Does Your Travel Insurance Include Medical Flight Transportation?

Medical flight transportation involves moving a patient from one healthcare facility to the next to receive a specific type of care. Emergency transportation services often occur when a traveler is in a foreign country and cannot obtain adequate care at a local facility. Patients typically use air ambulance services when they require transport over long distances.

Medical evacuation refers to emergency transport to a capable hospital from a local facility. Medical repatriation typically occurs later, especially if a patient needs long-term treatment or specialized care after the injury stabilizes. Repatriation can also apply to the transport of a patient back home after receiving initial treatment.

What Is Medical Evacuation Insurance Coverage?

Medical evacuation insurance provides coverage to individuals in the event they need an evacuation or repatriation. Individuals who frequently travel abroad often purchase medical evacuation insurance plans. Should the need for an evacuation arise, the insurance helps cover the transportation charges from one facility to the next.

The amount of coverage and medical condition stipulations vary between insurance companies.

Why Medical Evacuation Coverage Is Important

Evacuation coverage is essential, but it’s rarely part of standard health plans. The cost of an evacuation flight or ambulance depends on the location of the patient, the available resources, 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 cost up to several hundred thousand dollars.

With an evacuation insurance plan in place, travelers and their loved ones can have increased peace of mind. Every traveler should consider medical evacuation insurance, especially if they will be in an area with limited medical resources. Some examples of candidates for medical evacuation coverage might include:

• Families taking vacations or cruises outside their countries.
• Foreign aid workers or missionaries.
• Business travelers working overseas.
• Travelers headed to secluded areas.
• Military personnel without evacuation coverage.

Travelers should even consider coverage if they plan on spending time in remote parts of the U.S.

How to Add Medical Evacuation Coverage to Your Travel Insurance

Standard travel insurance policies sometimes include medical evacuation insurance. If a plan does not have coverage upfront, travelers can modify their policies before departing their home country. Most programs provide this coverage for travelers for as little as several days or as long as one year, depending on the policy. With ARREVA, our plans offer medical evacuation and so much more. From hotel bookings to emergency medical care, ARREVA Advantage is here to serve you.

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. The cost of added insurance varies by company.

How REVA Can Assist You With Medical Evacuation or Repatriation

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 bedside-to-bedside process, from arranging transportation and providing qualified medical professionals to taking care of your insurance claim. Our staff is available to help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will provide immediate assistance whether you need emergency transport or repatriation services later on. 

To learn more about the services we offer, call 866-461-9102 or contact us online today.