to 75% of trip cost Up to 50% of trip costs in FL(CFAR not available to NY residents)
Trip Interruption 150% of trip cost
Delay Package
Trip Delay
Maximum $200 per day up to $2,500
Missed Connection Maximum of $1,000 per covered trip
Baggage Package – Excess
Baggage and Personal Effects $2,500 $100 Deductible
Baggage Delay $100 per day up to a maximum of $500
Travel Medical Package – Excess AK, CO, ID, ND, NH – Primary
Travel Medical Expense – Adventure sports included $100,000 $50,000 in NH $50 Deductible
Emergency Dental $750
Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains Up to $500,000
Up to $1,000,000 in NH
Accidental Death & Dismemberment $100,000 or $250,000 or $500,000
Pet Medical Package
Pet Medical Expense Up to $2,000 $100 Deductible
Pet Return Up to $500
Rental Vehicle Damage – Primary Up to $35,000 per rented vehicle- Primary $250 Deductible for loss greater than $2,000
Vacation Rental Damage $1,500 or $3,000 or $5,000

Travel Medical Insurance

Some benefits are subject to an excess (aka, the deductible, or what you have to pay before we pay), as stated in the Policy Schedule, and are per Policy Period.

Benefits Limits
Cancellation and Curtailment 5,000
Emergency Medical Expenses, Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains 10,000,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Hospital Benefit 25 per day, maximum 100
Personal Accident up to 250,000
Baggage Loss or Delay up to 5,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Money and Passport, limited to 250 in respect of cash 500 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Liability 500,000
Travel Delay 500
Optional Benefits Limits
Business Extension up to 1,000 (excess 100)
Winter Sports (Ski Equipment) up to 750 (excess 50 or 100)

Travel Medical Insurance

Some benefits are subject to an excess (aka, the deductible, or what you have to pay before we pay), as stated in the Policy Schedule, and are per Policy Period.

Benefits Limits
Trip Interruption 2,000
Emergency Medical Expenses, Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains 10,000,000 (excess 250)
Hospital Benefit 25 per day, maximum 100
Personal Accident up to 5,000
Baggage Loss or Delay up to 2,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Money and Passport, limited to 250 in respect of cash 500 (excess 250) *** Limited to 250 in respect of cash
Personal Liability 500,000
Optional Benefits Limits
Business Extension up to 1,000 (excess 100)
Winter Sports (Ski Equipment) up to 750 (excess 50 or 100)
Personal Accident up to 250,000
Baggage up to 10,000

Travel Medical Insurance

Some benefits are subject to an excess (aka, the deductible, or what you have to pay before we pay), as stated in the Policy Schedule, and are per Policy Period.

Benefits Limits
Cancellation up to $20,000
Trip Interruption $1,000
Medical and Emergency Expenses $5,000,000 (deductible $250)
Hospital Benefit $25 per day, maximum $100
Personal Accident up to $50,000
Baggage $2,000 (deductible $250)
Personal Money and Passport, limited to $250 in respect of cash $500 (deductible $250)
Personal Liability $500,000
Optional Benefits Limits
Business Extension up to $1,000 (deductible $100)
Winter Sports (Ski Equipment) up to $750 (deductible $50 or $100)

Travel Medical Insurance

Some benefits are subject to an excess (aka, the deductible, or what you have to pay before we pay), as stated in the Policy Schedule, and are per Policy Period.

Benefits Limits
Cancellation and Curtailment 5,000
Emergency Medical Expenses, Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains 10,000,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Hospital Benefit 25 per day, maximum 100
Personal Accident up to 250,000
Baggage Loss or Delay up to 5,000 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Money and Passport, limited to 250 in respect of cash 500 (excess 250 or 50)
Personal Liability 500,000
Travel Delay 500
Optional Benefits Limits
Business Extension up to 1,000 (excess 100)
Winter Sports (Ski Equipment) up to 750 (excess 50 or 100)