Emergency aeromedical transport services

While many American health insurers provide coverage for sudden illnesses or injuries that occur abroad, as well as, domestic emergency air transport, international evacuations are very often not include in the standard plan. It is important to know what an insurance company's policy is about out-of-network care before the need for care arises for emergency medical treatment, hospitalization or aeromedical transport services.

Tips for getting prepared

In addition to researching an insurance provider's policies, there are a number of other things the traveler should know about how to prepare for emergencies should they occur in a foreign country.

• Carry documentation. Keep insurance claim forms, insurance cards and contact information on hand at all times.
• If possible, store medical information such as conditions and allergies on an accessible flash drive or secure online database.
• Keep a list of medications (including the generic names) in a wallet or purse for quick reference.
• Get an abridged medical history from the family doctor for reference. Include the doctor's phone number.
• If you are at risk for illness or injury, have access to cash or credit for treatment. Many foreign medical sites require cash.
• Get receipts and copies of every medical bill for later reimbursement from insurance.
• If prescribed medication, stick with drugs that are familiar or fill the prescription at home if possible.

A word of caution: While Medigap plans sometimes cover some oversees emergency care for people who were enrolled in the original Medicare, Medicare itself does not. Medicare patients who are at risk of medical emergency should consider an additional policy to cover aeromedical transport services and other care.

Air transport, international evacuation

It is important to clarify the "cash only" aspect of foreign medical care. As in the U.S., emergency medical ambulance care in other parts of the world can also be expensive. The idea of carrying around large sums of cash or a stack of credit cards may be worrisome or even impossible for many travelers. If an emergency strikes during a trip, know that there may be some limited help getting air transport (international evacuation) from the U.S. consulate or the federal government. In some cases, the consulate will help transfer the necessary funds from the U.S. to your location, or even arrange for a short-term government loan.