What Is Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance for Students?
Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance makes sure that individuals, including students, are financially covered if they need to be transported to a medical facility during a medical emergency or returned to their home country in extreme cases. This type of coverage is particularly essential when studying abroad because you may not have access to adequate medical care in your host country, and having medical evacuation insurance coverage can provide peace of mind in case of an emergency.
Students who are traveling abroad for their studies or internships may face severe injury or illness where local medical facilities might not have the capacity or expertise to provide the required care. In such cases, medical evacuation insurance ensures the student is safely transported to the nearest qualified medical facility. Evacuation and repatriation coverage guarantees that if a student is deceased while abroad, their remains will be transported back to their home country. In this article, let’s break down what medical evacuation and repatriation are and why they are essential for students overseas.
Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance is a type of medical insurance that specifically covers the costs of transporting a person in the event of a serious medical condition, illness, or injury. It ensures that if a medical crisis occurs during your studies abroad, you are taken to the nearest qualified medical facility or, if necessary, back to your home country.
First, it's essential to understand how this kind of insurance combines two forms of coverage: medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
Medical evacuation insurance covers the transportation of the insured individual to the nearest facility or even back to their home country when they face a medical emergency abroad. This type of insurance coverage includes transportation costs, whether by ambulance, air ambulance, or other specialized means.
For example, a student studying in a foreign country suffers from a serious injury that the local hospitals cannot adequately treat. In that case, medical evacuation insurance will cover transferring them to a better-equipped facility, potentially in another city or country.
Emergency evacuation coverage is essential because the cost of emergency medical evacuation can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially when air transport is involved. Without this coverage, the student or their family will have to pay the evacuation cost.
Repatriation insurance, on the other hand, refers to the coverage of costs associated with transporting remains home in the unfortunate event of a student's death while abroad. Repatriation can be complex and extremely costly due to the need for special arrangements, such as embalming, preparation of the body for transport, and the involvement of international authorities and funeral services.
For instance, the cost of repatriating a body from a foreign country can be as high as $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the location and specific legal requirements. Repatriation insurance ensures that these high costs do not financially burden the family of the deceased during an already emotionally taxing time.
Yes, students studying abroad need medical evacuation and repatriation insurance, which ensures they have access to emergency medical services anywhere in the world.
Overseas students may not always have access to the same medical care they would receive at home. A medical emergency could require specialized care unavailable in the host country. Emergency medical coverage ensures that the student is evacuated safely and promptly to a treatment center that can provide the necessary care. Without this, students could face significant financial burdens or prolonged periods of inadequate care.
In addition to evacuation coverage, students should consider health insurance that covers unforeseen medical emergencies.
There are several advantages of having medical evacuation and repatriation insurance for students:
Access to global medical care: This insurance plan sees to it that students can receive treatment locally or internationally at the nearest adequate treatment center.
Emergency evacuation benefits: If you experience a medical emergency while overseas, the insurance can cover the costs of an emergency medical evacuation, including transportation via medical flights or ambulances.
Repatriation benefits: If the need arises, repatriation benefits ensure that you are safely returned to your home country for further care or in the event of death.
Emergency services: These policies assist in emergency prescription replacement, lost document assistance, and other logistical support.
Medical escorts: To ensure your safety during the journey, you may be accompanied by a medical professional or escort.
Translation assistance: If there’s a language barrier, some plans include assistance with communication and translations, which are particularly important for emergency medical procedures.
Business trips: For student interns or business travelers who are working abroad, the insurance can offer evacuation coverage in case of emergencies during business trips.
Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance generally covers various services related to medical emergencies abroad. The key components typically covered by these plans include:
Medical evacuation coverage: Transportation to the nearest qualified medical facility or treatment center when proper care isn't available locally, including the costs of returning the policyholder to their home country for further treatment.
Emergency medical evacuation: This kind of medical insurance will cover transportation costs of air ambulances or other specialized vehicles to a hospital.
Repatriation of remains benefit: In case of death, the insurance plan covers the cost of transporting the remains home.
Related expenses: The terms of your medical evacuation insurance cover all expenses related to medical care, transport, and associated costs.
Emergency evacuation benefits: Additional support services like medical escorts or translation assistance.
In addition to these core benefits, many policies provide coverage for further treatment after evacuation and secondary coverage for medical bills not fully covered by health insurance. Aside from basic medical evacuation insurance, an insurance plan may offer other important features, including:
Evacuation services: Health insurers may include evacuation services in their coverage.
Global rescue services: In extreme cases, specialized global rescue teams may be dispatched to assist students facing dangerous situations in remote areas.
Business class upgrades: Some emergency medical evacuation insurance policies include upgrades to business class for comfort during medical evacuations.
Domestic and international travel: Emergency medical evacuation insurance can provide the necessary coverage whether students stay within their home country or abroad.
While medical evacuation and repatriation insurance offers extensive coverage, it is important to understand what it does not cover. Generally, the following are not included:
Pre-existing medical conditions: Unless explicitly stated in the insurance policy, any treatment related to pre-existing conditions may not be covered.
Routine medical treatment: This insurance typically covers emergencies, not regular check-ups or ongoing medical treatment.
Non-emergency transportation: Trips that are not medically necessary are usually not covered.
Certain adventure sports injuries: Injuries sustained from activities like extreme sports may not be covered unless a special rider is purchased.
It is crucial to fully understand the terms and clauses of your medical evacuation insurance policy. Knowing the details can help prevent confusion during a medical crisis. For example:
Separate coverage limits: Your policy may have separate evacuation and repatriation coverage limits.
Nearest hospital clause: Some plans require transportation to the nearest adequate treatment center rather than a facility of your choice.
Attending physician's approval: Evacuations often require approval from the attending physician or the insurance company’s medical team before proceeding.
Always review the policy’s fine print to ensure you understand what is covered, what isn’t, and any additional riders or services you may need. Also, be sure you understand how these additional services affect the total international student health insurance cost.
WellAway is one of the leading evacuation and repatriation coverage providers for students. Our plans offer proper coverage for students facing a medical crisis or requiring evacuation services due to a severe injury abroad. The medical evacuation coverage we offer provides a range of benefits, including:
Emergency evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility
Medical escort services to ensure students are safely transported during an evacuation
Repatriation benefits in the event of a student passing away abroad, their remains will be transported back to their home country
Generally speaking, studying abroad is an exciting and enriching experience, but it's essential to prepare for the unexpected. Students, in particular, can benefit from medical evacuation insurance as they navigate a new environment, sometimes in regions where the healthcare infrastructure might not be as reliable as in their home countries.
Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance are essential for overseas students. It provides them with the financial protection and peace of mind they need to focus on their studies, knowing they are fully covered in case of a medical emergency or a more severe situation. From emergency medical evacuation to repatriation benefits, this health insurance enables students to work and attend classes confidently, backed by the security of proper coverage. For more insightful articles and detailed information, visit WellAway and discover how our best health insurance for international students in the U.S. can help you on your journey abroad.