How to avoid a $100,000 airfare
Posted by
George on Friday, June 12, 2009
Think airfares are high? Well actually, they're not really, adjusted for inflation anyway. But if you think it costs a lot to fly from Boise to Juneau (and it does), you haven't seen how much it costs to fly in a medical evacation jet. "Fares" can easily reach $100,000 one way from some remote locations.
That's why joing a medical evacuation program could be a nest egg saver.
Several companies specialize in emergency medical air charters and annual memberships are surprisingly inexpensive considering the potential losses.
The best known are two Birmingham AL-based membership programs: Medjet Assist and AirMed As long as you’re 150 miles or more from home, once you’re medically stabilized either will fly you to whatever hospital you or your family request at no cost.
MedJet charges $250 per year for a single membership for individuals up to 75 years of age or $385 for a family of up to two adults and five minor children. Coverage for individual trips is also offered starting at $95. AirMed charges $250 per year for single travelers up to age 75 or $350 for a family of seven. One distinction between the two firms is that AirMed owns and operates its own fleet of three custom-designed aircraft whereas MedJet charters aircraft from air ambulance firms as needed.
Both companies are careful to state that they do not provide “insurance”: rather, they are membership programs, in much the same way that the AAA offers services for its members. As such, neither company will pay for medical bills. For that, there is standard travel insurance, from companies such as TravelGuard (www.travelguard.com), which also bundles in evacuation coverage in some plans. But some travel insurance policies do not provide medevac flights back to the hospital of your choice; rather, they send you to the nearest appropriate medical facility at their discretion. So read the fine print.
Many health insurance policies, such as those issued by Blue Cross or Aetna, will pay for emergency medical care overseas, but there still may be standard deductibles and copayments, and the insured may have to pay costs out of pocket and get reimbursed later. (Medicare and Medicaid will not cover you overseas, however, unless you’ve bought supplemental coverage.) But they will not pay for medical jet transportation back home. Something to think about next time you travel.
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Reader Comments
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THANK YOU. I arrived in Birmingham AL from SLC, UT a couple of hours ago on a great fair you found. With taxes and all the total fair was only $135.00 on NWA. I can not even fly to CA for that cheap. I booked it last November. This is my second trip to B'Ham in the last few months thanks you Airfarewatchdog. I can now visit my best friend again! Keep looking out for me! You guys are awesome!!!!
by Jan on
Friday, June 12, 2009
I learned this the hard way when my father had a heart attack hiking in the Swiss alps. It cost us $80,000 to transport him from the remote swiss village we were staying in back to Sacramento. Now we get a yearly "policy" because we travel a lot. Luckily my dad survived to travel another day.
by Allison on
Friday, June 12, 2009
Someone I know fractured his leg in several places while hiking down from Machu Picchu and paid a small fortune to get airlifted home. It does happen.
by GetSetter on
Friday, June 12, 2009
DAN-Divers Alert Network offers medical evacuation through their $35.00 annual membership.You do not have to be a diver to join.Go to www.diversalertnetwork.org for more infor.I joined years before I became a diver just to have the insurance.
by bell on
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
I have used Insuremytrip.com and find their website very user freindly. You can compare companies and costs-and what evacuation plans are available. Plus it was half of the cost that the co. we were using to book the travel with wanted to charge. Happy Travels....
by By Barbie on
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
From ITN site. Check your policy.
Other sources of medevac coverage
• The American Automobile Association (800/922-8228, www.aaa.com), actually some 77 different organizations across the US and Canada, has varying packages of upgraded services that include medevac with their “plus” or “premium” memberships. If you are an AAA member, check to see if your organization offers medevac coverage.
• The American Express “Platinum” card also offers some medevac coverage.
by memakay on
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Platinum Card from Amex doesn't jet you back to the hospital of your choice, I don't believe. Just to the nearest medically adequate facility. Otherwise, these other companies wouldn't be in business.
by HiFlier on
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
It should be noted that AirMed also issues their policy for ages over 75. It's exactly the same policy as issued at younger ages only with a slightly higher premium.
by Sam on
Monday, July 06, 2009
because someone i know paid for his entire cruise on american express (probably the best card offered), he was flown to a florida hospital from one of the caribbean islands and then flown home after a couple of weeks stay at the florida hospital at no expense to him personally. amazing!!
by groupastrid on
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
I have used Insuremytrip.com and find their website very user freindly. You can compare companies and costs-and what evacuation plans are available. Plus it was half of the cost that the co. we were using to book the travel with wanted to charge. Happy Travels....
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