Why You Should Absolutely Get Medical Evacuation Insurance Before Your Next Trip

In the event of an injury or illness during your travels, standard travel insurance might reimburse you for prepaid expenses like hotel reservations, rental vehicles, or flight tickets.

However, it doesn't necessarily cover the actual costs of medical treatment or the means of transportation required to access appropriate care, such as ambulance services or helicopter transport.

You might even be relying on your existing medical insurance for treatment expenses—but if it doesn’t extend coverage internationally, it may not be of use to you when you’re travelling abroad.

This is where emergency evacuation insurance proves invaluable.

Medical evacuation and repatriation of remains insurance coverage is a vital safeguard for travellers, covering emergency medical transportation to suitable facilities and, in the worst-case scenario, the return of remains to their home country.

This is especially crucial for adventurers, those with pre-existing conditions, or anyone venturing to areas with limited healthcare access, preventing unforeseen medical events from becoming financial burdens.

Should you suffer a serious injury, illness or accident while overseas, you may need to be brought back to Singapore for continued treatment and proper care. However, you could run into a wrinkle—your condition may render you medically unfit to board a commercial flight.

That’s when emergency evacuation and repatriation benefits in your travel insurance kicks in.

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is designed to protect against the substantial costs associated with emergency transport in the event of a severe illness or injury while traveling. It's often bundled with comprehensive travel insurance policies or offered alongside travel medical expense insurance, which covers emergency medical treatment during your trip.

The specific terms of medevac insurance vary depending on the policy, but generally, it covers the expenses of medical transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility. This might include ambulance services or air evacuation.

Certain plans may also provide coverage for flight modifications or new travel arrangements to facilitate an earlier return home for treatment.

Exact coverage varies by policy. Generally speaking, there are three main functions covered under emergency evacuation and repatriation benefits:

Policies typically cover transportation to a treatment centre deemed "suitable". However, the definition of "suitable" can be subjective. If local medical professionals are unable to provide adequate care, medical evacuation typically covers transportation back home. This requires documentation from local physicians confirming that your condition is either untreatable locally or severe enough to necessitate a flight home. However, do check the policy specifics as not all policies will cover the cost of returning home to receive treatment from your regular physician either.

If you are unable to board a commercial flight due to your medical condition, certain policies cover the expenses of an individual accompanying you. For example, if you require the administration of oxygen or IV fluids during the flight.

This might include a medical professional or a trusted family member or friend. However, coverage may be limited to economy class. Some policies may cover business class but only with a doctor’s order.

In the unfortunate event of death during a trip overseas, repatriation covers the transportation of your remains back home. This may include embalming, local cremation, or a casket for air transport.

Unexpected medical emergencies or unforeseen circumstances while travelling abroad – even minor ailments – can significantly disrupt your trip and cause unexpected stress. And your existing insurance may not cover air ambulance services, either, making medical evacuation insurance essential.

Medical evacuation & repatriation of remains travel insurance offers a crucial safety net, ensuring you receive prompt and appropriate medical care, wherever you are in the world. This coverage not only handles the often-exorbitant costs of medical transportation and repatriation of remains but also provides invaluable peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

The level of coverage and the scope of benefits significantly influence the price of your medical evacuation & repatriation of remains travel insurance. Higher sums assured (the maximum amount the insurer will pay for a claim) and more extensive benefits naturally lead to higher premiums.

According to the website Nomadic Matt, the cost of medical evacuation and repatriation travel insurance can range from $30,000 to $200,000. Most insurers offer insurance coverage ranging from S$100,000 to S$1 million (or more), often sufficient for most scenarios.

The extent of coverage needed varies depending on your destination, travel activities, and risk tolerance. High-risk activities like mountain skiing or trying to ascend Everest Base Camp necessitate greater coverage compared to low-risk activities like a beach retreat. However, if you're planning high-risk activities in remote locations like mountains or forests, consider a specialised policy with higher limits.

As with any travel insurance plan, policy terms vary. So it's essential to review them carefully to ensure you’re adequately covered. Common considerations include:

• Destination: Evacuating from a city with established infrastructure is typically less costly than a helicopter airlift from a remote mountain or dense forest requiring specialised rescue and evacuation efforts.

• Primary or secondary coverage: Secondary coverage activates after your primary health insurance.

• Trip duration limits: Longer trips may warrant higher coverage due to increased exposure to potential risks. Some policies may even impose maximum trip durations.

• Distance from Singapore: Longer distances naturally result in higher transportation costs.

• Documentation requirements: Comprehensive documentation, including physician approvals, is typically required for claims. Save every document and receipt from physician notes to pharmacy prescriptions – you never know what’ll come in handy when making your claim.

As a general guideline, match your coverage to the region you're visiting. City destinations might be adequately covered with lower limits, while remote areas may require higher coverage. When in doubt, opting for a higher limit is generally a safer bet, as the premium difference is often minimal.

The most comprehensive travel insurance policies should include medical evacuation & repatriation insurance, along with lost and damaged baggage coverage and other forms of coverage. Pricing varies based on trip duration and type.

However, if you’re savvy with your spending, you may not need to pay an additional premium for it. Many of the best travel credit cards and premium credit cards offer medical evacuation insurance as a benefit when you use that card to pay for your trip, potentially offsetting annual fees. In fact, if you have a credit card with free travel insurance, you might save even more!

And of course, you can always purchase standalone medical evacuation insurance policies to enhance your existing coverage.