After a few years relegated to mostly domestic travel, people are ready to explore international destinations again. In fact, over 35% of our readers aged 50+ plan to travel abroad in 2022.
Post-pandemic travel bookings have also seen an interesting trend: travel insurance sites are reporting a 300% increase since the start of 2020. People are more wary of last-minute cancellations and unexpected travel risks, so more are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves and their investment. .
When booking a trip, especially to an international destination, it is always a good idea to add travel insurance. Travel insurance generally protects your initial travel investment – up to a certain percentage – and your baggage if it is lost or stolen during your trip. Be sure to read the fine print on insurance coverage; many policies require trip cancellation to occur a minimum number of days in advance. In addition, the reason for cancellation must be a valid reason stated in the Terms, including circumstances such as major life events, certain natural disasters or closure of the travel destination. Some companies offer additional coverage, such as cancellation for any reason insurance, at an additional cost.
Travel insurance also provides supplemental medical insurance while abroad, as many health insurance providers, including Medicare, do not cover you in international countries. If you become ill or injured during your trip, travel insurance ensures that you will be transported to the nearest acceptable medical facility and your initial medical bills will be paid. However, that’s usually where the help ends.
Do you really want to be stuck in a hospital in a foreign country far from home? Of course not! Or what if political unrest breaks out in the country you are visiting? Unless the government decrees a mandatory evacuation, you may have to foot the bill to get home quickly – or worse, get stuck in the country. This is where Medjet comes in.
Medjet is the premier air medical transportation and travel safety membership program for international travelers. Simply put, this means that if Medjet members become ill or injured while traveling and are hospitalized, they will be transported to their home hospital at no additional cost. Medjet also has an additional membership level that adds security response and retrieval benefits. With the current geopolitical tensions in Europe and the increase in violent crime seen in tourist destinations like Cancun and the Bahamas, having access to a 24/7 helpline for security emergencies is something to be expected. consider.
Did you know that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 30 trips ended in a medical emergency? Ten million travelers are hospitalized abroad each year, and two million require emergency medical transport. Again, although most travel insurance will cover initial costs to the nearest acceptable medical facility, they will not take you home (read their “medical necessity” and “acceptable facility” clauses…) . For many, the $30,000 to $180,000 direct cost of medical transportation to the United States is out of the question. Give yourself and your family the ultimate peace of mind – and the ability to truly enjoy your travels – by adding a Medjet Membership before going abroad.
Medjet Membership Levels
Medjet offers two main levels of membership for individuals* or families traveling abroad. Plus, they offer special membership options for college travelers, expats, travelers ages 75-84, domestic travelers, and even a tier that covers travelers and their motorcycle. Frequent travelers can opt for an annual membership, while others planning a single trip abroad can simply add it on short notice. Here is a breakdown of the main membership tiers and prices:
MedjetAssist
MedjetAssist is the basic membership level that protects travelers if they are hospitalized more than 150 miles from home. Medjet will arrange all-expenses-paid transportation for the member to the hospital of their choice at home. They also extended this benefit to include patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The medical transport service includes:
- Land ambulance transfer
- Specialized hospital transfer
- Air medical transport services
- Transportation COVID-19
MedjetAssist membership is available for the low cost of just $295/year for frequent international travelers*, or $399/year for an entire family. If you are looking for short term
for specific overseas travel, they also offer 8, 15, 21, or 30 day passes starting at $99 for an individual* or $199 for a full family. Click here to find out more.
MedjetHorizon
MedjetHorizon is the next membership level. It includes emergency medical transport from MedjetAssist and adds emergency medical cash advance, travel security and crisis response services. Since many health insurance providers do not cover international care, overseas hospitals may require upfront payment and often will not accept credit cards. Medjet will step in and provide emergency money to begin treatment.
Medjet also works with FocusPoint International, a corporate security company that specializes in responding to crises affecting people on international business and leisure travel. This crisis service includes in-country response to terrifying situations like violent crime, disappearances, natural disasters, terrorism, political threats and more. Depending on the situation, they will provide:
- Global Evacuation and Rescue
- Emergency medical assistance
- Assistance with legal reference
- Emergency Translation
- Emergency communication to family
MedjetHorizon membership is available for just $444/year for an individual* and $578/year for an entire family. Like the MedjetAssist subscription, it can also be purchased short term in 8, 15, 21 or 30 day subscriptions starting at $184 for an individual* or $314 for an entire family. Click here to find out more.
*up to age 75
We know you’re finally ready to take that big trip you’ve been putting off for years. On the contrary, the pandemic has taught us that time is precious and that we should never take our travels for granted. Preparing for the unexpected will allow you and your family to relax and enjoy the experience, without worrying about “what if?” »
Join Medjetas well as your travel insurance, for ultimate peace of mind.
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