This post is sponsored by Medjet.
With everything going on in the world today ~ flash floods, war, extreme weather, protests and crime ~ smart travelers plan for the “what if”.
In the past, I just winged it. While I frequently purchased travel insurance, I never thought about what additional coverages I might need. Medjet fits the bill for me. It is not insurance but a membership program that gets you home in the event of a health emergency. The medevac benefits of travel insurance are only to the “nearest adequate facility”. I want to be able to be moved to a hospital at home, and that’s what Medjet does. You can also add 24/7 security and crisis response benefits, which are worth looking into these days.
I plan to purchase a short term plan when I take a European Cruise in the fall and depending on my travel schedule I may purchase an annual plan for next year.
I am not the only one with contingency plans. Fellow SheBuysTravel writer Mira Temkin said, “I purchased a Medjet membership several years ago as I just wanted peace of mind knowing I was protected in case something should happen to me while I was traveling, especially out of the country. Fortunately, I haven’t had to use it, but it helps me relax and enjoy both my personal and professional travels knowing that I’m covered.”
How Does Medjet Work?
Travelers purchase a membership in Medjet to cover one trip or an annual plan to cover all of their travel for the next 12 months. The medical transport coverage kicks in any time a member is hospitalized at least 150 miles from home. I can use the plan when traveling in the United States if I have a medical emergency, or abroad. No “medical necessity” is required if I just want to go to a hospital with my doctors. “Medical necessity” is that clause in most travel insurance that keeps travelers “stuck” in foreign facilities.
Medjet confers with the supervising doctor to determine whether the member is stable enough to transfer. If so, the member will be transported to the hospital of her choice in their home country by air ambulance or commercial air with a medical escort and one companion. Medjet handles all the logistics so you and your loved ones can focus on your health, and handles all the costs. You only ever pay your membership fee.
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What Does Medjet Cover?
There are two types of Medjet memberships: MedjetAssist and MedjetHorizon. Both of them come with air medical transport benefits, including:
- Air Medical Transportation to a hospital at home – Fully-staffed air ambulance or a business class seat on a commercial flight with a medical escort, coordination with receiving hospital, all paperwork, permits, and logistics. Services are bedside-to-bedside.
- Medical Monitoring and Consultation – Coordination with doctors to ensure you are stable enough to transport, manage and monitor your condition during transfer
- Travel Companion Transport – if space allows on the air ambulance or economy seating on a commercial flight
- Repatriation of Mortal Remains – Medjet will arrange for transport of remains back to loved ones in the event of death.
How Do Medjet Memberships Compare to Traditional Travel Insurance?
Medjet differs from traditional travel insurance in two critical ways:
- Medjet covers the cost of getting you to the hospital of your choice in your home country. There are no claim forms, upfront payments or deductibles.
- It does not require the transfer be “medically necessary” or that your current hospital be “inadequate”. If you want to be moved, you can.
Medjet’s only requirement for service: The member must be deemed medically stable enough for transport.
Most traditional travel insurance will only provide medically necessary transportation to the nearest medical facility. And when you’re sick or injured far away from home, knowing that you can get home to your own doctor’s care in a hospital you trust is a real comfort.
Do you need both traditional travel insurance and Medjet? Yes, say frequent travelers. They buy a traditional policy to cover trip cancellation, lost baggage, transportation to the nearest medical facility and those hospital bills, and Medjet to cover that all-important ride home.
How Much Does Medjet Assist Cost
These tables show the costs of the Regular Individual and Family MedjetAssist (medical transport) memberships. The company also offers plans for those over the age of 75 (Diamond Membership), Expat memberships, collegiate options and more. Speak with a Medjet agent to learn which one works best for your situation. I read everything so follow my lead. Ensure that you understand the requirements and know how everything works in the event of an emergency. Debating between a short-term or annual membership? If you are making more than two trips in a year, purchase the annual option.
MedjetAssist Short-Term Memberships
| Individual | Family | |
| 8-Day | $99 | $199 |
| 15-Day | $155 | $260 |
| 21-Day | $200 | $335 |
| 30-Day | $255 | $395 |
MedJetAssist Annual Memberships
| Individual | Family | |
| 1-Year | $315 | $425 |
| 2-Year | $525 | $795 |
| 3-Year | $730 | $1,150 |
| 5-Year | $1,150 | $1,780 |
Are There Additional Co-Pays or Other Costs?
Medjet Assist charges no co-pays, deductibles, or any surprise costs. Pay your membership fee and all transport costs are covered.
Covered by Medjet with No Extra Cost
- Air Ambulance or Commercial Flight with Medical Escort
- Ground Transportation between airports and hospitals
- Medical Team for monitoring during transport
- Travel Logistics
- Coordination with Hospital Admissions and Transfer Desks
- Repatriation of Mortal Remains
- Travel Companion Transport
Is Medjet Worth It?
Is Medjet worth it? A resounding yes! You could be one of more than 10 million travelers hospitalized outside of the country each year. More than 2 million require air medical transport with costs ranging from $30,000 to $250,000. I cringe when I look back on some of my trips like trekking on a slippery, icy glacier with no emergency plan.
Reasons Why Medjet is Worth It
- Peace of Mind – No additional costs and you have a plan in the event of a medical emergency
- I Want to Go Home – Medjet gets you there
- Frequent Travelers – Annual memberships cover you on every trip
- Older Travelers – No health questions or pre-existing conditions exclusions under age 75. Over 75 can join with additional screening
MedjetHorizon, The Ultimate Security Plan
If the U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert for your destination, definitely consider a MedjetHorizon plan. Even destinations people traditionally think of as “very safe” can still have issues: rising crime, tourist kidnappings, demonstrations that turn violent…all these are in the news lately. If you are going somewhere that you’re a little nervous about, you may want to consider a MedjetHorizon membership. It includes the medical evacuation features of MedjetAssist and goes one step further, it protects you in the event of a security crisis. I like the fact you have someone to call if you feel scared in a situation. MedjetHorizon’s security network can get you to safety – either by offering expert advice or performing a security extraction if that is what’s necessary.
“In the mid 1990s, I was working in Indonesia. Tensions were growing, with protests and violent uprisings becoming more common but not typically in the capital where I worked. One morning, the military conducted public exercises that included shooting machine guns into the air and tanks rolling down main streets. My colleague and I were caught in one of these military displays of power. We were lucky to work for a company that had a jet on the runway, ready to whisk expats out. Even places that appear secure can surprise you. Private citizens need to be aware but also need a fallback plan in the event circumstances change. The Medjet Horizon plans are perfect for peace of mind and for the possibility that even safe places can shift rapidly and unexpectedly.” Susan Stevie, SheBuysTravel writer.
Benefits Of Medjet Horizon
- Access to a 24/7 security network for a variety of safety concerns and threats
- Crisis response tailored to your situation, which can include evacuation and rescue, legal referral, telephone translation services and emergency messaging
- Updates on political security, public health and safety in the country you’re visiting
- Medical emergency cash advance if the hospital abroad demands payment upfront (know that many hospitals abroad won’t take credit cards, so this cash advance can be valuable)
Cost
MedjetHorizon memberships are more expensive than MedjetAssist ones, but I think it is worth the additional cost for those traveling to more dangerous areas of the world. Having a crisis response team available for me is priceless.
MedjetHorizon Short-Term Memberships
| Individual | Family | |
| 8-Day | $189 | $318 |
| 15-Day | $245 | $380 |
| 21-Day | $290 | $455 |
| 30-Day | $345 | $515 |
MedjetHorizon Annual Memberships
| Individual | Family | |
| 1-Year | $474 | $614 |
| 2-Year | $843 | $1,173 |
| 3-Year | $1,207 | $1,717 |
| 5-Year | $1,945 | $2,725 |
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