Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation

Overseas emergency medical evacuation services or Repatriation Services are extremely rarely needed, but they can be extremely expensive if such a need does arise. Most of the insurers offer this coverage as part of medical expenses coverage while a few have a limit on the amount of coverage for medical evacuation and/or repatriation of remains.

The emergency medical evacuation coverage provides benefits payable up to the amount specified in the policy if the insured suffers a medical emergency and requires transportation. This coverage is not medical coverage but the coverage for medically necessary transportation. These transportation expenses would be limited to transporting the Insured from the place of contracting/ sustaining Illness/ Injury to the nearest appropriate Hospital. It provides transport to an appropriate facility, in the case of an illness or injury when there is no adequate care available locally.

In order for a company to fulfill an evacuation in accordance with a comprehensive or travel medical plan, the initial hospital or medical facility must be incapable of providing the level of care necessary for the condition. This is determined by the attending physician and the program medical advisor of your insurance company. With the majority of medical evacuation coverage, the insurance company must make all of the arrangements for you, so you don’t have to worry about how the transport will happen while you’re in the midst of a crisis. It’s essential that you understand exactly how the company expects communication with you in order to make those arrangements. After your life is no longer in danger, if necessary, the evacuation benefit will cover for repatriation, or transporting you back home for recovery or further treatment. Some limitations may apply here. Certain companies will only cover the cost of an evacuation as far as your place of residence.

Repatriation of Remains coverage means that the travel insurance company arranges for and handles the transportation necessary to return the insured person’s body to his or her home country or to a nearby funeral or cremation facility. This benefit will arrange and pay for reasonable and necessary expenses, including, but not limited to, expenses for embalming, an appropriate container for transportation, and shipping costs to transport remains via the most direct and economical route.