Crucial Information on Medical and Med-Evac Insurance
An injury or a health problem while you are traveling can be a minor nuisance, an interesting cultural experience, or a major problem. Many travelers are unaware of the need to protect themselves and their finances from the consequences of unforeseen medical situations. Taking a few actions before you depart, and knowing where to get help if you need it on your trip, can help you keep difficulties to a minimum.
Why should I be concerned about medical coverage abroad?
- Many health insurance plans, including Social Security Medicare in the U.S., do not provide coverage overseas. Plans that provide "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad may not pay for your medical evacuation back to your home country, a huge expense.
- Many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service.
- Uninsured patients may be refused service.
- Countries with socialized medicine may not provide full services to non-residents.
- Payment of hospital and other expenses abroad is the responsibility of the traveler.
- Some countries require tourists to carry accident or travel insurance.
What questions should I ask my health insurance company?
- Does this insurance policy cover emergency expenses abroad such as returning me to my country for treatment if I am seriously ill?
- Does this insurance cover high-risk activities I may be planning, such as parasailing, mountain climbing, scuba diving and off-roading?
- Does this policy cover pre-existing conditions?
- Does the insurance company require pre-authorizations or second opinions before emergency treatment can begin?
- Does the insurance company guarantee medical payments abroad?
- Will the insurance company pay foreign hospitals and foreign doctors directly?
- Does the insurance company have a 24-hour physician-backed support center?
In the U.S., people of retirement age may wish to contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical care coverage with Medicare supplement plans.
Can my government assist me if I become disabled overseas?
- If a citizen becomes ill or is seriously injured abroad, a consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends.
- If necessary, a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the home country.
- Payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler.
What's the difference between travel insurance and travel medical insurance?
- Travel Insurance insures your financial investment up to the amount of your policy limits.
- Travel Medical Insurance insures you should you become ill and need medical attention while living or traveling abroad.
What insurance information should I carry with me abroad?
- Your insurance policy identity card as proof of your insurance
- Claim form
Several private organizations will provide medical information and insurance for overseas travelers. Most charge a fee for this service. The following is provided FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied, by World Trade Press or the US Department of State.
Medical Evacuation Companies
U.S.-Based
Advanced Air Ambulance
Miami, FL
Tel: (800) 633-3590, (305) 232-7700
Web: www.flyambu.com
AeroCare Air Ambulance Services
Sugar Grove, IL
Tel: (800) 823-1911, (630) 466-0900
Web: www.aerocare.com
AIGAssist
American International Group, Inc.
Houston, Texas
Tel: (800) 626-2427, (713) 267-2525
Air Ambulance Network
Tarpon Springs, FL
Tel: (800) 327-1966
Web: www.airambulancenetwork.com/
Air Ambulance International
Houston, TX
Tel: (800) 513-5192, (832) 934-2390
Fax: (832) 934-2395
Web: www.airambulanceinternational.com/
Air Ambulance Professionals
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Tel: (800) 752-4195, (954) 491-0555
Web: www.airambulanceprof.com/
AirEvac
Phoenix, AZ
Tel: (800) 421-6111
Web: http://www.airevac.com
AirMD Air Ambulance Services
Clearwater, FL
Tel: (800) 282-6878, (727) 530-7972
Web: http://www.airmd.net
AIRescue International
Van Nuys, CA
Tel: (800) 922-4911, (818) 994-0911
Air Medic–Air Ambulance of California
Washington, PA
Tel: (800) 245-9987
Web: www.aeronational.com
Air Star International
Thermal, CA
Tel: (877) 570-0911, (800) 991-2869
Email: AirStar1@aol.com
Air Response
Orlando, FL
Tel: (800) 631-6565, (303) 858-9967
Web: airresponse.net
American Care, Inc.
San Diego, CA
Tel: (800) 941-2582, (619) 486-8844
American Jets
Ft. Pierce, FL
Tel: (888) 633-5381, (772) 380-4167
Email: jimh@americanjet.net
Web: www.americanjets.net
American Jet Air Medical
Houston, TX
Tel: (888) I-FLY-AJI, (713) 641-9700
Web: www.iflyaji.com
Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance
Scottsdale, AZ
Tel: (877) 264-3570, (480) 634-8017
Web: www.angelmedflight.com
Assist-Card (also provides travel insurance services)
Miami, FL
Tel: (800) 874-2223, (786) 437-0100
Web: www.assist-card.com
Axa Assistance
122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 606031
Tel: (800) 874-4372
Web: www.axa-assistance-usa.com
Critical Air Medicine
San Diego, CA
Tel: (800) 247-8326, (619) 571-0482
Critical Care Medflight
Lawrenceville, GA
Tel: (800) 426-6557
Web: www.criticalcaremedflight.com
Inflight Medical Services International, Inc.
Naples, FL
Tel: (800) 432-4177, (941) 594-0800
International SOS Assistance (also provides travel insurance services)
Philadelphia, PA
Tel: (800) 523-8930, (215) 244-1500
Web: www.internationalsos.com
Life Guard International, Inc.
Las Vegas, NV
Tel: (888) FLY'N-ICU (888-359-6428)
Email: lgii@flyingicu.com
Web: www.flyingicu.com
MedAire
Tempe, AZ
Tel: (480) 333-3700
Email: info@medaire.com
Medex Assistance Corporation (also provides travel insurance services)
Baltimore, MD
Tel: (888) MEDEX-00, (800) 537-2029
Web: www.medexassist.com
Med Escort International Inc.
Allentown, PA
Tel: (800) 255-7182, (610) 791-3111
Web: www.medescort.com
Medjet International, Inc.
Birmingham, AL
Tel: (800) 356-2161, (205) 592-4460
Web: www.medjet.com
Mercy Medical Airlift (Service area: Caribbean and part of Canada only. If necessary, will meet commercial incoming patients at JFK, Miami, and other airports.)
Manassas, VA
Tel: (800) 296-1217
Web: www.patienttravel.org
National Air Ambulance
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Tel: (800) 327-3710, (305) 525-5538
Web: www.nationaljets.com
Smartravel (provides a range of travel medicine services)
Alexandria, VA
Tel: (800) 730-3170, (703) 379-8645
Web: www.smartravel.org
Stat Air International (provides air ambulance, med-evac, travel assistance and medical escort on private and commercial flights worldwide)
San Diego, CA
Tel: (619) 754-6550, (800) 557-5911
Email: service@statair.com
Web: www.statair.com
Travel Assist Network Corporation
South Bend, IN
Tel: (866) 500-0333, (574) 272-5400
Email: info@travelassistnetwork.com
Web: www.travelassistnetwork.com/
Travel Care International, Inc.
Eagle River, WI
Tel: (800) 524-7633, (715) 479-8881
Web: www.travel-care.com
Travelers Emergency Network
Tierra Verde, FL
Tel: (800) ASK-4-TEN
Email: ten@intrex.net
Web: www.tenweb.com
Trinity Air Ambulance International (provides Air Ambulance/Med-evac's worldwide, Travel Assistance & Medical Escorts on commercial flights)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Tel: (954) 771-7911
Email: Contact@TrinityAirAmbulance.com
Web: www.trinityairambulance.com
Premier Jets
Portland, Oregon
Tel: (800) 635-8583, (503) 681-3064
Web: premierjets.com
Austria
Austrian Air Ambulance
Vienna, Austria
Tel: [43] (1) 40-144
Web: www.oafa.com/
Tyrol Air Ambulance
Innsbruck, Austria
Tel: [43] (512) 22422
Web: www.taa.at
Finland
Jetflite
Helsinki International Airport
Vantaa, Finland
Tel: [358] (9) 870-2544
Web: www.jetflite.fi
Germany
German Air Rescue (DRF)
Filderstadt, Germany
Tel: [49] 0711-7007-0
Email: alarmzentrale@drf.de
Web: www.drf.de
Singapore
AEA International (Service worldwide, also provides travel insurance services)
Singapore
Tel: (800) 468-5232
South Africa
Europassistance
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel: [27] (11) 315-3999
Web: www.europassistance.co.za
United Kingdom
IAS Medical Air Ambulance
London
Tel: [44] (20) 870-042-1465
Email: info@iasmedical.com
Travel Insurance Companies
U.S.-Based
Access America, Inc.
Richmond, VA
Tel: (866) 807-3982
Web: www.accessamerica.com
ASA, Inc.
International Health Insurance
Phoenix, AZ
Tel: (888) ASA-8288
Web: www.asaincor.com
Betins
Tacoma, WA
Tel: (866) 552-8834, (253) 238-6382
Email: info@betins.com
Web: www.betins.com
Clements International
Washington, DC
Tel: (800) 872-0067, (202) 872-0060
Email: info@clements.com
Web: www.clements.com
CSA Travel Protection
San Diego, CA
Tel: (888) 873-5484
Web: www.csatravelprotection.com
Expat Global Medical
Advance, NC
Tel: (336) 998-9583
Email: john@expatglobalmedical.com
Web: www.expatglobalmedical.com
Gateway International Insurance Plans
Marsh Consumer
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 367-5097, (800) 282-4495
Email: gateway@marshpm.com
Web: www.gatewayplans.com
Health Care Global (also known as MEDHELP or WALLACH & COMPANY or HEALTHCARE ABROAD)
Middleburg, VA
Tel: (800) 237-6615, (540) 687-3166
Web: www.wallach.com
Highway to Health (also provides destination-based travel health information for cities worldwide)
Fairfax, VA
Tel: (703) 322-1515
Web: highwaytohealth.com
Insuremytrip.com
Warwick, RI
Tel: (800) 487-4722, (401) 773-9300
Web: www.insuremytrip.com
International Medical Group (IMG)
Indianapolis, IN
Tel: (800) 628-4664, (317) 655-4500
Web: www.imglobal.com
MultiNational Underwriters, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
Tel: (800) 605-2282
Email: insurance@mnui.com
Web: www.mnui.com
M. H. Ross Travel Insurance Services
Northridge, CA
Tel: (800) 423-3632
Web: www.tripinsurance.com
Petersen International Underwriters, Inc.
Valencia, CA
Tel: (800) 345-8816
Email: piu@piu.org
Web: www.piu.org
QuoteWright.com, America's Travel Insurance Store
East Hartford, CT.800-821-4940
Email: service@quotewright.com
Web: www.quotewright.com
Seven Corners, Inc.
Carmel, IN
Tel: (800) 335-0611, (317) 575-2652
Web: www.sevencorners.com
Travel Assist Network Corporation
South Bend, IN
Tel: (866) 500-0333, (574) 272-5400
Email: info@travelassistnetwork.com
Web: www.travelassistnetwork.com
Travelex
Omaha, NE
Tel: (800) 228-9792
Web: www.travelex-insurance.com
Travel Guard
Stevens Point, WI
Tel: (800) 826-1300, (715) 345-0505
Web: www.travelguard.com
Travel Insured International, Inc
E. Hartford, CT
Tel: (800) 243-3174
Email: info@travelinsured.com
Travel Insurance Services
InterMedical Division
Walnut Creek, CA
Tel: (800) 937-1387, (925) 932-1387
Web: www.travelinsure.com
USA Assist
Worldwide Travel Insurance
Los Angeles, CA
Tel: (877) 539-8619
Web: www.usa-assist.com
Universal Service and Assistance
Alexandria, VA
Tel: (800) 770-9111, (703) 370-7800
Worldwide Assistance
Washington, DC
Tel: (800) 777-8710 ext. 417
Web: www.worldwideassistance.com
Austria
Integra Global
Hallein , Austria
Tel: [43] (6245) 71303
Email: info@integraglobal.com
Web: www.integraglobal.com
Executive Medical Services
Health Quest Travel, Inc.
Wexford, PA
Tel: (888) 899-3633
Email: HQT@HealthQuestTravel.com
World Clinic
Burlington, MA
Tel: (800) 636-9186
Web: www.worldclinic.com
Medical Escort
Air Medical Escort Services
1135 Kildare Farm Road, Suite 200
Cary, North Carolina 27511
Tel: (877) 400-0463, (919) 342-4598
Web: www.airescort.com
Source: US Department of State
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