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The best thing about travelling is it is a wholesome experience of exploring new places, and making great memories. But it can turn into a nightmare if a sudden illness or injury leaves you needing urgent medical care specially where the right treatment isn’t available. In such situations, it can be extremely difficult and expensive to get the right help.
This is where travel insurance with emergency evacuation coverage comes as a blessing. It provides financial and assistance support for eligible medical transportation during an emergency, so you can focus on getting the care you need. Let’s understand why this coverage can be an important part of your travel plans.
What is Emergency Medical Evacuation?
Emergency medical evacuation is a benefit you get under travel insurance. It is a process of transporting a traveller to the nearest suitable medical facility when proper treatment is not available at their current location. Medical evacuation benefits can be effectively useful during an injury or serious illness while travelling abroad.
How Does Emergency Evacuation in Travel Insurance Work?
Imagine you’re on an overseas holiday and face a medical emergency while travelling abroad that requires treatment unavailable nearby. Emergency evacuation while travelling coverage can help arrange eligible transportation to a suitable medical facility, subject to policy terms.
For example, if you suffer a serious injury in a remote location, the insurer may arrange an ambulance or air ambulance to an appropriate hospital. In some cases, overseas medical evacuation in travel insurance may involve transferring you to another city or country for the required care.
Why do You Need to Buy Travel Insurance with Emergency Evacuation Coverage?
Travel emergencies can happen without warning, and getting the right medical help may mean moving to another hospital or even another city. Travel insurance with emergency medical evacuation coverage can help manage the financial stress of such situations. Take a look!
- Covers costly evacuation: Medical evacuation while travelling can be expensive, especially when an ambulance, air ambulance, or special medical transport is required.
- Helps you reach suitable medical care: If proper treatment is not available nearby, travel emergency evacuation coverage can help you get to an appropriate medical facility.
- Useful in remote destinations: When travelling to areas with limited healthcare facilities, evacuation coverage can be especially helpful during a serious illness or injury.
- Offers support during emergencies: An emergency medical evacuation in travel insurance benefit can provide assistance with arranging necessary medical transportation, subject to the policy terms.
- Protects your travel budget: Unexpected evacuation costs can quickly add up, so having suitable travel insurance can reduce the financial impact of a medical emergency.
How Much Does Emergency Evacuation Cost Without Insurance?
The cost of emergency evacuation without travel insurance can be substantial and varies based on the traveller’s location, medical condition, distance to the appropriate hospital, and mode of transportation required. In case of an injury while travelling overseas, expenses may include ground ambulance services, air ambulance transportation, medical escorts, and an emergency hospitalisation abroad.
On average, an emergency medical evacuation without insurance can cost around USD 20,000 to USD 100,000 or more, depending on various factors. Long-distance air ambulance evacuations can cost USD 100,000–250,000+ in complex cases.
Types of Travel Emergency Evacuation
Travel emergency evacuation can involve different forms of assistance depending on the nature and severity of an emergency abroad. Emergency evacuation insurance and medical evacuation insurance can help cover eligible transportation expenses, subject to the policy terms and conditions.
Emergency Medical Evacuation
This covers transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility when suitable treatment is unavailable at your current location. Medical evacuation insurance may cover eligible ambulance, air ambulance, or other medically necessary transportation costs.
Evacuation of Mortal Remains
In the unfortunate event of the insured traveller’s death abroad, the policy may cover eligible expenses for transporting the mortal remains to the home country or arranging a local burial, subject to the policy terms.
What is Not Covered Under Travel Evacuation Insurance?
Travel evacuation insurance may not cover evacuation expenses arising from certain excluded situations, even in the event of an accident while travelling abroad.
- Self-inflicted injuries or attempted suicide
- Alcohol or drug-related incidents
- Participation in excluded hazardous or adventure activities
- War, civil unrest, or unlawful activities
- Evacuation that is not medically necessary
- Evacuation arranged without required authorisation
- Elective or non-emergency transportation
- Expenses exceeding the policy’s specified coverage limits
How to Claim Your Overseas Medical Evacuation Benefit?
Here are the steps to follow to claim Care Health Insurance’s international travel insurance with evacuation cover.
Step 1: Inform Care Health Insurance: Notify the assistance team immediately about the medical emergency.
Step 2: Get Medical Approval: Obtain confirmation from the treating doctor that evacuation is medically necessary.
Step 3: Arrange Evacuation: Coordinate the evacuation with the authorised assistance provider.
Step 4: Keep Documents: Save medical reports, bills, receipts, and transportation records.
Step 5: Submit the Claim: Share the required documents and claim details with Care Health Insurance.
Step 6: Claim Settlement: The claim is assessed and settled as per the policy terms and coverage.
Tips to Choose the Right Travel Insurance with Evacuation Cover
When buying travel insurance with emergency medical assistance and evacuation cover, keep the following tips in mind to ensure you have suitable protection during unexpected medical situations abroad.
- Check Medical Evacuation Benefits: Review the medical evacuation benefits, including transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility when medically necessary.
- Review Coverage Limits: Make sure the evacuation and emergency medical coverage limits are appropriate for your destination and trip duration.
- Understand What’s Covered: Check the policy terms for covered medical emergencies, exclusions, waiting periods, and other applicable conditions.
- Look for 24/7 Assistance: Choose a plan that provides round-the-clock emergency assistance so you can seek support while travelling across different time zones.
- Consider Your Destination: Medical and evacuation costs can vary significantly by country, so select coverage based on the healthcare infrastructure and potential costs at your destination.
- Check Repatriation Coverage: Find out whether the policy covers medically necessary transportation back to your home country, subject to policy terms.
- Read the Policy Wording: Review exclusions, claim procedures, required documentation, and conditions carefully before purchasing the policy.
>> Also Check: Compassionate Visits and Travel Insurance
Your Journey Deserves a Backup Plan
No one plans for a medical emergency while travelling, but being prepared can make a big difference. Care Health Insurance’s travel insurance includes emergency medical evacuation benefits in case of a covered medical emergency, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.
With this benefit, eligible evacuation expenses can be covered when you need to be transported to an appropriate medical facility. So, while you focus on your journey, you can have added support for unexpected medical situations along the way.
Disclaimer: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.
