There’s never a good time to experience a serious illness or injury, but there are some parts of the world where it would be particularly concerning.
While cutting edge innovations like robot-assisted surgery and AI-assisted diagnostics are starting to be seen in the UK and elsewhere around the world; some countries struggle to offer even the most basic medical support.
Medical Evacuation Insurance is designed to help your employees working or travelling abroad get the medical care they need when local hospitals can’t provide it. They are typically purchased as part of an International Group Health Insurance plan.
In this article, we explain how Medical Evacuation plans work and the kind of features you can expect to see included.
Engage Health Group can help you find International Health Insurance policy for your business and advise on the medical evacuation services they include. Arrange a free consultation and no-obligation quotation by contacting [email protected] or 01273 974419.
How does Medical Evacuation Insurance work?
Medical Evacuation Insurance comes into effect when local hospitals are ill-equipped to handle an employee’s urgent needs. The policy provides logistical and financial support to transport the affected person to a facility capable of delivering the required treatment.
In some cases, it also covers repatriation, bringing the affected person back home for further treatment.
Arranging emergency transport, especially across borders, would ordinarily be extremely expensive. Medical Evacuation Insurance covers these costs, making sure employees get the care they need without the financial burden falling on them or their employer.
Under a medical evacuation plan, the insurer will:
- Assess local healthcare options
- Provide language translation services to ensure patients and their families understand the process
- Organise transport via ambulance, commercial flight, or air ambulance.
- Provide support and medical supervision during travel.
- Bring the employee home if necessary through its repatriation benefit.
The cost of an air ambulance can be incredibly expensive. For example, AXA has previously arranged a short evacuation from Nice to Paris for a staggering €12,000! The company has also paid €228,000 for a long-distance transfer from North America to Asia.
Without insurance, the financial responsibility falls on either the employee or the employer, which could be unaffordable for both.
Why invest in a medical evacuation policy?
There are many reasons why you might buy Medical Evacuation Insurance for your employees:
- Peace of mind: Nobody will want to work in a location that lacks access to reliable medical support. Having Medical Evacuation Insurance reassures staff they have the necessary support and won’t be left stranded in an emergency.
- Avoid huge medical bills: Medical evacuations aren’t cheap. As we saw in our example with AXA, medical evacuations can be incredibly expensive. A short medical transfer across Europe costs thousands of euros and can run into hundreds of thousands on long-haul evacuations. Without insurance, these costs could be financially crippling.
- Receive 24/7 phone support: This is for both the affected person and their family which, in turn, alleviates the stress that would otherwise fall on HR or a company director.
- High-risk locations and remote areas: Medical evacuation insurance is very important for employees working in areas with limited medical facilities. It ensures they can access proper treatment, prevent complications, and even save lives.
Are you seeking improved ways to protect your global employees? Contact our award-winning international team via [email protected] or 01273 974419. We promise impartial expert advice given in your best interests.
How can businesses find the right policy?
Many international health insurance plans include medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. Examples of providers include: AXA Global Healthcare, Bupa Global and Cigna Global.
It’s worth liaising with an international consultancy, like Engage Health Group, to ensure you’re on the most suitable and cost-effective plan. We’ve previously collaborated with employers and insurance companies to develop a medical evacuation strategy for staff working in high-risk locations like Lebanon and rural areas like Ghana.
We collectively scrutinise potential situations and other obstacles that may arise in a medical emergency abroad. The solution is then developed, so emergencies are acted upon immediately should they occur.
Once the medical evacuation insurance is in place, you and your employees can be assured that emergency evacuations are covered across multiple time zones and regions. This will prepare your business and its employees for all types of medical emergency.
Seeking impartial advice
Medical Evacuation Insurance is a safety net for companies with employees who travel or work internationally. The policy ensures employees can get proper medical care, saves businesses from huge unexpected financial costs, and makes handling emergencies less stressful.
As you can see, there are different providers offering medical evacuation services, but it’s worth seeking impartial advice from our team as we can compare plans and advise on what insurer offers the best support in specific territories.
Arrange a free obligation-free consultation by contacting our international experts on [email protected] or 01273 974419.
