travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover

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Protect Yourself Abroad: Best Medical Evacuation Insurance [2024]

Jessica Merritt

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Table of Contents

The 5 best medical evacuation travel insurance plans, what is medical evacuation travel insurance, is medical evacuation travel insurance worth it, what medical evacuation travel insurance costs, what medical evacuation travel insurance covers, types of medical evacuation travel insurance, what to look for in a medical evacuation travel insurance policy, how to get medical evacuation travel insurance, final thoughts.

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Leaving your destination in a medevac helicopter probably isn’t in your travel plans. But if you need emergency medical evacuation, it will be costly and may be difficult to coordinate without help. A medical evacuation travel insurance plan can cover some or all of the costs of emergency medical evacuation and help you get the medical care you need when it matters most.

If you’re considering a medical evacuation travel insurance policy, read this guide to learn how this type of travel insurance coverage can help you, when it’s worth it, what it costs, and how to choose the best plan for your needs.

Many travel insurance policies offer emergency medical evacuation benefits, so you have many options to compare. We considered travel insurance plans with at least $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation benefits and coverage for emergency medical care, trip cancellation, and trip interruption.

Consider these medical evacuation travel insurance plans with a good value for the coverage provided:

Best Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance for Europe: IMG

With IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel SE , your medical evacuation benefits are up to $500,000 if a local attending physician and IMG’s travel assistance services provider determine your condition is acute, severe, or life-threatening and medically necessary treatment isn’t available where you are. IMG will pay to return you to your point of origin, your primary residence, or a hospital or medical facility closest to your home. 

If applicable, costs covered include air and land transportation, including an air ambulance and medical escort. IMG pays covered expenses directly to the service provider if payment is required upfront — so you don’t have to think about paying a huge bill before getting home safely. 

In addition to medical evacuation coverage, you’ll get trip cancellation and interruption insurance. The $250,000 medical benefits offer primary coverage, so you don’t have to go through regular insurance first. For this plan, we got a $53.49 quote for a 35-year-old visiting Switzerland .

Best Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance for Antarctica: Aegis

The Aegis Go Ready Choice plan offers medical evacuation coverage even when traveling to far-flung Antarctica with limited services. This plan offers evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility if you experience a medical emergency during your trip. 

It covers medically appropriate transportation and medical care en route to the nearest suitable hospital if the on-site attending physician certifies that you’re medically able to travel and there is no suitable local care available. Aegis will also fly 1 person of your choice — subject to a maximum of $3,000 — to your place of hospitalization and provide lodging and meals up to $300 per day for 15 days.

On top of medical evacuation coverage, this plan covers 100% of your costs for trip cancellation and 150% for trip interruption. Emergency medical coverage is for up to $500,000, though it’s secondary coverage, so you’ll have to exhaust other available insurance options first. This plan was quoted to us for $100.57 for a 35-year-old visiting Antarctica.

Best Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance for Costa Rica: WorldTrips

Using the WorldTrips Atlas Journey Economy plan, you’ll get up to $500,000 in medical evacuation benefits if you need a physician-ordered medical evacuation. That includes medically appropriate transportation and necessary medical care en route to the nearest suitable hospital. 

The coverage applies if you’re critically ill or injured and no suitable local care is available. It also covers non-emergency repatriation to get you to your home or hospital in the U.S. for proper care, plus transportation, hotel, meals, phone calls, and local transportation for 1 person of your choice if you’re hospitalized for 24 hours or more. 

While the medical evacuation coverage is comprehensive, emergency medical coverage is limited to only $10,000 of secondary coverage. But you also will be covered for up to 100% of your total cost with trip cancellation and interruption benefits. Our quote for a 35-year-old visiting Costa Rica came to $114.

Best Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance for $1 Million Coverage: TravelSafe 

If you need up to $1 million in medical evacuation coverage, you can get it from TravelSafe’s Classic plan. You can use this benefit to get to the nearest suitable medical facility if your condition is acute, severe, or life-threatening, and adequate medically necessary treatment isn’t available in your immediate area. It also covers medical evacuation expenses to return you to your point of origin or a medical facility closest to your primary residence.

This plan also includes up to $25,000 for non-medical evacuation, which applies if you need transportation due to natural disasters or civil or political unrest. And emergency medical coverage offers up to $100,000 per person. 

Trip cancellation covers up to 100% of your trip cost and trip interruption up to 150%. For a 35-year-old visiting Costa Rica, this plan came out to $122.

Read our Travelsafe insurance review for more information on all of their plans.

Best Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance for Cruises: Seven Corners

On a Seven Corners Trip Protection Choice plan, you’ll get up to $1 million in medical evacuation coverage. It applies if you have a severe, acute, or life-threatening condition and can’t get medically necessary treatment in your immediate area. It can include a medical escort who can provide medical care during transportation. You can also get transportation back to your point of origin, primary residence, or a hospital or medical facility closest to your primary residence.

If you’re traveling alone and will be hospitalized for more than 7 consecutive days or unable to travel after your evacuation, Seven Corners will pay airfare for a person of your choice to support you. Or, you can get reimbursed for a traveling companion’s expenses if you’re hospitalized for at least 3 days.

Emergency medical coverage offers up to $500,000 in primary coverage benefits with no medical deductible. Trip cancellation benefits cover up to 100% of your trip cost, and trip interruption covers up to 150%. Our quote for this plan came to $139 for a 35-year-old cruising Mexico.

Medical evacuation travel insurance is a type of travel insurance that can cover the costs of medically necessary emergency evacuation . It applies if you become seriously injured or ill on your trip and there are no appropriate medical facilities where you are. 

With medical evacuation coverage, your insurance generally pays for transportation costs to get to a medical facility with adequate care, which may include land and air ambulance . It also covers the price of a medical escort and may provide coverage for a companion to help you during a hospitalization. Medical evacuation policies frequently offer repatriation benefits, which can get you home after emergency medical treatment.

Medical evacuation travel insurance is crucial if you plan to visit a remote destination or an area with limited medical facilities. With this coverage, you can travel confidently, knowing you can be transported to appropriate medical care without overwhelming costs. 

Medical evacuation travel insurance could save your life, and that’s priceless. Prompt medical care from a capable medical facility could be a matter of life and death, particularly if you’ve experienced trauma and need critical care as soon as possible .

Getting medical evacuation travel insurance is often worth it compared to the out-of-pocket cost of medical evacuation. Sure, you might travel your entire life and never need an emergency medical evacuation. But if you do need medical evacuation, the costs can be catastrophic. 

Don’t overlook the value of the support offered by an insurance company’s assistance hotline. If you’re seriously injured or ill, you may struggle to coordinate care and may face language barriers or unfamiliarity with local and regional medical care. An assistance hotline to coordinate care could be crucial in getting the lifesaving medical care you need.

How much medical evacuation travel insurance is worth to you depends on your health conditions, where you plan to travel, and what you plan to do when you travel. If you travel domestically or to locations with robust healthcare facilities, medical evacuation travel insurance might not be beneficial to you. 

On the other hand, if you plan to visit remote locations or destinations with limited access to medical care, medical evacuation travel insurance is probably worth getting. It’s also a good idea if you plan to engage in activities with a high risk of accidents or injuries, such as backcountry skiing or mountaineering.

Consider these factors as you determine whether medical evacuation travel insurance is worth it for you:

• Your destination and its medical infrastructure
• Planned travel activities
• Preexisting health conditions
• Your financial ability to pay for evacuation expenses
• How far you’re traveling from home

Medical Evacuation Is Costly

If you need medical evacuation, you should expect it to cost at least $20,000 just for transportation , according to Allianz Travel Insurance . That number can increase exponentially to $200,000 or more if evacuation is complicated, such as needing a medevac from a remote mountain. 

Emergency transportation can also cover the cost of getting you home once you’re stable. That might be more complicated than you’d think. You may need to ride home on a stretcher with a medical escort who can monitor your condition and administer care. This type of flight generally costs about $25,000 to $30,000, and an air ambulance may cost up to $50,000.

These costs are only for transporting you to and from the hospital , as evacuation is just part of the cost of emergency medical treatment. It’s also best to get medical evacuation coverage as part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan with emergency medical coverage. 

Don’t count on Medicare to cover medical evacuation on a cruise ship or while traveling abroad. Medicare medical evacuation coverage is limited to particular circumstances. For example, Medicare may pay when you have a medical emergency in the U.S., and a foreign hospital that can treat you is closer than any hospital in the U.S.

Credit Card Travel Insurance May Limit Medical Evacuation Coverage

Credit cards with travel insurance coverage may provide medical evacuation benefits, but not all do. Check the limits on your medical evacuation benefit and understand that actual medical evacuation costs could exceed your benefits. 

For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve ® covers up to $100,000 in emergency evacuation and transportation costs . That might be enough if you’re not too far from adequate medical care, but it’s probably not enough coverage to get you out of a remote area with a severe injury.

Some credit cards offer medical evacuation coverage with no limit. The Platinum Card ® from American Express is one of the best travel cards and offers emergency evacuation with no specified limit under its Premium Global Assistance coverage. 

If your credit card’s emergency medical evacuation coverage isn’t adequate for your needs, travel insurance with medical evacuation benefits may be worth it.

Medical evacuation travel insurance is often part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy. All of the quotes we got were about $50 to $140. You should expect comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage costs of about 5% to 10% of your trip. 

Your cost of medical evacuation travel insurance may vary depending on factors including:

• Age: Your age is a significant factor in medical evacuation travel insurance costs, as older travelers are considered more at high risk for travel insurance coverage.
• Health Conditions: You may pay more for your policy if you need coverage for preexisting conditions.
• Destination: Traveling to a location with limited medical facilities, high health care costs, or travel advisories may require paying a higher premium for medical evacuation travel insurance.
• Travel Duration: The longer you plan to travel, the greater the risk, so you’ll pay more to insure an extended travel period.
• Activities: The activities you plan on your trip, such as adventure sports, can increase the cost of your medical evacuation travel insurance premium.
• Policy Details: Your policy’s coverage limits, deductibles, copayments, and features, such as emergency assistance services, will influence how much you pay to carry a medical evacuation travel insurance policy.

Adventure travel insurance policies may cost more but deliver the coverage you need if risky activities are in your travel plans.

Your coverage with a medical evacuation travel insurance policy depends on the travel insurance company, plan, coverage selections, and other policy details. Still, you can generally expect a medical evacuation travel insurance policy to at least cover emergency medical evacuation along with medical treatment, monitoring, and coordination.

Let’s look at some of the coverages common among medical evacuation travel insurance policies:

• Emergency Medical Evacuation: This coverage covers the cost of transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility, which could require air, land, or sea emergency transportation with ambulance services.
• Medical Escort: Medical escort coverage provides medical care and monitoring while you’re en route to a medical facility. For example, you may be escorted and treated by doctors and nurses on a medevac helicopter to a hospital.
• Care Coordination: Travel insurance companies generally offer an emergency assistance line and coordination that can help you find and coordinate with local healthcare providers, monitor your situation, and communicate between you, the medical staff, and your family. They may facilitate admission to hospitals with financial guarantees.
• Support Travel: Whether you’re traveling alone and need a support person to meet you or you have a traveling companion who needs to come with you, medical evacuation travel insurance may pay for transportation and other costs for a support person so you don’t have to be hospitalized without a trusted friend or family member.
• Repatriation: Emergency medical evacuation travel insurance may pay to get you home or to a medical facility near your home after you’re stable.

Comprehensive travel insurance plans are the most common type with emergency medical evacuation coverage. However, you may have access to specialized plans that focus mainly on emergency medical treatment and evacuation. These plans may offer higher coverage limits and more specialized services.

You can also look for specialized travel insurance policies. For example, you’d want adventure travel insurance with medical evacuation if you plan to climb a remote mountain or cruise travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage if you’re concerned you may need medical evacuation from a cruise ship. 

It’s also worth considering an annual travel insurance policy or multi-trip coverage, which can cover all your travel within a year.

Read our travel insurance introductory guide to learn more about travel insurance options, which frequently include emergency medical evacuation coverage.

As you compare emergency medical evacuation travel insurance policies, consider these factors:

• Cost: While the price of a medical evacuation travel insurance policy may pale compared to actual evacuation costs, you still want to be mindful of how much you pay for coverage. Consider adjusting coverage levels, deductibles, and copays to get the right coverage at a reasonable price.
• Coverage Limits: Compare how much coverage you get from one policy to another. A policy may be more expensive but offer greater coverage. You should also look at the emergency medical coverage limits of each policy.
• Covered Benefits: The features of medical evacuation travel insurance policies vary between companies and plans. Confirm that the plans you’re considering offer the benefits you want, such as transportation for a support person to join you in the hospital.
• Policy Limitations: Make sure your policy doesn’t place limitations that would restrict key coverage, such as not covering the region or country you’re visiting, your trip exceeding the allowed duration, or your age or preexisting conditions excluding you from receiving full benefits.
• Additional Coverage: Medical evacuation coverage may be a major consideration, but consider the complete package when choosing a travel insurance policy. Trip interruption and cancellation, emergency hotlines, and other coverage can be valuable features for protecting your trip.
• Customer Service and Claims: Read customer reviews to learn about the claims process, how well the company delivers on claims and services, and what you can expect if you buy a policy.

You can usually get medical evacuation travel insurance as part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan . Start by getting quotes from travel insurance companies directly, or use a travel insurance comparison website such as Squaremouth to get quotes for multiple policies simultaneously. 

Another option is looking at the coverage offered when you book travel. For example, an airline or online travel agency may allow you to add travel insurance to your booking. Read the fine print to find out if it covers medical evacuation and learn about the coverage details. It makes sense to compare policies offered at booking to the quotes you can get independently from travel insurance companies.

You may have travel protection, including medical evacuation coverage, available with your credit card. Check your benefits guide to see what’s covered, how much coverage you get, and when it applies.

Emergency medical evacuation travel insurance can be critical coverage if you experience a medical emergency while traveling. Getting a travel insurance policy with medical evacuation coverage can offer a financial safety net and the assurance of lifesaving support in case of a medical crisis. While medical evacuation insurance can add to your travel costs, the savings can be exponential if you need to use your coverage.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Does insurance cover medical evacuation.

Regular health insurance and Medicare may cover medical evacuation under limited circumstances, but in most cases, your plan won’t cover it. Comprehensive travel insurance policies commonly offer medical evacuation coverage.

How much medical evacuation insurance should I get?

You should get at least $100,000 in medical evacuation insurance. If you’re traveling to a particularly remote or dangerous location, you may opt for medical evacuation insurance of up to $1 million.

How much does it cost to be medically evacuated?

Medical evacuation costs vary depending on the complexity of your evacuation but generally range from $20,000 to $200,000 just for transportation costs.

What is the difference between medical evacuation and repatriation?

Medical evacuation gets you to the closest medical facility that can treat you effectively, while repatriation brings you home. For example, you may get a medical evacuation to a regional hospital for critical care, then repatriation to a medical facility near your home once your condition is stable enough for travel.

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About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

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Travel insurance

What is medical evacuation insurance? 

Jennifer Simonson

Jennifer Lobb

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 9:22 a.m. UTC Nov. 13, 2023

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• Medical evacuation insurance provides coverage for emergency medical transportation to the nearest adequate treatment center if you become seriously injured or ill while traveling. 
• If your attending physician determines you should be transported home for care, the cost of emergency medical transportation could be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Medical evacuation insurance can pay to transport your children home if you require a lengthy hospital stay. 

Imagine you are on your dream vacation skiing through the Swiss Alps and you take a serious tumble that shatters your femur. To make matters worse, the healthcare facility in the remote town you are visiting doesn’t have adequate doctors, equipment or supplies to treat you. What do you do? 

To pay out of pocket to be transported to a proper medical facility could potentially cost you tens of thousands of dollars. That is where a comprehensive travel insurance plan with emergency medical evacuation benefits comes into play. 

While every plan is different, buying enough medical evacuation insurance coverage can give you peace of mind that you will be taken care of no matter what happens when you are away from home. And that an outrageous medical bill isn’t one of the souvenirs you bring home.

Compare the best travel insurance offers

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What is medical evacuation insurance?

Medical evacuation insurance is often found in comprehensive travel insurance policies in the form of a benefit called emergency medical evacuation, medical evacuation or repatriation insurance. This benefit covers the cost of emergency medical transportation to the nearest adequate treatment center if you become seriously injured or ill while traveling. If a qualified facility is not available, it may even cover the cost of transporting you back home. 

A physician generally certifies that the severity of the accidental injury or illness warrants the move. The ultimate objective is to save your life, arm, or leg by ensuring you receive the emergency treatment you require. 

Do I need medical evacuation insurance? 

If you’re traveling in a location not covered by your domestic health care plan and are not prepared to pay for medical bills out of pocket, travel insurance that includes emergency medical coverage is crucial, says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners.

Emergency medical treatment overseas can be challenging to navigate. Most providers do not accept U.S. health insurance plans, Medicare or Medicaid. Travel insurance companies can help by coordinating with doctors, providing translation services, arranging emergency transportation and handling billing, says Durazo.  

How much does medical evacuation cost? 

Medical evacuation charges are not cheap, especially in remote locations.

“The cost of emergency medical transportation can run into the tens of thousands of dollars or more, and varies based on the traveler’s health condition, care required and their location,” Durazo said. 

Medical evacuations are logistically challenging to coordinate leading to the high cost of transportation. According to Durazo, if you need emergency medical transportation back to the U.S., it can cost the following.

How much medical evacuation insurance do I need? 

Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, recommends at least $100,000 in medical evacuation insurance if you are traveling internationally. If traveling to a remote location or going on a cruise, Squaremouth recommends $250,000 in coverage.

You can buy medical evacuation insurance coverage for up to $1 million, depending on the travel insurance plan you buy. 

What does medical evacuation insurance cover?

Medical evacuation insurance typically covers emergency transportation, medical escorts, the cost of a companion to be by your side and the cost to send your children home if there is no one available to care for them. 

Emergency transportation 

If you become seriously ill or injured while traveling, medical evacuation insurance can cover the cost of transportation to the nearest adequate facility for treatment. If medically necessary, it may even cover the cost of your flight back home.

Should emergency medical transportation be deemed necessary, options may include air ambulance or commercial carrier, Durazo said. 

While some might assume an air ambulance is the best mode of transportation, most patients report a better experience on a commercial carrier. Commercial airlines not only offer more options for direct flights, better overall flight quality and more room for medical staff and travel companions, but they also allow patients to travel in either first or business class where they can lay flat if medically necessary. 

Medical escort 

Medical evacuation insurance can pay for the cost of medical escort services should you need a medical professional to assist you on the trip home. In-flight medical teams could include nurses, paramedics or doctors that monitor vital signs, manage pain and assist with medication administration. 

Transport to bedside 

If you become seriously ill or injured or develop a medical condition while on your trip requiring hospitalization for more than a predetermined amount of time, the insurance might arrange and pay for round-trip transportation for a family member or friend to stay with you. 

Some plans also provide compensation for food, hotel and other expenses your bedside companion incurs while remaining close to you is also available on certain plans. 

Return of dependents

Insurance companies may also pay for the transportation of traveling companions who are under the age of 18 to their primary residence or a location of your choice if you do not have an adult family member traveling with you who can care for them. 

You typically need to be told by the treating doctor that you will be in the hospital for a minimum number of days before you can claim this benefit.

What does medical evacuation not cover? 

While medical evacuation insurance covers most illnesses and accidents, be aware that injuries resulting from extreme, high-risk sports and activities like bungee jumping, skiing in areas accessed by helicopter, free climbing and skydiving are often excluded from coverage. 

If you are planning risky activities, look into a travel insurance plan that offers an adventure bundle. The Travel Guard Deluxe plan, for example, comes with up to $1 million in coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains and offers an Adventure Sports upgrade that removes the exclusions for adventure and extreme activities. 

Other exclusions to medical evacuation coverage may include: 

• Transportation not pre-approved by the travel insurance company.
• Transportation that goes against the advice of your physician.
• Pre-existing medical conditions.
• Mental or psychological disorder.
• Normal pregnancy or childbirth (complications are generally not excluded).
• Intentional injury, suicide or attempted suicide.
• Loss that occurs within 100 miles of your home.

Make sure you read and understand the exclusions listed in your travel insurance policy. Travel insurance companies typically offer 14 or 15 days to review your plan. During this “free look” period, you can request a refund if you’re not satisfied with the coverage. 

When would I need medical evacuation insurance?

While it is always a good idea to travel with medical evacuation insurance, it is even more important to do so when you are traveling off the beaten path such as on safaris, Antarctic expeditions or car trips through remote countryside. 

“Slips and falls that result in broken legs, broken hips and head injuries are some of the most frequent things we transport for,” said John Gobbels, chief operating officer of air medical transport company Medjet. “We also see a lot of cardiovascular episodes such as heart attacks and strokes as well as infections that have progressed to sepsis.”

Other medical transport options 

Most medical evacuation insurance plans stipulate that you are flown to the nearest adequate facility for treatment. Once you reach that “acceptable facility,” you are often required to stay there until you’ve recovered to the fullest extent possible before being flown home via a commercial carrier. If you are unhappy with that facility because the most modern equipment is not available, the language barrier is frustrating or simply because you do not want to have corrective surgery so far from home, you are often out of luck. 

“People need to understand what the ‘acceptable facility’ and ‘medically necessary’ terms in their coverage really mean. When you read about people with very good travel insurance ‘stuck’ in foreign hospitals, it’s usually because of those terms,” said Gobbels. “The insurance company gets to decide what’s acceptable and whether it’s medically necessary to move you.”

That’s where “medical transport memberships” like Medjet can help. They pick up where insurance leaves off. With a medical transport membership, you can choose the hospital where you are treated even if it is not the same one deemed the closest adequate hospital by the insurance company.

“We move you just because you want to be moved home. It doesn’t have to be “medically necessary” to move you,” he said about medical transport memberships. “You get to choose whether you want to go home or not. That’s the difference.”

What if I am traveling within the United States? 

If you are traveling within the United States or to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, the need for medical evacuation insurance is less dire. 

If you are traveling to a remote location like the Rocky Mountain backcountry or an adventure-oriented trip like hiking the Grand Canyon, purchasing a travel insurance plan that includes medical evacuation might still be the smart choice. 

While your domestic health care plan likely covers transportation to a hospital within the U.S., it probably does not cover a flight home requiring medical equipment and a medical escort. In addition, you would still be responsible for copays and deductions. 

How do I buy medical evacuation insurance? 

Medical evacuation insurance is often included in comprehensive travel insurance plans, but you can also buy a stand-alone travel medical plan. 

One such option is the OneTrip Emergency Medical plan from Allianz, which includes up to $250,000 in emergency medical transportation, $50,000 for medical and dental emergencies and $10,000 in travel accident coverage.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Jennifer Simonson covers everything from business to the wine industry to international travel. Outdoor adventure, water parks and all things Texas are by far her favorite beats. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Texas Monthly, Smithsonian Magazine, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, Slate and more. You can follow her on Instagram at @storiestoldwell.

Jennifer Lobb is deputy editor at USA TODAY Blueprint and is an experienced insurance and personal finance writer. Jennifer served as an insurance staff writer and editor at U.S. News and World Report and deputy editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor. She also spent several years covering finance and insurance for various financial media sites, including LendingTree and Investopedia. For nearly a decade, she’s helped consumers make educated decisions about the products that protect their finances, families and homes.

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Medical Evacuation Insurance: Often Overlooked, But a Potential Lifesaver

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Table of Contents

What is medical evacuation insurance?

What does medical evacuation insurance cover, how much coverage should you have, how to get medical evacuation insurance (maybe for free).

If you get injured or sick during your trip, travel insurance can come to your rescue by reimbursing the cost of prepaid travel arrangements, like a hotel room, rental car or airfare. But it won’t necessarily cover the actual costs to get medical treatment, nor will it always cover the cost of transportation to get care.

For most people, you’ll need to rely on your existing medical insurance to cover the treatment. And while some health insurers cover you anywhere in the world, not all do, so check your policy before traveling.

Even if your plan covers treatment abroad, it may not cover transportation to get there, like an ambulance ride or perhaps even a helicopter. For that, you’ll need medical evacuation insurance.

Medical evacuation insurance is typically included in travel insurance policies. It’s also commonly sold in tandem with travel medical expense insurance, which covers emergency medical treatment during your trip.

The exact terms of medical evacuation insurance vary by policy, but generally speaking, this type of insurance covers medical transportation, such as an ambulance ride or air evacuation services, to the nearest adequate medical facility. If you need to head back home for treatment, some plans may also cover the cost to change your flight or book new travel arrangements so you can return sooner.

Again, exact coverage varies by policy, but it generally encompasses:

Emergency transportation to the nearest adequate treatment center

Most policies promise transportation to what’s generally referred to as an “adequate” treatment center. But “adequate” can be a relative term, and a medical facility not up to your personal standards might still be deemed adequate by your insurer. And not all policies will pay for a flight back home to visit the doctor you already know.

However, if local doctors can’t help, medical evacuation usually covers transportation home. Those doctors would have to provide documentation that your condition is either untreatable locally or severe enough that a flight home is necessary.

A medical escort or travel companion’s travel

Some policies cover not just your transportation, but also the cost of someone else to accompany you. In some cases, that might need to be a medical professional who can support you throughout the journey, such as by administering oxygen. In other cases, it might be a trusted family member or friend.

Some policies cover only economy-class airfare, while others might cover business class, but only with a doctor’s order.

Repatriation of remains

Should you die during the trip, repatriation can transport your remains home. Typically this service also covers the costs of embalming, local cremation or a casket to transport remains by air.

If going to the doctor for a sprained ankle at home seems expensive even if you’re insured and visiting an in-network doctor, then getting coverage for an emergency abroad might be even costlier.

Most medical evacuation insurance coverage starts at $100,000 per year, but even that might not be enough. The national average for an emergency helicopter ride is about $40,000, according to medical travel service Flying Angels. That’s just an average, so flights to remote places could easily be more expensive.

Plus, it’s unlikely your existing insurance will cover an air ambulance. About two-thirds of medical flights in 2017 for people with private insurance are still out-of-network, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office, meaning you’re on the hook for most or all of that bill, unless you have medical evacuation insurance.

Throw in the actual cost of treatment, plus last-minute flights for you, a travel companion and a medical escort, and $100,000 might not go that far. Then again, some policies cover as much as $1 million or $2 million per person.

While accidents can happen anywhere, you’re less likely to need medical insurance for a winter trip that entails building snowmen and drinking cocoa in the cabin versus going backcountry skiing on challenging runs. Understand the risk and your risk tolerance. With the former scenario, slipping on an icy sidewalk might mean a patch-up at urgent care that costs a few hundred dollars, especially if your travel companions can drive you. In contrast, a severe injury with the latter might necessitate a full rescue crew.

Read the fine print

Like any travel cost, it’s always wise to read the fine print of your specific policy. Some have additional limits, require specific paperwork or exclude certain circumstances. Though this list is far from comprehensive, here are some common things to look out for:

Whether you have primary or secondary coverage: If your medical evacuation coverage is considered secondary coverage, that means it kicks in after your primary health insurance plan.

Trip length requirements: Some policies won’t cover trips longer than a certain period (60 days is common).

Distance from home: Many policies exclude accidents occurring within 100 miles of your home.

Documentation required: You typically can’t just twist your ankle, rebook an early flight home and expect to successfully file a claim, even if your ankle is puffy and painful. Most policies require extensive documentation, like approvals from a legally licensed physician that emergency evacuation is warranted. Save every receipt and get documentation of everything.

Medical evacuation insurance coverage is sometimes included with comprehensive travel insurance policies , alongside other forms of travel insurance like lost luggage insurance . Prices vary by the length and nature of your trip, so a long weekend at a resort would likely cost far less than a multiweek camping adventure off the grid.

However, you might already have travel insurance — and not need to pay any extra for it. That’s because many premium travel credit cards include medical evacuation insurance within their trip insurance policies, which are often a benefit for trips paid for on that credit card . If you’re considering purchasing trip insurance anyway, this benefit alone can easily offset any annual fees on the credit card.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee:   Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards:  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card  

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

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85,000 Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage | Travel Insurance Guide

Sarah Horvath is a finance writer and researcher based in New York City. She specializes in writing about home warranties, insurance and home financial protection.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over seven years. A journalist by trade, her experience includes communications and marketing management in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors.

No one wants to think about the possibility of being involved in a major accident or having a medical emergency during a vacation. However, it’s important to plan for the worst-case scenario — especially if you’re traveling to a country where you do not speak the primary language or an area with a less robust medical system.

Medical evacuation coverage can provide financial protection if a traveler experiences an emergency and requires evacuation to a medical facility. You can buy medical evacuation coverage alone or as part of a travel insurance policy. Read on to learn more about medical evacuation coverage, what it is and how much it costs, and the best travel insurance companies offering coverage. 

What Is Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage?

Medical evacuation coverage is a type of travel medical insurance that covers the cost of transportation if you experience an emergency while traveling. For example, if you need an ambulance ride after breaking your leg in Paris or require a helicopter evacuation if you are seriously hurt while hiking Mount Fuji in Japan. If you’re visiting an area with limited medical services, medical evacuation coverage could also include transportation home or to an international hospital with sufficient resources to treat your condition. 

Medical evacuation coverage is worth considering if you’re traveling abroad without sufficient health insurance. American-issued health care, notably Medicaid, does not always extend coverage outside the country. Without coverage, you could end up with a final bill ranging between $25,000 to $100,000 or more for the cost of medical evacuation services.

Evacuation insurance is usually included as part of a travel insurance policy’s medical coverage. Other coverage found alongside medical evacuation includes the cost of emergency care you receive abroad and the repatriation of your remains if you pass away in another country. You can also purchase independent medical evacuation coverage on its own with select providers. 

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What Does Medical Evacuation Insurance Cover?

Medical evacuation insurance covers the cost of medical evacuation to a medical facility elsewhere in the area you’re traveling to or back in the U.S. However, there are other factors to consider during a medical evacuation or emergency, like what will happen to the rest of your family or travel companions. We’ve included specifics below as to what medical evacuation insurance covers:

Emergency Transportation

First and foremost, medical evacuation covers the cost if you sustain a serious or life-threatening injury while traveling and need urgent transportation to a medical facility. It can also cover transport to a U.S.-based facility if deemed necessary.

Medical Escort Upon Arrival

If the medical professionals treating you deem it necessary for you to return to the U.S. for continued treatment, medical evacuation coverage will cover the costs if you require specialized care on the flight home. A medical escort may be on hand to administer intravenous antibiotics or supply oxygen during your flight.

Support Person Expenses

Medical evacuation insurance can pay for a round-trip flight for a family member to accompany you if you need to be hospitalized due to your illness or injury. However, this coverage can vary between policies and usually has a minimum hospital stay requirement before kicking in.

Certain policies will include additional benefits such as compensation for hotel stays, meals and other costs a support person may incur.

Flights for Children

Your medical evacuation insurance can arrange to have your children flown home if you are hospitalized while on vacation with your family. Coverage benefits will compensate for related costs, minus any refunds for unused airfare if your initial trip is cut short.

Repatriation of Remains

In the event of your or a travel companion’s death, evacuation coverage includes repatriation benefits or the cost of transporting remains back to your home country.

Checking Fine Print for Evacuation Coverage

As is the case with any type of insurance, it’s important to check the fine print and details of what a policy does and does not cover when you purchase medical evacuation coverage. Start by taking a look at the details of situations that warrant emergency evacuation coverage compared to the details of your trip. For example, you usually need to be at least 100 miles away from your departure point to qualify for evacuation coverage. Trip length restrictions are also common — if you plan to be away from home for more than 60 days, you may need a special policy or coverage rider. 

Next, read a policy’s fine details and note any medical exclusions in which the company waives liability. For example, some medical coverage is listed as “secondary,” which means you’ll need to first exhaust your health insurance benefits before travel medical insurance will pay a portion of the remaining expenses. 

Some medical evacuation policies also include limitations on benefits if you participate in extreme sports or other dangerous activities abroad, such as skydiving. Some companies may allow you to add a waiver or extend benefits to include certain circumstances if you plan on playing sports, snorkeling, scuba diving or participating in another commonly excluded recreational activity. 

It is also important to familiarize yourself with your insurance provider’s claims submission policy. In most cases, providers limit the use of coverage unless a return home or other transportation is determined medically necessary by local physicians or other healthcare providers. Be sure to keep every form of documentation of medical services and treatments you receive to submit to your insurance provider. You can also keep your medical evacuation provider’s number in your list of important travel documents so it’s accessible in the event of an accident. 

How Much Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance Is Necessary?

Travel insurance coverage limits, or the amount your provider will cover, vary by plan and provider. Most medical evacuation plans provide $1 million in medical evacuation coverage per person, although limits may be lower depending on the provider.

It’s up to you to decide how much coverage you need depending on where you are going and what you may be doing — higher allowances naturally offer more financial protection in the event of an emergency.

Some insurance companies offer a grace period of around two weeks to look over your policy and be sure it is right for you. Companies may offer reimbursement if you decide to cancel the plan or decide you need more coverage.

When Should You Get Medical Evacuation Insurance?

While you can purchase medical evacuation insurance for general peace of mind, there are certain situations in which it could be useful — like if you’re traveling to a remote area or participating in certain sporting activities. As a traveler or an expatriate, you may find yourself in a location without high-quality healthcare facilities. Likewise, remote locations can have limited transport infrastructure to support you in an emergency. Medical evacuation insurance can ensure you receive the care you need if you or your travel companion get hurt and require immediate care.

We suggest you compare medical evacuation coverage options as early as possible. While medical evacuation coverage typically does not have purchase time limits in the same way as coverage for pre-existing conditions , shopping early leaves you more time to review policy choices. We recommend shopping for travel insurance in the early stages of your travel planning to gain access to the most comprehensive medical benefits. 

Do You Need Medical Evacuation and Travel Medical Insurance?

When deciding if you need medical evacuation and travel medical insurance, consider your destination first and planned activities. Familiarize yourself with local hospitals near where you are staying and the location of major medical facilities nearby. You can also look into average medical facility staffing and quality — if you’re traveling to an area with less funded medical facilities and plan to participate in sporting events, consider investing in travel medical insurance.

We also recommend looking into the health insurance coverage you already have and how it applies abroad. For example, Medicare will not cover most medical expenses incurred abroad. If your health insurance does not cover services where you are traveling, consider protecting yourself financially with travel insurance that includes medical benefits.

“How much travel medical insurance is needed is unique to every traveler,” said Angela Borden, a product marketing specialist at Seven Corners . “There are several factors to consider.”

Borden also posed some questions worth thinking through when deciding on medical evacuation and travel medical insurance:

“Do you have pre-existing conditions or other health concerns where having additional coverage would be advantageous or give you peace of mind?” she asked. “How long is your trip? The longer you’re away from home, the higher the chances you could get sick or hurt while traveling. What is your budget? Would you have the financial resources to cover a medical emergency out of pocket? Do you have other insurance?” 

Answering these questions can help make deciding on a policy easier.

How Much Does Medical Evacuation Travel Insurance Cost?

The cost of medical evacuation insurance depends on your provider and coverage type. Companies like Medjet offer annual, membership-based medical evacuation and transport services for around $315 to $500 or more, depending on your selected coverage.

You can also obtain single-trip coverage by purchasing a travel insurance policy. Travel insurance premiums vary depending on your plan, coverage limits and provider. Based on quotes we gathered for companies like Seven Corners and Tin Leg, a comprehensive policy with $500,000 to $1 million in evacuation coverage plus emergency medical coverage and trip cancellation benefits costs between $52 to $79 .

Keep in mind that your travel insurance costs may vary depending on your trip details and coverage needs.

How To Use Medical Evacuation Coverage

In the event of a medical emergency, it’s important to know how to use your coverage. These general steps can help you in knowing how to use your travel medical evacuation coverage. 

Contact local emergency services: If you or someone you’re traveling with requires medical attention, call local emergency services for immediate assistance. Ensure you or your companion receive any necessary initial medical attention before trying to navigate your insurance coverage.

Call your insurance provider’s emergency line: As soon as it’s safe to do so, inform your travel insurance company’s 24/7 emergency services hotline about the situation. Utilize the company’s dedicated assistance line for real-time support and include any current documentation you have for your claim. For example, if there is a police report in progress when you call for medical attention, you may want to request a copy to submit to your insurer later on.

Insurance case review and physician consultation: Your insurance provider will initiate a comprehensive case review, potentially contacting a physician to evaluate your medical condition where you are located. This consultation is crucial in determining the necessity of emergency medical transport and is required for reimbursement and coverage of services in most cases. 

Physician certification: To validate your medical evacuation coverage, your attending physician must certify the severity of your case and endorse the need for the service. Ideally, this certification occurs in advance of the evacuation but depending on the situation, may need to be submitted after the fact. You can request that your attending physician submit this information to your insurance provider using online claims submission or by contacting the emergency line. 

Ideally, aim to notify your insurance provider of your need for emergency medical evacuation and transport before it occurs. While this might not always be possible depending on the circumstances and the type of emergency you’re experiencing, notifying your insurance provider can help streamline the claims process. 

How Does Evacuation Transportation Work?

Initially, you will be transported to the nearest acceptable medical facility for treatment. Depending on the severity of your injury, you will stay at the facility until you can travel home. 

The circumstances surrounding the medical emergency will dictate how you’re transported home following an injury or illness abroad. In most circumstances, your travel insurance provider will arrange a commercial flight home for you and your traveling companions as soon as your physician deems it medically safe for you to leave. If you have a medical condition that requires you to lie down, you’ll likely be flown first or business class home. 

If commercial air transport is not safe or viable, an air ambulance may be used to provide a direct flight back home. However, this option is not preferred for several reasons. First, the ambulance must stop every four to six hours to re-fuel, delaying the total transit time. These vehicles can also usually only accommodate the patient, a companion and medical professionals in tight quarters and may not have a bathroom. Whenever possible, it’s better to opt for a commercial flight home, even if a direct route is not available. 

Benefits of Medical Evacuation Coverage

There are multiple benefits to investing in medical evacuation coverage. This type of insurance ensures you will receive transportation to an adequate facility if you experience a life-threatening emergency while traveling. You will also have peace of mind that if the worst were to happen while traveling, you have a plan in place and financial protection from medical evacuation costs.

How To Purchase Medical Evacuation Coverage

When looking into purchasing medical evacuation insurance, you may find it is usually part of a comprehensive travel plan. Comprehensive travel insurance also includes emergency medical care and trip interruption, cancellation and delays .

If you don’t need the additional coverage a comprehensive plan provides, you can purchase a standalone travel medical plan with medical evacuation coverage. You can also opt for a membership or service that provides travel medical evacuation and transport services, such as Global Rescue or Medjet.

Factors To Consider When Selecting Medical Evacuation Insurance

There are certain factors to consider when evaluating medical evacuation insurance plans, especially if coverage is part of a comprehensive travel policy. Understanding the policy exclusions and limitations is important to ensure you have adequate coverage in the event of an emergency.

Common travel insurance exclusions include the following:

• Extreme sports: Some coverage plans exclude medical coverage if you are hurt from participating in extreme sports, such as rock climbing or skydiving. However, some providers offer coverage add-ons to cover extreme sporting events.
• Hospital-stay requirements: If you are hurt while traveling and need transport to a hospital, your policy may require you to stay for a certain number of days before support benefits kick in. For example, your policy may only cover flying your children home or out to visit you once you are in the hospital for an extended period.
• Hospital of choice: Most travel insurance plans will fly you to the nearest adequate facility if you need further care, not allowing you to choose the location. Some plans offer add-on coverage that allows you to choose a different hospital for further treatment, and membership services such as Medjet allow you to select the hospital or go back home for care.

Medical Evacuation Insurance for Domestic Trips

If you are a permanent resident of the U.S. and have an active health insurance policy, you may not need to purchase additional medical evacuation coverage while traveling domestically. The country requires long-term health insurance providers to cover all emergency medical services that require immediate attention, regardless of whether the incident occurs within your local insurance network. 

The Affordable Care Act introduced a series of services and treatments that insurance companies must cover as a condition of selling insurance policies. One of these requirements is all types of ambulatory medical services, including transportation to a local medical facility using whatever means medical and safety professionals deem necessary. Coverage also includes emergency services, hospitalization and laboratory services. As a result, medical evacuation insurance will often act as supplemental coverage to your health insurance policy and provide more limited benefits. 

However, in certain circumstances, you might want to consider a medical evacuation policy for a trip within the U.S. If you don’t have health insurance, you could owe tens of thousands of dollars if you require medical transportation and evacuation services. You might also want to buy coverage if you have a health insurance policy with a higher out-of-pocket maximum — sometimes, evacuation coverage is more affordable than relying on less comprehensive health insurance. 

Alternatives To Medical Evacuation Insurance

In addition to purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance policy with medical evacuation coverage, you can also subscribe to a rescue-only plan. The following companies offer additional options for medical evacuation assistance and coverage. 

Medjet 

If you take multiple adventurous vacations a year, you might consider protecting yourself with annual medical evacuation coverage from a provider like Medjet. Medjet is a subscription-based, global medical transportation and evacuation service. After signing up for coverage, you’ll receive protection throughout the year, which you can use if you’re ever injured abroad. 

Medjet’s most popular policy option is the MedjetAssist coverage, which has the added benefit of returning you to your preferred hospital domestically. While most medical evacuation policies will transport you to the nearest facility equipped to care for your condition, Medjet gives you the option to go straight home so long as you’re at least 150 miles away from your departure point. Medjet also allows you to return to the U.S. regardless of medical necessity, offering more control over your care. 

Medjet offers the option to add MedjetHorizon benefits to your standard coverage for travel security and crisis response services. For example, this policy extends your evacuation services to include non-medical emergencies such as kidnapping, political threats and wrongful detention. MedjetHorizon members also have access to up to $60,000 in upfront cash benefits, as some international hospitals in underdeveloped areas may only have the capacity to accept cash. 

Travelers can purchase Medjet coverage for as little as eight days or as long as five years. Coverage costs start at $314 per year for standard Medjet medical evacuation benefits and $474 annually for MedjetHorizon extended benefits. Travelers can choose coverage limits of 90 to 365 days maximum, which offers an option for expats living abroad full-time. 

Read our full Medjet review to learn more.

Global Rescue

Global Rescue is another worldwide medical evacuation service provider offering international medical and security rescue. Global Rescue maintains multiple teams of rescue professionals at stations around the world, allowing a quicker intervention should a crisis strike. It also maintains partnerships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations, Elite Medical Group and affiliates of Harvard Medical School. 

Like Medjet, Global Rescue allows you to upgrade your medical evacuation insurance to include coverage for political and security-related evacuations. Global Rescue’s security team is staffed by military special operations veterans, and policies protect you against non-medical related hazards like political unrest, natural disasters and terrorist attacks. 

Policies with Global Rescue are available for periods as short as seven days and as long as five years. Policies start at $139 for a seven-day trip and $380 for basic annual coverage. Upgrading to include security evacuation benefits increases your pricing to $260 for a seven-day trip or $790 for annual coverage. Global Rescue also allows you to add coverage for high-altitude excursions and sports, which standard travel insurance policies often exclude. 

Is Medical Evacuation Insurance Worth It?

While we never want to consider the worst when planning a vacation, medical evacuation insurance can protect travelers in the event of an emergency circumstance. Purchasing travel insurance with evacuation coverage can ensure your transport to a local hospital to receive medical attention. It can also prevent you from paying expensive evacuation bills out-of-pocket.

Borden, quoted earlier, makes the case for a well-rounded travel medical insurance plan. 

“While evacuation and repatriation coverage is important, you’re more likely to use the accident and sickness benefits in your plan for things like an unexpected case of the flu or a sprained ankle,” she said. “A plan that provides only medical evacuation may not include coverage for these more common events, leaving you with the medical bills.”

Ultimately, deciding if travel insurance is worth it is up to you. If medical evacuation insurance seems like it would offer you peace of mind while traveling abroad, we recommend requesting free quotes from at least three insurance providers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Evacuation Coverage

What is emergency evacuation travel insurance.

Emergency evacuation insurance covers the cost of transportation to the closest medical facility if you become seriously ill or injured while on vacation.

Does travel insurance cover medical repatriation?

A comprehensive travel insurance plan usually covers medical repatriation, or the cost of returning your remains home if you die abroad. While some insurance companies include this coverage automatically, others may offer it as an add-on that costs extra.

Does travel insurance cover your medical bills?

Most comprehensive travel insurance plans include the cost of emergency medical treatment expenses up to a certain limit. Some policies may also include expenses to get you home if you are injured or fall ill overseas. But every policy is different so we suggest checking your provider’s coverage for more information.

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at  editors@marketwatchguides. com .

More Travel Insurance Resources

Medical Evacuation Insurance |

Axa travel protection: travel medical expense and emergency evacuation insurance plan   .

When exploring the world, the last thing you want to consider is a medical emergency. That is why AXA Travel Protection offers you reliable support when you need it most. Our travel coverage protects you against unexpected medical situations, including Emergency Evacuations and more. Let us delve into the details to understand how AXA Travel Protection has your back in times of need. 

Covering Emergency Evacuations 

Life is unpredictable, and accidents or sickness can strike even during your travels. That is why AXA Travel Protection provides coverage for emergency evacuations. If you suffer from an accidental injury or illness during your trip that requires immediate medical attention, we have you covered. We can pay benefits for the covered evacuation expenses incurred up to the maximum benefit mentioned in your policy. 

What is included in Covered Evacuation Expenses? 

AXA Travel Protection covers reasonable and customary expenses related to your Emergency Evacuation. This includes necessary transportation, medical services and supplies required during evacuation. We are committed to getting you to safety using the most direct and cost-effective route possible. 

Transportation Details 

Transportation arrangements are made with precision and care. We ensure that the attending physician recommends all transportation, complies with conveyance regulations, and is authorized in advance by us or our authorized travel assistance company.   

What is an Emergency Evacuation?

In the event of an accidental injury or sickness that warrants immediate transportation from a location, Emergency Evacuation or Medical Emergency Evacuation is deployed to rescue or treat the patient. These services are designed to transport the affected individual to a suitable medical facility for treatment or rescue purposes.

Understanding Emergency Evacuation 

Emergency Evacuation might sound daunting, but it is designed to ensure your well-being.Here is what it means:

Hospital-to-Hospital Transport: We have your back if your medical condition requires swift transfer from the initial hospital where you received treatment to the nearest hospital that can provide suitable medical care. 

Returning Home for Further Treatment: If your situation demands it, we will organize transportation for you to return home after treatment so you can continue recovery or receive further medical attention. 

Combination of Both: Sometimes, circumstances call for a variety of the above situations. We are here to make sure your evacuation needs are met. 

Is Emergency Evacuation necessary?

Maximum Benefit: $1,000,000 Hospital Companion: $10,000 File for a  Free Quote  to see the full range of coverage details.

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Emergency Evacuation FAQs

Who should i call during an emergency evacuation.

If you experience a medical emergency during your travels, contact your local emergency services. Then call AXA’s 24/7 emergency services: 855-327-1442

Transportation of Minor Children and Hospital Companions  

Your loved ones are important to us too. If you are expected to be in the hospital for over seven days following a covered emergency evacuation or if the worst occurs and you pass away during your trip, we will ensure the safe return of your unattended minor child(ren) (under the age of eighteen (18)) who accompanied you on the trip. They will be taken to the domicile of a person nominated by you or your next of kin, with an attendant if needed. 

For those times when you find yourself alone in a hospital for more than seven consecutive days due to an accidental injury or sickness, we will arrange for a companion of your choice to visit you once.  

This person will be provided with necessary transportation, authorized and organized by us while adhering to the applicable guidelines. 

Why choose AXA Travel Protection

With a presence in over 30 countries worldwide, AXA provides assistance with a wide range of features that include: 

• Extensive knowledge of local health risks and medical facilities to respond swiftly in the event of a medical emergency
• 24/7 global team of travel experts that offers assistance and assurance while traveling

How to get a Travel Protection Quote Receive a  free quote  within minutes Or call us at  855-327-1441  to speak with our licensed Travel Insurance Advisors. Monday-Saturday, 8AM-7PM Central Time Disclaimer: It is important to note that the specifics for Emergency Evacuation will depend on the policy selected, date of purchase, destination, and state of residency. Customers are advised to carefully review the terms and conditions of their policy, and to contact AXA Partners with any questions or concerns they may have.

Need Help Choosing a Plan?

Speak with one of our licensed representatives or our 24/7 multilingual Insurance advisors to find the coverage you need for your next trip. From Medical Coverage to Trip Cancellation Protection, our team of travel experts will help you choose the right coverage.

Medical Evacuation Insurance: Best Medical Repatriation Coverage

• July 20, 2023
• Travel resources

Vacations abroad can be marred by illness or injury, which becomes even more distressing when you are far from home. In such situations, immediate medical care, medical helicopter rescue insurance or airlift transportation might be necessary. To safeguard your wellbeing and against the financial burden of these emergencies, having a comprehensive travel insurance plan with medical evacuation insurance is crucial.

This review blog looks at the best medical evacuation insurance plans, as well as everything you need to know about medical evacuation and repatriation insurance.

Quick Answer: Best Medical Evacuation Insurance

Editors Choice

Global Rescue Insurance

Coverage for Trekkers

No limitation on altitude for coverage

Emergency medical coverage: to $100,000

2nd Best Choice

World Nomads Insurance

Coverage until 22,965 feet (7,000 meters)

Up to $500,000 in coverage

3rd Best Choice

Travelex Trekking Insurance

Coverage until 20,000 feet (6,000 meters)

Up to $1 million in coverage

Best Medical Evacuation Insurance Providers

The information below highlights our top three choices for medical evacuation and repatriation insurance which are perfect for trekkers and adventure sports enthusiasts. We must insist that you look through the policies and what they cover before you purchase one. Additionally, if you are looking for more traditional travel insurance, have a look at one our other blogs: best trekking travel insurance , and insurance for trekking in Nepal .

Our top three choices for medivac insurance:

1. Global Rescue Insurance:

Global Rescue Trekking Insurance is a well-known provider of rescue memberships in high-altitude and trekking circles. This plan is highly recommended by many of Nepal’s travel and expedition companies.

The most significant advantage for travelers with Global Rescue’s rescue and evacuation insurance is no elevation limit. Meaning that their policy covers you no matter where you are in the world – even Everest!

You can get a membership on short- or long-term basis (7, 14, or 30 days), making the plan extremely flexible and affordable! Their specialty is with medical rescue and reparation insurance, and does not cover travel cancellations, delays, baggage, or medical and dental expenses.

However, they do offer add-on travel insurance policy with IMG (IMG Signature Travel Insurance), which provides coverage for all these items in addition to your high-altitude and rescue/evacuation coverage.

Make sure to check out my Global Rescue Insurance review blog, it will go into depth about what the medical Helicopter evacuation coverage offers!

Main Features:

Medical evacuation from anywhere in the world

Emergency medical coverage — up to $100,000

Trip cancellation — up to $100,000

Lost luggage/baggage delay — up to $2,500

Up to 150% of trip cost insured for trip interruption

Pros and Cons of WorldTrips Hiking Insurance:

The following are a list of pros and cons, things that we love and hate about the insurance policy:

• Secure the value of your entire trip
• Industry’s most complete travel insurance products
• Field Rescue services from the point of injury or illness
• Face-to-face video consultations and advice about your diagnosis
• Will rescue you no matter where you are in the world
• Help determining the best possible treatment options
• Can be expensive depending on the travelers usage of the plan
• Have to buy an annual membership
• Emergency medical expense coverage of $100,000 is quite low when compared to other altitude insurance policies

1. World Nomads Insurance

As an entity, World Nomads has been recommended by well known companies in the travel industry such as Lonely Planet and National Geographic — add with the thousands of customer reviews from  Trust Pilot  that they have garnished over the years, it is easy to see the great reputation that World Nomads has.

They are also backed by secure, trusted, and specialist underwriters who provide travelers with great cover, 24-hour emergency assistance, and the highest levels of support and claims management!

Let’s first start with who World Nomads is. You can also read my full World Nomads Insurance Review to take a deep dive into the insurance provider.

Who are World Nomads?

Since 2002, World Nomads have been protecting, connecting and inspiring independent travelers.

They offer simple and flexible travel insurance and safety advice to help you travel.

Because they believe in giving back to the places we travel to, World Nomads also enables you to make a difference with a micro-donation when you buy a policy.

And they’ll help you plan your trip with free downloadable guides, travel tips, responsible travel insights and recommendations from their global community.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Standard Plan until 19,685 feet (6,000 meters)

$500,000 in coverage

Trip cancellation insurance

Standard Plan until 22,965 feet (7,000 meters)

Emergency medical evacuation

Pros and Cons of World Nomads Insurance:

• Covers a Lot of Countries Worldwide
• High Coverage for Medical Expenses
• Flexible Prices
• Buy or Extend Anytime, Anywhere
• Perfect for adventure-loving travelers
• 24/7 customer service with online claims option
• Limited age coverage for seniors
• Coverage can differ depending on location and nationality
• Limited COVID coverage

2. Travelex Trekking Insurance:

Our third choice for insurance that provides medical evacuation and repatriation insurance is Travelex insurance. It is a great budget-friendly provider that offers affordable rates and coverage for families. Moreover, they offer plan extensions that will allow you to be insured while trekking at high elevations. They provide coverage on individual bases and will allow you to get trekking insurance up to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above sea level. This makes it great for climbers looking to hike up to Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal or other places around the world like the Alps, the Andes or Kilimanjaro! 

Another great aspect that we like about the Travelex’s service, is that they have an app that you can download which will provide important information about the country you are traveling to. It will help keep you safe by providing real-time security alerts, information about food and water safety, as well as ATM locations! 

If you are looking for a budget travel insurance plan that will cover the adventure sports aspect of your vacation no matter where you are in the world, Travelex will be a great fit for you! You can get a free quote from hen Travelex climbing insurance . You can also read our full Travelex Insurance review , to learn more about how they are one of the best trekking insurance providers!

Coverage upto 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) above sea level

Free coverage for children under 17

Can apply for pre-existing medical condition waivers

Travel delay coverage of $2,000

Pros and Cons of Travelex Trekking Insurance:

• The travel insurance will include free coverage for children under the age of 17 if they are with an adult that is covered by the insurance policy
• Offers an adventure sports upgrade, including for high elevation trekking
• You can upgrade the plan to get a “cancel for any reason”
• Medical expense coverage is primary, compared to some competitors’ secondary coverage.
• Provides great travel delay coverage. Providing USD $2,000 per person after an initial five-hour delay.
• “Cancel for any reason” coverage provides 50% reimbursement of the non-refundable deposits – which is lower than most travel insurance providers, who usually provide 75%
• The emergency medical expense coverage for the Travel Select plan is $50,000, compared to higher levels from top competitors.
• Baggage delay benefits only apply after an initial 12-hour wait – longer than most companies

What is emergency medical evacuation (Medevac) insurance?

Medical evacuation insurance is a common inclusion within comprehensive travel insurance policies, often referred to as emergency medical evacuation, medical evacuation, or repatriation insurance.

Coverage is designed to handle the expenses associated with emergency medical transportation in the event of a serious injury or illness while you are traveling – no matter where you are in the world. Should you encounter a medical emergency and the nearest appropriate treatment center is distant, this insurance may also cover the cost of transporting you back to your home.

There are differences between medical evacuation insurance and standard medical travel insurance which you should be aware of before deciding which coverage to purchase. The section below highlights these differences.

Medical Evacuation Insurance vs. Medical Travel Insurance:

While traveling, it is prudent to have both emergency medical evacuation coverage and travel medical insurance in place. These insurance products complement each other, offering distinct benefits for crucial services and treatments you may require during your travels.

While searching for the most suitable travel insurance plan, remember that medical evacuation coverage caters to the expenses involved in transporting you to receive proper medical care. This coverage applies whether it entails emergency helicopter rescue or plane journey to a local hospital or a medically-supported trip back to the United States from a non-U.S. hospital.

On the other hand, medical travel insurance covers emergency medical care you might need while away from home, encompassing procedures like surgeries, treatments, and medicines required for your recovery. This coverage can also address doctor’s bills, X-rays, lab tests, and other medical services necessary during your trip. Some travel medical insurance policies even provide a separate limit for dental expenses if an accident leads to dental trauma requiring treatment.

The main differences between Medical Evacuation Insurance and Medical Travel Insurance lie in their specific coverage and focus:

1. Coverage Scope:

• Medical Evacuation Insurance: This type of insurance primarily focuses on emergency transportation services, arranging for transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility in the event of a serious injury or illness during travel.
• Medical Travel Insurance: On the other hand, Medical Travel Insurance primarily covers the costs of medical treatment and expenses incurred during your trip. It addresses emergency medical care, doctor visits, hospitalization, prescription medications, and other related medical services required during your travels.

2. Main Purpose:

• Medical Evacuation Insurance: The main purpose of Medical Evacuation Insurance is to guarantee timely and effective evacuation in critical situations where local medical facilities may not be equipped to provide adequate care.
• Medical Travel Insurance: Medical Travel Insurance is designed to cover the costs of medical treatments and services while traveling, similar to health insurance coverage. It ensures that you have access to necessary medical care and alleviates the financial burden of unexpected medical expenses abroad.

3. Service Activation:

• Medical Evacuation Insurance: This insurance is typically activated when a qualified physician certifies that your injury or illness requires immediate evacuation for proper medical treatment. The insurance company arranges and coordinates the evacuation process to ensure your safety.
• Medical Travel Insurance: Medical Travel Insurance comes into play when you need medical attention during your trip. It covers the expenses incurred for medical treatments and services received while traveling.

In summary, Medical Evacuation Insurance centers on providing emergency transportation services, while Medical Travel Insurance concentrates on covering medical treatments and services during your journey. These two types of insurance can be complementary, offering a comprehensive safety net for travelers facing medical emergencies away from home.

What Does Medical Evacuation Insurance Cover?

In remote locations, medical evacuation expenses can be costly. Daniel Durazo , a spokesperson with Allianz Global Assistance had this to say:

“The cost of emergency medical transportation can run into the tens of thousands of dollars or more, and varies based on the traveler’s health condition, care required and their location.” 

Lacking emergency medical evacuation (Medevac) insurance means you would be burdened with the full weight of these expenses in the event you require transportation via helicopter, plane, or ambulance to preserve your life.

An example of what you may have to pay depending on your location in the world are as follows:

Break Down of Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance Coverage:

Here is a summary of what medical evacuation insurance typically covers:

1. Emergency transportation:

Reparation medical insurance can pay for the cost of emergency transportation to the nearest suitable treatment center if you encounter a serious illness or injury during your travels and require immediate medical attention. It may also cover the expenses for transporting you back to the U.S. if medically necessary. Additionally, if you need to return to the U.S. for further treatment or recovery after being treated abroad, the insurance can cover the flight home.

2. Medical escort services:

If you need specialized medical care during your flight home, medical evacuation insurance can cover the associated costs for arranging a medical professional to accompany you.

3. Travel expenses for a friend or family member:

If you are hospitalized due to a covered illness or injury, the insurance can pay for a round-trip flight for a friend or family member to stay with you during your hospitalization. There may be a minimum hospital-stay requirement to qualify for this benefit.

4. Costs for a bedside companion:

Some medical evacuation benefits include compensation for hotel stays, meals, and other reasonable expenses incurred by your traveling companion while staying near you during your hospitalization.

5. Repatriation of your children:

If you are hospitalized during your trip and traveling with your children, the insurance company can arrange for your children to fly back home or to another U.S.-based location. The benefits can cover the cost, minus any refunds for unused plane tickets. This benefit also typically has a minimum number of days of hospitalization required to file a claim.

6. Repatriation of remains:

In the unfortunate event of death during the trip, the cost of transporting the remains back home can be covered by the repatriation benefits included in your medical evacuation coverage.

When Do You Need Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance?

Medical evacuation benefits can prove invaluable if you encounter a serious illness or suffer a severe injury during your trip, and the local hospitals lack the necessary resources to provide adequate treatment. Additionally, having the insurance company act as an intermediary in organizing transportation and medical services can be extremely beneficial during a medical emergency in a foreign land.

The travel medical insurance included in your travel insurance plan covers a range of expenses, including doctor and hospital bills, X-rays, lab work, medications, and other related costs, up to the limit specified in your medical coverage. It’s important to note that evacuation insurance and travel medical insurance come with separate coverage limits. For example, a comprehensive travel insurance plan might offer up to $500,000 for medical expenses and up to $1 million for evacuation.

Once you are well enough to travel, your travel insurance company can also cover the cost of your flight back home, ensuring you receive the necessary care and assistance throughout your journey.

Want more info about when you might need travel insurance, take a look at our why do I need travel insurance blog.

Do You Need Both Medical Evacuation and Travel Medical Insurance?

Having both medical evacuation travel insurance and travel medical insurance is a prudent decision when traveling abroad. According to Durazo from Allianz, purchasing travel insurance with emergency medical coverage and transportation benefits becomes crucial if you wish to avoid paying all your medical expenses out of pocket.

When traveling outside the U.S., obtaining travel medical expense insurance is often essential, as domestic health insurance plans might provide limited or no international coverage. It’s advisable to check with your health insurance company to determine if your plan offers global coverage and if it falls under the category of “out of network.” Additionally, senior travelers should be aware that Medicare is not accepted abroad.

How To Use Emergency Medical Evacuation (Medevac) Insurance?

To utilize medical evacuation insurance, typically, you will need an emergency evacuation prescribed by the attending physician at the location, certifying that the seriousness of your accidental injury or illness necessitates the evacuation.

Ideally, your travel insurance company should assist in arranging the medevac and approve it beforehand. However, if immediate approval is not feasible, informing your travel insurance company as soon as possible becomes essential.

Typically, to make use of your emergency medical evacuation insurance, you will should follow these steps:

1. Seek approval immediately:

If you encounter illness or injury during your trip and require emergency medical transportation, the first step is to obtain approval from your travel insurance provider before using the service. Each provider offers a 24-hour hotline that you, the in-house doctor, or a medical professional can call to expedite the process. It’s crucial to do this promptly.

2. Keep all receipts and bills:

Depending on your travel insurance plan, medical transportation bills may be paid directly by the insurance company or require upfront payment, followed by reimbursement later. In either case, it is essential to preserve all documents and receipts related to your incident or illness, including bills and paperwork that substantiate your medical expenses.

3. File a claim online or over the phone:

Upon returning home, contact your travel insurance provider to inquire about the status of your claims. You may need to submit a separate claim for the emergency medical evacuation and other services used from your plan, or you might only need to provide supporting documentation to utilize your coverage.

Stay Protected as you Travel with Medical Evacuation Insurance:

Medical evacuation insurance, also known as emergency medical evacuation insurance or travel insurance for medical evacuation, serves as a vital safety net for travelers venturing far from home. The coverage ensures prompt and efficient emergency transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility, or even to your home country, should a serious injury or illness arise during their journey.

With the added benefit of medical evacuation and repatriation insurance, travelers can rest assured that they are financially protected when facing unforeseen medical crises abroad – even while trekking in Nepal and traveling in some of the most remote places in the world. By securing this comprehensive coverage and understanding the steps involved in utilizing it, travelers can embark on their adventures with peace of mind, knowing that they have a reliable support system in place should the need for emergency medical evacuation arise.

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June 1, 2020

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Travel Emergency Medical Insurance Explained

Planning a trip? Buy travel insurance as soon as you make your travel arrangements. Plans with emergency medical benefits include the OneTrip Basic Plan ,  OneTrip Prime Plan ,  OneTrip Premier Plan,  OneTrip Emergency Medical Plan ,  AllTrips Basic ,  AllTrips Prime ,  AllTrips Executive , and  AllTrips Premier .

Related Articles

• Help Us Help You: The Emergency Travel Assistance Checklist
• The Comprehensive Guide to Travel Insurance Benefits
• Travel Insurance with Emergency Medical Benefits

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What Is Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance?

If you’re a frequent traveler, travel insurance is a well-known option for protection in the case of unexpected incidents like trip delays, lost baggage or sickness. However, many travel insurance policies don’t necessarily cover medical treatment and transportation costs. 

Here is a detailed look at what emergency medical evacuation insurance includes and excludes and how you can get one before your next trip.

Understanding Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance in Travel Insurance Plans

How does emergency medical evacuation insurance work, what does medical evacuation insurance cover.

• See All 12 Items

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is also known as “Medevac” or “repatriation insurance.” You can get this as a separate policy or included in your travel insurance plan or travel medical insurance . Medical evacuation doesn’t always come as a standard feature with travel insurance policies.

The exact terms and conditions of each Medevac policy differ, but it broadly covers transportation costs required to reach adequate medical care. This evacuation can be via a land or air ambulance, which can be costly.

Some emergency medical evacuation insurance might cover the costs of returning to your home if the medical team and insurance company approve. This includes changing flights or making new travel arrangements to reach home sooner. 

If you experience a medical emergency during a trip, you or your buddy should contact the local emergency authorities. Your second call should be to your insurance company’s assistance team. 

The assistance team members vary from insurance provider to provider, but a comprehensive team includes professional emergency room physicians and interpreters.

Typically, the team consults a physician to evaluate your condition and discuss treatment options. After a thorough assessment, they should help to arrange transportation and provide a guarantee to pay for transport to a healthcare facility. Insurance companies use the term adequate medical facility, so you may not necessarily be transported to a facility of your choice.

Medical evacuation insurance generally covers the following:

• Transportation to medical care: The policy covers all transportation costs from the place of the incident to an adequate medical facility. The evacuation can be via air or land.
• Transportation to your home country: If your attending physician approves, your medical evacuation insurance may cover the costs of transporting you back to your home country.  
• Transportation of your acquaintance: Some medical evacuation insurance providers also cover the transportation costs of a friend or family member who visits you in the hospital. This is only applicable when you stay in the hospital for at least seven days. However, this feature can vary widely among policies. 
• Medical team’s expenses: When traveling back home, your Medevac often covers the expenses of your medical team, including nurses, physicians and other staff. The insurance will also cover the costs associated with your care, such as hotel rent, their return home and food.
• Reimbursements for travel companions: The insurance can also reimburse the costs of transportation, lodging and meals for travel companions who stay with you during the treatment. 
• Transportation of children to the home: If you were traveling with your children and met with an accident, your Medevac may cover the transportation costs to send them back home. However, most policies may require you to stay at the hospital for the minimum period — seven days. 
• Transportation of remains: In case of your or your travel companion’s death during the trip, the insurance may cover the costs of transporting the remains to the home. It may also include cremation, embalming and other similar expenses.

What is Not Covered?

Your medical evacuation insurance doesn’t cover transportation not approved by your physician or the insurance provider.

Like inclusions, the exclusions from emergency medical evacuation insurance vary from provider to provider. However, most policies exclude coverage for:

• Any pre-existing health condition that led to the sickness or injury during the trip
• Mental or psychological disorder
• Pregnancy or childbirth costs
• The costs of medical services at the healthcare facility after evacuation
• Injuries from adventure sports or high-risk activities, such as skydiving, mountain biking, etc.
• Intentional harm or attempted suicide

You may be able to buy specific policies to cover some of these conditions, like adventure travel insurance that includes medevac for high-risk trips. 

When Do You Need Medical Evacuation Insurance?

Suppose you get sick or have an accident in a remote location and nearby hospitals don’t have adequate facilities or resources to treat you. In that case, you will need emergency medical evacuation insurance. 

Under the policy, your insurance company can make all the arrangements to transport you from the injury site to a medical care facility. It could be either in the same country or back home. 

With medical evacuation insurance, you can save considerable transportation costs, which can be pretty high in a foreign country. 

Medical Evacuation vs. Travel Medical Insurance

If you often travel, especially to remote locations, having medical evacuation and travel medical insurance can save you thousands of dollars in case of an incident. 

Medical evacuation coverage may already be included in your travel insurance plan, so check the policy details to confirm. If it’s not in a travel insurance policy, it might be included in the travel medical insurance you buy to extend your health coverage overseas.  

Either way, planning to have some type of coverage that will cover medical transportation costs gives you one less thing to worry about. 

How Much Does Medical Evacuation Insurance Cost?

Emergency medical evacuation insurance costs vary from location to location, depending on transportation availability, personnel expenses and costs like fuel and gas. These can increase when traveling to distant areas.

Estimates for transport within North America are around $25,000. If you need to travel back to the U.S. from abroad, the estimated cost of Medevac can range from tens of thousands of dollars to over $200,000. 

However, the cost of a travel health plan generally depends on:

• Age: Your travel insurance will be more expensive depending on your age. The older you are, the higher the cost.
• Trip length: Longer trips involve higher travel insurance costs. 
• Destination: The farther the destination is, the more costly your insurance can get. 
• Your chosen maximum coverage and deductibles: Many travel insurance providers offer additional benefits and deductibles when purchasing the policy. Make sure to select the right maximum coverage and deductibles at that time.

How Much Medical Evacuation Insurance Do You Need?

Most travel insurance providers offer $100,000 to $1 million in medical evacuation coverage.

Although the starting point is usually around $100,000, if you’re traveling to a remote location, you might want higher coverage for better protection. 

How to Get a Policy

You can get a medical evacuation policy as part of your travel insurance or travel medical insurance plan. However, you can also get the policy separately.

The steps to get emergency evacuation insurance are similar to purchasing any other insurance plan.

• Decide your coverage needs: First, decide how much medical evacuation coverage and benefits do you need. Do you travel with a companion? If so, you should also consider their evacuation needs.
• Check emergency medical evacuation insurance providers: Now, search for highly-rated emergency medical evacuation insurance providers online. Make a list of the best options and narrow them down.
• Compare quotes: Get quotes from different providers through their websites or visit an online insurance marketplace for a detailed comparison.
• Purchase travel insurance : Once you have found the right provider, contact them, discuss your coverage needs, decide on terms and conditions and purchase a policy.

Compare the Best Medical Evacuation Policies From Benzinga’s Top Providers

Benzinga's top insurance providers offer robust coverage for emergency medical evacuation. Here is a detailed comparison of their various coverage options.

Plans referred to above are excepted benefit fixed indemnity insurance products marketed and administered by Sidecar Health Insurance Solutions, LLC and underwritten by Sirius America Insurance Company or United States Fire Insurance Company, depending on the state. As an excepted benefit plan, it does not provide comprehensive/major medical expenses coverage, minimum essential coverage, or essential health benefits. You cannot receive a subsidy (premium tax credit and/or cost-sharing reduction) under the ACA in connection with your purchase of such an excepted benefit fixed indemnity insurance plan. Also, the termination or loss of this policy does not entitle you to a special enrollment period to purchase a health benefit plan that qualifies as minimum essential coverage outside of an open enrollment period. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Secure Your Next Trip with Medical Evacuation Insurance

Most domestic health insurance plans offer limited or no global coverage. Similarly, Medicare — a federal health insurance for the elderly — doesn’t work abroad. 

Emergency medical evacuation insurance covers the transportation costs to reach a healthcare facility in case of an injury or sickness. Many comprehensive travel insurance policies come with emergency medical evacuation, but you can also purchase it separately. 

Before purchasing a travel policy, make sure it includes medical evacuation coverage. You can go for $100,000 to $500,000 as a minimum evacuation coverage. 

Remember, your emergency medical evacuation insurance won’t typically cover pre-existing health conditions, mental or psychological disorders and pregnancy or childbirth costs.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is medical evacuation insurance worth it.

Medical evacuation insurance is worth it if you travel abroad. It can cover all your transportation costs to reach a hospital when your domestic healthcare policy won’t be helpful.

Do you need evacuation insurance for trips within the U.S.?

Yes, you do need evacuation insurance for trips within the U.S. if you don’t have health insurance. Without it, you may have to pay hefty transport costs to reach a medical facility, which travel evacuation insurance can cover.

Does my insurance have emergency medical evacuation?

Many travel insurance policies come with the option of emergency medical evacuation. However, you should explicitly ask your insurance provider to include medical evacuation in the policy.

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Medical Evacuation and Repatriation: How Travel Insurance and Assistance Services Can Help

You never quite know when a medical emergency will arise during international travel, especially to high-risk destinations where illness and injury are more likely. You could ingest an intestinal parasite, contract a virus, or simply slip and fall.

Are you ready to foot the bill for a $100,000 emergency medical evacuation on your next trip? 40% of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency expense , so chances are an emergency medical evacuation might hit your wallet harder than you’d like.

Luckily, you can get travel insurance and assistance services that can bring you out of harm’s way and to the nearest suitable medical facility if you encounter an emergency illness or injury during your trip.

Keep reading to learn more about medical evacuation (also known as medevac or medivac) and repatriation, why you should consider getting insurance that covers those events when you’re traveling, and how travel protection from Generali Global Assistance can help if you encounter such an emergency.

If you run into difficulties during your trip, travel assistance services are included in all Generali Global Assistance travel protection plans and available 24/7/365. For emergency assistance during your trip, call (877) 243-4135 in the U.S. or (240) 330-1529 collect worldwide.

See our COVID-19 Travel Insurance Guide  with details about repatriation and evacuation.

What is Emergency Assistance and Transportation Coverage?

If you become critically sick or injured during your trip and no suitable local care is available, the Emergency Assistance and Transportation benefit provides coverage for you to be taken to the nearest medical facility that’s equipped to take care you. 

What is repatriation?

Repatriation covers the costs of being transported home if deemed medically necessary after a medical emergency has been stabilized, or returning remains back to the U.S. if a covered traveler has died on their trip.

Medical repatriation: If someone is injured or becomes ill on their trip, medical repatriation will return them home or to the U.S. before or after they have been treated, depending on the situation. This includes medical transport if necessary.

Repatriation of remains: If the worst happens and a covered traveler dies on a trip outside of the U.S., this service will transport the remains back home.

Who needs Emergency Assistance and Transportation?

You never know if an emergency will render you unable to take yourself to the nearest medical facility that can treat you. Fortunately, Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage can cover the expense of transporting you to a nearby facility for medical treatment. If you are traveling abroad, to a remote location, or cruising, or any other destination that would require evacuation via helicopter in the event of a medical emergency, make sure your travel protection plan includes Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage and services.

International travelers should know even if you have a health insurance plan, primary medical insurance may not cover treatment outside of the United States. Leaving home without coverage could expose you to risk and cost you a bundle. For example, Medicare does not provide coverage outside of the country. Research your destination before you travel and find out if travel operators require a minimum amount of medical coverage to board. 

How much coverage do I need?

Travel insurance with coverage for medical evacuation can help keep travelers from getting stuck with huge costs if seriously injured or sickened on a trip. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medical evacuation by air ambulance can cost more than $100,000 and if you are traveling internationally or in a remote area the cost can be even greater. The CDC specifically highlights the high cost of medical evacuation from a cruise ship.

Generali Global Assistance travel protection plans include Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage limits from $250,000 per person to $1 million per person, depending on the plan you choose.

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Generali’s Emergency Assistance and Transportation Coverage

Our Standard, Preferred and Premium travel insurance Plans all contain varying levels of coverage for emergency medical evacuation, hospitalization and repatriation.

24/7/365 Emergency Assistance Service s are included with your purchase. In addition to emergency assistance, our plans include Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage that can provide an air ambulance, commercial flight, or a transportation vehicle in the event of a medical emergency so you arrive at the nearest available facility in a timely manner. 

If you’re traveling alone and hospitalized for more than seven days, coverage is included to fly one person of your choosing to accompany you. The plan also provides coverage for their lodging, meals, local transportation and telephone calls during this time (up to $10,000).

Medical repatriation: Once a medical evacuation happens, we monitor the situation and when you are well enough to travel, we use our network of resources to help you get home safely. For non-emergency situations, the plan provides coverage for medically necessary transportation to your place of residence or to an alternative U.S. city where you’ll have access to the care you need.

Repatriation of remains: Our plans provide coverage for the preparation and return of your remains to a funeral home in the U.S. or the option for a local burial if you die outside of the U.S. 

Emergency Assistance and Transportation Coverage for Pre-existing Conditions

Travelers looking for Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage for pre-existing medical conditions should purchase our Premium Plan prior to or within 24 hours of final payment for their trip, must be medically able to travel at the time of purchase and must insure all prepaid trip costs that are subject to cancellation penalties or restrictions to be eligible for coverage.

Also read:  5 Things Most People Get Wrong about Travel Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions

Additional Travel Protection Features

When it comes to traveling smarter, planning ahead is key, especially if you’re going abroad. Medical and Dental coverage is a major reason why travelers get travel insurance , and combined with Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption , and other valuable coverages, our plans let you rest easily with more peace of mind while away from home.

In addition to Emergency Assistance and Transportation, our plans offer a variety of other coverages and services - like a service that aids in the replacement of medication and eyeglasses on your trip - that traditional medical insurance plans usually don’t. For less severe medical attention, our plans include a Telemedicine Service, which instantly connects travelers with a network of physicians for information, advice, and treatment, and even prescriptions when appropriate.

The U.S. Department of State advises that international travelers buy travel insurance with Medical Coverage to help cover the cost of medical care when traveling internationally. To help protect you against unexpected medical fees you may incur, our plans include Medical and Dental coverage. 

If you have any other questions about medical evacuation and repatriation or how a Generali travel protection plan can help during a medical emergency, you can speak to one of our representatives . We wish you safe travels!

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Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance Cover

Medical emergency and repatriation insurance.

Repatriation cover comes as standard on most travel insurance policies . In the event that you fall ill or are injured on holiday and you are unable to get the level of treatment you need, then repatriation cover supports you by covering costs should it be decided that the best course of action is to bring you or a travelling companion home to continue treatment.

The decision could be made because of the treatment required being available more readily in the UK or because the cost of treatment may well be cheaper in the UK. This could be particularly true if you fall ill whilst travelling in the United States . 

What does repatriation mean?

At its simplest it means returning someone to their home country.

Repatriation insurance in the context of travel insurance means the return home of you or a travelling companion after an illness or injury to continue care and recovery in the UK. It can also apply in the event of death and the return of the body to the UK.

The form repatriation can take include being escorted back home on a repatriation flight or getting you home using an air ambulance.

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Does travel insurance include repatriation?

Yes. Repatriation cover normally comes as standard on travel insurance policies.

Our single trip travel insurance , annual multi-trip travel insurance and backpacker travel insurance policies all include repatriation as standard under the emergency medical assistance section. We provide cover up to £2,000,000 on our Bronze level cover, up to £5,000,000 with our Silver level cover and up to £10,000,000 on our Gold level cover. 

What does Repatriation Insurance cover?

• Organisation of getting you home : We'll make sure that once it become clear that you need to return to the UK for treatment the organisation of travel is handled quickly and efficiently, leaving you to concentrate on your recovery.
• Relative accommodation and travel costs : We could help to cover the cost of having a close friend or relative stay with you during your treatment and repatriation to the UK providing support and comfort at the most difficult of times.
• 24/7 emergency assistance helpline : We're here no matter where you are, when you need us or how many times. Our emergency assistance helpline is available in your policy documents and can be a first port of call for repatriation issues.
• Repatriation due to death : In the unfortunate event that an insured individual passes away while overseas we could assist with the repatriation of the body.

What doesn't it cover?

There are some things that could invalidate your claim under the repatriation insurance section of cover, meaning you’ll have to cover the cost of medical expenses and getting back home yourself. These include:

• Pre-existing medical conditions that haven’t been declared and accepted by your insurer
• Illness and injuries that happen while you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Injuries caused by your or a travelling companion's  violent  conduct and reckless behaviour
• Travelling to countries against UK government advice
• High-risk sports and activities that aren’t covered by your travel insurance policy.

For more information regarding repatriation cover please see the policy documents .

Frequently Asked Questions

In most cases, as with our policies, the insurer makes the decision on whether it would be best to repatriate you. This decision is based on conversations with our in house medical advisers and the doctor who is treating you at the time.

Once the decision is confirmed, usually repatriation will be via a regular airline or ambulance, but in serious cases where it is medically urgent we will use air ambulances – we’ll make sure this is the case by consulting with the doctor treating you and our medical advisers.

When heading home, you will need the doctor treating you to provide a fit to fly certificate to ensure that you are able to board the repatriation flight back to the UK. 

Should you need any help, our assistance co-ordinators can help answer your questions at any time of the day or night.

Whilst we would recommend that you have a valid GHIC card when you travel, it is not a replacement for travel insurance.

The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) only covers state-run emergency medical treatment in the EU. It does not cover the cost of repatriation to bring you back to the UK. So if you fell ill and need to return home in order to find or continue treatment then you will need a travel insurance policy in order to provide cover for this.

Certainly it is something that you hope not to need, but to cover for that eventuality repatriation insurance is usually included as standard on  most travel insurance policies.

With our single trip , annual multi-trip and backpacker policies you can be covered for up to £10,000,000 which should be more than enough to bring you home should you require repatriation to the UK.

Popular insurance types that may interest you

Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

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Travel Insurance for Seniors & Retirees: 5 Top Picks

Allianz Travel Insurance »

Trawick International »

GeoBlue »

IMG Travel Insurance »

WorldTrips »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors and Retirees.

Table of Contents

• Allianz Travel Insurance
• Trawick International

While anyone planning a trip overseas can benefit from having a travel insurance plan in place, older travelers need to prioritize this coverage more than others. The fact is, senior travelers and retirees have unique worries and risks to think about any time they travel far from home. These risks increase their need for travel health insurance and emergency medical coverage, as well as coverage for emergency medical evacuation that applies anywhere in the world.

Which travel insurance options work best for seniors? There are many travel insurance plans that were created with retirees in mind, although you'll want to compare them side by side. For example, you may want to look at coverage limits for medical expenses and coverage for preexisting conditions above all else.

U.S. News editors compared more than 20 of the top travel insurance companies to find the best plans for seniors. This list does the heavy lifting for you as you search for the best senior travel insurance of 2023, so read on to learn about the top picks.

• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best Annual Coverage
• Trawick International: Best Premium Travel Insurance for Seniors
• GeoBlue: Best Travel Medical Coverage for Expats
• IMG Travel Insurance: Best for Short-Term Travel Medical Coverage
• WorldTrips: Best for Flexibility

Available to senior travelers of all ages

Coverage for preexisting conditions is offered

Relatively low limits for emergency medical expenses

• Coverage for COVID-19
• Trip cancellation coverage up to $3,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to $3,000
• Emergency medical coverage up to $20,000
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage up to $100,000
• Baggage loss coverage up to $1,000
• Baggage delay insurance up to $200
• Travel delay coverage up to $600 ($200 daily limit)
• Rental car damage and theft coverage up to $45,000
• Travel accident coverage up to $25,000
• 24-hour hotline for assistance
• Concierge service
• Preexisting condition coverage (must be added to plan within 14 days of first trip deposit or payment)

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Customize plan with optional CFAR coverage

Incredibly high limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation

Coverage is for trips up to 30 days if you're age 80 and older

• Up to $15,000 in trip cancellation insurance
• Up to $22,500 in trip interruption coverage
• Up to $1,000 for trip delays ($200 daily limit for delays of 12-plus hours)
• Up to $1,000 for missed connections
• Up to $150,000 for emergency medical expenses
• Up to $1 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage
• $750 in emergency dental coverage
• $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects
• $400 in baggage delay coverage
• 24/7 noninsurance assistance services

Get comprehensive health insurance that applies overseas

Preventive and routine care included

Age limits apply for new applicants and renewals

• Preventive and routine care
• Professional services like surgery
• Inpatient medical care
• Ambulatory and therapeutic services
• Rehabilitation and therapy

Get overseas medical coverage for single trips or multiple trips

Plans were created with seniors and retirees in mind

Lower maximum coverage limits for travelers ages 80 and older

Limited nonmedical travel insurance benefits

• Inpatient and outpatient medical coverage such as for physician visits, hospitalization and surgery
• Emergency and nonemergency medical evacuation coverage
• Coverage for emergency reunions
• Return of mortal remains
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $5,000
• Lost luggage coverage worth up to $250 (up to $50 per item)
• Coverage for terrorism worth up to $50,000
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage worth up to $25,000

Customize your deductible and premiums

Generous medical limits for travelers ages 65 to 79

Limited medical coverage for travelers older than 80

• Up to $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage
• Medical benefits like hospital room and board, chiropractic care, and more
• Coverage for repatriation of remains
• Up to $25,000 in personal liability coverage
• Up to $10,000 in trip interruption insurance
• Up to $1,000 in coverage for lost checked luggage
• Up to $100 per day in coverage for travel delays of 12-plus hours
• Up to $1,500 in coverage for bedside visits
• Up to $100,000 in coverage for emergency reunions

Frequently Asked Questions

You can purchase some travel insurance plans (but not all) if you're older than 80 years old. However, your premiums may be higher and you'll typically qualify for lower coverage limits overall. Make sure you compare the best travel insurance plans for seniors to find the right fit for your needs.

Since seniors and retirees are more likely to face a medical emergency during a trip, most travel insurance plans for seniors include coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation. Coverages vary among plans, as do limits, so make sure to compare options before you book a trip overseas.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered international travel and travel insurance for more than a decade. Johnson has researched and compared all the top travel insurance options for her own family for trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and she has successfully filed claims during that time. Johnson lives in Indiana with her two children and her husband, Greg, a travel agent who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states.

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