By Kim Porter
Edited by Peggy BennettShould I Get Medical Evacuation Insurance?
By Kim PorterEdited by Peggy Bennett
Quick Answer
Medical evacuation insurance can be a good idea if you’re traveling to a remote location or planning extreme activities. This type of travel insurance pays for transportation to the nearest medical facility when you’re injured or sick and local care is insufficient.
Nothing derails a vacation like an illness or injury—especially if you're in a remote part of the world. In some cases, you may need to be evacuated to receive appropriate medical care. Depending on where in the world you're injured and the medical care you need, the cost of an evacuation could reach $250,000 or more. Medical evacuation insurance covers the transportation costs along with some other expenses that may arise. Here's what to know.
What Is Medical Evacuation Insurance?
Medical evacuation insurance is a type of travel insurance that pays for transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility when you're injured or sick and local care is insufficient.
This type of coverage can be purchased as either a stand-alone policy or an endorsement to comprehensive travel insurance.
Depending on the insurance provider and the specific policy, it may pay for other costs such as the medical care you receive at the facility and rebooked travel arrangements. Should you die on the trip, medical evacuation insurance may also pay to transfer your remains home.
What Does Medical Evacuation Insurance Cover?
Standard medical evacuation insurance may include the following types of coverage:
- Emergency transportation: Medical evacuation insurance pays for the costs of transporting you to a nearby medical facility that can provide you with the level of care you need.
- Travel expenses for a companion: This benefit pays for a friend or relative to join you and provide you with support while you receive care.
- Travel costs for dependents: If you're traveling with dependents when you're injured, this benefit pays for the costs of transporting them home.
- Transportation home: After a medical evacuation, you may need to alter your travel plans or book medical transportation home. Your coverage may pay for these costs.
- Medical services and supplies: Your medical evacuation insurance typically covers the costs of receiving medical care for the injury or illness.
- Accidental death and dismemberment: If a covered event results in your death or the loss of your limbs or eyesight, you or your beneficiaries will receive payment up to the covered amount.
- Repatriation of remains: If you die while on your trip, the policy covers the costs of transporting your remains home. It may also pay for associated expenses like embalming, cremation or a coffin.
How Much Is Medical Evacuation Insurance?
A travel insurance policy with medical evacuation coverage costs around 4% to 10% of the total cost of the trip, according to travel marketplace Squaremouth. So if you spend $10,000 on a cruise to Antarctica, for example, travel insurance for the trip may cost around $400 to $1,000. The specific cost you pay depends on details like your policy limits, the cost of your trip and the ages of the travelers.
Learn more: Average Cost of Travel Insurance
Should I Get Medical Evacuation Insurance?
Buying medical evacuation insurance could be a good idea in some cases. Some factors to consider:
- Your itinerary: Trips that involve remote destinations and dangerous activities increase the chances you'll need a medical evacuation. If you buy medical evacuation insurance, it usually kicks in when you're traveling farther than 100 miles from home.
- The length of your stay: Longer trips increase the risk of developing an illness, catching a disease or getting injured.
- Your personal health history: Having a preexisting condition, such as diabetes, heart disease or a recent surgery, may raise the risk of falling ill on your trip.
- Local medical infrastructure: If you're headed to a developing nation, remote area or rural location, the medical facilities may not be equipped to provide the care you need in an emergency.
How Much Medical Evacuation Insurance Do I Need?
The minimum recommended coverage limit for medical evacuation insurance is $100,000—but depending on where you are and the services you need, that amount might not go far. For example, the costs of a long-distance air ambulance coupled with a prolonged hospital stay or emergency surgeries could be $200,000 or more. If you want more coverage, some policies offer coverage limits between $250,000 and $2 million.
Learn more: Should You Get Travel Insurance?
How to Get Medical Evacuation Insurance
If you decide to get medical evacuation insurance, you can either use your credit card if it offers this benefit or buy a travel insurance policy. Here are the steps you'll take to get coverage:
- Review your credit card benefits. Some travel credit cards come with medical evacuation insurance with varying coverage limits. The insurance is usually free, though you may need to pay an annual fee for the card and follow guidelines to activate coverage.
- Compare policies. Get quotes for travel insurance policies with medical evacuation coverage, and check coverage types, coverage limits, deductibles and pricing.
- Check type of coverage. Secondary coverage kicks in after your primary health insurance plan covers any costs, if applicable, while primary coverage is available right away.
- Review your itinerary. You'll want to know whether your planned activities are covered or fall under the exclusions section of the travel insurance policy.
- Choose your plan. Whether you go with your credit card's benefits or a comprehensive travel insurance plan, make your choice and activate coverage.
Learn more: Can I Buy Travel Insurance After Booking?
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The Bottom Line
Medical evacuation insurance can provide financial protection if you experience a serious illness or injury while traveling, especially in remote areas with limited medical resources. While not every trip calls for this type of coverage, it may be worth the extra cost if your itinerary involves remote areas, risky activities or destinations with weaker health care systems. Before you go, review your existing benefits, compare policies and choose the right level of coverage for your needs—so you can travel with greater peace of mind.
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About the author
Kim Porter
Kim Porter began her career as a writer and an editor focusing on personal finance in 2010 and has since been published everywhere from Yahoo! Finance to U.S. News & World Report, Credit Karma, USA Today, Fortune and more.
Read more from Kim