At Travel Beyond, we’re passionate about crafting unforgettable experiences in some of the most breathtaking and remote destinations. But with great adventure comes the need for great preparation. That’s why every traveler is required to secure a travel insurance policy with a minimum of $500,000 in Emergency Medical Evacuation (EME) coverage before embarking on their journey. Here’s why this matters—and why we recommend purchasing a policy through a trusted travel insurance carrier over relying on credit card insurance or global evacuation membership services.
The Reality of Remote Travel
Many of the camps, lodges, and resorts we include in itineraries are located in remote destinations, allowing for some extraordinary experiences. However, their remoteness also means that medical facilities are often far away. A sudden illness or injury could require an evacuation by aircraft to a hospital equipped to handle your needs. These evacuations—whether by helicopter, small plane, or even international transport—can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the unlikely event of an emergency, the focus should be on receiving care and not on the cost.
Why a Travel Insurance Policy from a Carrier is the Gold Standard
When it comes to safeguarding your health and peace of mind, a comprehensive travel insurance policy from a reputable carrier like Travelex stands out as the most reliable option. Here’s why:
- Comprehensive Coverage Tailored to Travel Needs: Travelex policies (and similar carriers) bundle Emergency Medical Evacuation with other essential benefits—like trip cancellation, emergency medical expense coverage, and travel delay coverage—into one cohesive plan. If you’re only concerned about evacuation, emergency medical evacuation-only (EME-only) policies are also available. While you lose protection for trip cancellation and other perks, these EME-only plans are quite affordable—often less than $200 per person.
- High Coverage Limits: Travelex plans are designed with remote travel in mind, factoring in the high expense of evacuations from secluded areas.
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance: You get access to a dedicated support team that coordinates care and handles logistics on your behalf, which is crucial when you’re in a remote location with limited communication.
- Direct Payment to Providers: Unlike some alternatives, travel insurance carriers often pay evacuation and medical providers directly, sparing you the burden of upfront costs or reimbursement delays during a crisis.
Why Credit Card Insurance Falls Short
You might be tempted to rely on the travel insurance perks that come with your premium credit card, and while they can offer some protection, they’re simply not robust enough. Here’s why we don’t consider them adequate:
- Low Coverage Limits: Most credit card insurance caps Emergency Medical Evacuation at $100,000 or less. A single evacuation from a remote location abroad could easily exceed this, leaving you to cover the difference out of pocket.
- Limited Scope: Credit card policies often focus on trip cancellation or lost luggage, with emergency services as an afterthought. They rarely cover the full range of medical emergencies or provide the high limits needed for international transport.
- Stringent Eligibility Rules: Coverage typically applies only if you paid for the entire trip with the card, and even then, it might not extend to all travelers in your party—like a spouse or child who didn’t book with the same card.
- No Proactive Support: Credit card companies often don’t offer the 24/7 emergency assistance you get with a carrier like Travelex. In a crisis, you’d be left navigating logistics and payments on your own—an overwhelming task in a foreign country.
Why Global Evacuation Membership Services Aren’t Enough
Global evacuation programs—like Medjet or Global Rescue—specialize in medical transport. While they’re popularity amongst international travelers is on the rise, they also fall short for a few key reasons:
- Narrow Focus: These services are often limited to evacuation only. They don’t provide the broader coverage of a travel insurance policy so they won’t cover medical expenses at the destination hospital, trip cancellations, or trip interruptions—leaving significant gaps in your protection.
- Membership Limitations: Many programs only transport you to the nearest adequate facility, not necessarily back home or to a preferred hospital, unless you meet strict medical stability criteria.
- No Financial Backup: If evacuation costs exceed what the membership covers (or if an evacuation isn’t deemed necessary by their terms), you’re on the hook for the rest. Travel insurance provides a clear financial safety net with defined limits up front.
- Pre-Approval Delays: Some programs require pre-authorization before they act, which can slow down response time in a true emergency.
Your Safety is Our Priority
Ensuring you can focus on the adventure, not the what-ifs, is important. A travel insurance policy from a carrier like Travelex—whether comprehensive or an affordable EME-only plan—offers the reliability, breadth, and support you need to meet our standards and travel with confidence.
If you are not convinced that Travelex, or a similar carrier, is right for you, we encourage you to call your credit card company and/or your evacuation membership provider and ask how their policies will respond should you require them for your specific trip. Here are some questions to consider (Oh, and make sure you are on a recorded line!):
Questions to Ask a Credit Card Company or a Global Rescue Membership (or similar) Supplier:
For Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage:
- Does my coverage meet or exceed $500,000 in Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage?
- Ensures compliance with the minimum standard.
- Will you evacuate me directly from the point of injury or illness in a remote location, such as a game reserve, bush camp, Amazon cruise, or beach resort, to a suitable medical facility? Have your itinerary out and ask about the specific locations you will be visiting.
- Confirms field rescue capability in isolated areas without requiring the traveler to reach a hospital first.
- Are there any geographic restrictions or exclusions for evacuation services in the countries I’ll be visiting (e.g., Kenya, Botswana, Thailand, Peru, Antarctica)?
- Verifies coverage across specific destinations.
- What types of transport (e.g., helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft) are available for evacuation from remote regions, and are there any limitations based on terrain or weather? In Africa, it is important to note that airstrips utilized to access many properties are often unlit, gravel runways.
- Assesses logistical feasibility in rugged or weather-challenged areas.
- Do I need to pre-authorize an evacuation, or can it be initiated immediately in an emergency, even with limited communication in remote areas?
- Ensures rapid response without delays, critical in areas with poor cell service.
- If the property manager calling for an evacuation contacts a company they are trained to call in emergencies (not Global Rescue or my Credit Card Company), will the cost still be covered?
- Ensures you won’t be left with the bill if Global Rescue or your Credit Card company is not the company arranging the evacuation during an emergency.
- If I’m evacuated to a local facility but need further transport to a higher-level hospital or back to my home country, is that covered under the plan limit?
- Clarifies multi-stage evacuation coverage, common in Africa and other remote destinations where initial facilities may be basic.
- Are there any activity restrictions (e.g., walking safaris, hot air balloon rides, zip lining or scuba diving) that would void coverage?
- Confirms coverage for activities that may be found within your itinerary.
For Medical Care After Evacuation:
- Does my membership cover medical expenses at the destination hospital after an evacuation, or is that separate from the evacuation benefit?
- Global Rescue typically doesn’t cover medical costs, so this clarifies the need for additional insurance.
- Are there limits on how long after an evacuation I can receive assistance or advice from your medical team?
- Ensures continued support during recovery or transfer.
- Do you provide 24/7 medical advisory services to help me navigate treatment options after an evacuation in a foreign country?
- Confirms access to expert guidance post-evacuation.
Additional Questions to Ask a Credit Card Company About Travel Insurance:
For Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage:
- Does the insurance cover evacuation directly from a remote safari location, like a game reserve, or only from a hospital or urban area?
- Assesses capability in isolated regions, where credit card coverage often falls short.
- What types of transportation (e.g., helicopter, air ambulance) are covered, and are there restrictions based on availability or cost?
- Verifies practical coverage for remote evacuations.
- Does the coverage extend to all travelers in my group, or only if the trip is fully paid with this card?
- Confirms eligibility, as credit card policies often have strict payment rules.
For Medical Care After Evacuation:
- Does the credit card insurance cover medical expenses at the hospital I’m evacuated to, and if so, up to what amount?
- Clarifies if medical costs post-evacuation are included, as credit card coverage is often limited.
- If I’m evacuated to a local hospital and need further treatment elsewhere, will additional transport and care be covered?
- Checks for multi-stage support, which credit card insurance rarely provides.
- Is there a time limit or cap on medical expense coverage after an evacuation occurs?
- Identifies potential gaps in ongoing care coverage.
- Do you offer assistance in coordinating medical care after an evacuation, or am I responsible for arranging it myself?
- Credit card companies typically lack 24/7 support.
- If I pay upfront for medical treatment after an evacuation, how long does reimbursement take, and what documentation is required?
- Addresses the reimbursement process, a common burden with credit card insurance.
We’re here to help you navigate the options—whether you want full coverage or a budget-friendly EME-only plan. Let’s get you ready for the trip of a lifetime—protected every step of the way.