![\"An](\"https:\/\/media.nomadicmatt.com\/2023\/medevac.jpg\")
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While most budget travelers are content with a standard travel insurance package, today I wanted to talk about one specific aspect that I get asked about a lot: buying extra medical evacuation insurance.<\/p>\n
When I first started roaming the world, I assumed that standard travel insurance<\/a> would cover the cost of getting back home should I get injured abroad. Isn\u2019t that what their \u201cmedical evacuation\u201d coverage does?<\/p>\n I was shocked to discover that, more often than not, that isn\u2019t the case. <\/p>\n Turns out, just because you get injured and require medical transportation doesn\u2019t mean you get sent home. <\/p>\n If you read the fine print, most travel insurance companies<\/a> only cover your medical transport to the \u201cbest\u201d medical facility near where you are. This is what they call the \u201cnearest acceptable facility.\u201d <\/p>\n They decide where you go, not you.<\/p>\n They decide what the best facility is.<\/p>\n They decide what is suitable.<\/p>\n And once your travel insurance company sends you to a hospital, they have fulfilled their evacuation obligation to you. That means that if you\u2019re not sent home, you could be liable to then cover the cost of getting home \u2014 which can be a lot of money. <\/p>\n Now, this is not to say that \u201cregular\u201d travel insurance is bad. It just means that people think it covers a lot more than it does<\/a> and are often upset when they find out otherwise. I mean, I love travel insurance (I never leave home without it), but it\u2019s important to know its limitations. Always read the fine print!<\/p>\n This is where comprehensive medical evacuation coverage can come in handy in addition to your existing travel insurance plan. Here’s everything you need to know about medical evacuation coverage to help you decide if it’s for you.<\/p>\n First, let\u2019s get one thing clear: Medical evacuation insurance is not the exact same thing as travel insurance (and vice versa). <\/p>\n Of course, travel insurance generally includes medical evacuation insurance, but travel insurance is specifically designed to protect travelers from financial loss in the event of trip interruptions and cancelations, as well as injuries while abroad. <\/p>\n Sprained your ankle while hiking? Travel insurance will help. <\/p>\n Baggage lost or delayed after a flight? Travel insurance will help. <\/p>\n Someone pickpocket your phone? Travel insurance will help.<\/p>\n For most travel and medical emergencies, travel insurance will suffice.<\/p>\n But where it often falls short is when you need to be repatriated.<\/p>\n Most travel insurance plans do include decent coverage for medical evacuation \u2014 but they only take you to the nearest facility that can handle your emergency. This means:<\/p>\n Understandably, for some people, that\u2019s not good enough.<\/p>\n When I was stabbed in Colombia<\/a>, I went to a local hospital. I was on my own, left to navigate the process with what little broken Spanish I knew. While I received basic medical care, it was not exactly the best in the world. I flew back to the US shortly after that to get the care I needed.<\/p>\n I was lucky that I didn\u2019t require surgery and that I was able to handle the situation on my own. I didn\u2019t necessarily need medical evacuation insurance for that incident.<\/p>\n But not everyone will be that lucky. Earthquakes, monsoons, hurricanes, floods, and fires do happen \u2014 and the list goes on.<\/p>\n Each and every year, 10 million travelers are hospitalized abroad \u2014 with over two million requiring medical transportation. And should you need to be evacuated due to an injury, weather event, or political crisis, you definitely don\u2019t want to be stuck with a pricey repatriation bill. After all, evacuation and transportation aren\u2019t cheap. Costs for a medical evacuation or medical transfer can range from $30,000 to upwards of $200,000. <\/p>\n Yes, you read that right: $200,000!<\/p>\n Unless you have that kind of money lying around, you\u2019ll want to make sure the insurance that you buy covers you for medical evacuation, transportation, transfers, and repatriation. You don\u2019t want to be stranded at a foreign medical facility \u2014 especially if that facility doesn\u2019t provide the degree of care that you need.<\/p>\n While these sorts of emergencies are rare, it\u2019s much better to pay a small fee now than to risk going bankrupt because of an unexpected injury. Because $200,000 is a LOT of money!<\/p>\n Just as important as the financial argument for medical evacuation insurance is the fact that having comprehensive coverage gives you peace of mind. You and your loved ones can relax, knowing that, should the worst happen, you have a company there that is ready and able to help you get through it. The last thing you want on your vacation is to be fretting about the fine print on your insurance policy.<\/p>\n Over the past decade<\/a>, I\u2019ve had to deal with all sorts of hiccups on the road, from minor inconveniences, like a broken camera and lost baggage, to more serious situations, like when I burst my eardrum.<\/p>\n Take it from me: peace of mind is worth the price<\/a>.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to be prepared.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why more and more travelers are ensuring they have medical evacuation insurance AND joining medical transport membership programs to ensure they can get all the way to a hospital at home.<\/p>\n Medjet<\/a> is a membership program that offers comprehensive medical transportation services all around the globe. They have access to hundreds of air ambulances, expert medical transport escorts and staff located all over the world, and if you also have their security coverage, you have 24\/7 access to a global network of security and crisis experts for in-country response and evacuation if you need it!<\/p>\n Medjet has the best reputation for medical transport services. They were the first medical transport program in the US and have been doing it for almost 30 years. They specialize in hospital-to-hospital transport, making it the go-to company for travelers concerned about medical evacuation and repatriation. All the travel pros I know use it. <\/p>\n Where most insurance companies will just take you to the nearest medical facility, Medjet will make sure you get to a hospital at home.<\/p>\n Additionally, Medjet<\/a>:<\/p>\n However, it is also extremely affordable \u2014 I\u2019m still a budget traveler after all! Medjet offers both short-term and annual plans. An annual membership can cost as little as $315 USD per year, which is amazing value if you\u2019re an avid traveler.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for coverage that goes above and beyond what most companies offer, you\u2019ll want to consider Medjet<\/a> \u2014 especially if you\u2019re concerned about the cost of a medical evacuation. <\/p>\n It\u2019s also the perfect choice for anyone looking to do adventurous activities or travelers who are heading into a region where extreme weather events (such as hurricanes or floods), fires, or earthquakes are common.<\/p>\n Medjet also includes COVID-19 coverage, so if you\u2019re hospitalized abroad for COVID-19 and need to be repatriated, Medjet has you covered (with some restrictions). You can read Medjet\u2019s full COVID policy here<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n Nobody likes to imagine something going wrong on their trip. But accidents and emergencies do happen. Make sure you have the evacuation insurance coverage you need on your next trip. You won\u2019t regret it!<\/p>\n My New York Times<\/em> best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you\u2019ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It\u2019s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the \u201cbible for budget travelers.\u201d<\/p>\n Click here to learn more and start reading it today!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n Book Your Flight<\/strong> Book Your Accommodation<\/strong> Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong> Want to Travel for Free?<\/strong> Need a Rental Car?<\/strong> Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?<\/strong>
\n <\/p>\nWhat is Medical Evacuation Insurance?<\/h3>\n
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Why is Medical Evacuation Insurance So Important?<\/h3>\n
My Recommended Company<\/h3>\n
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\nHow to Travel the World on $75 a Day<\/span><\/h3>
![\"How](\"https:\/\/media.nomadicmatt.com\/bookimages\/HowtoTraveltheWorldon75aDay.jpg\")
<\/div>\nBook Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n\n
\nTravel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation \u2014 all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites<\/a> to get started and see the latest best deals.<\/p>\n
\nDiscover Cars<\/a> is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best \u2014 and cheapest \u2014 rental for your trip!<\/p>\n
\nGet Your Guide<\/a> is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. <\/p>\n