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Monday, July 7th
Emergency Assistance Plus, or EA+ for short, has offered medical evacuation and transportation coverage since 1996. With over 2 million members covered over the years, this company uses a 24/7/365 response team with a global network of medical professionals, including experts in flight physiology.
2 medevac plans to choose from
There are two medical evacuation plans to choose from at Emergency Assistance Plus: Essential and Premier. Both are available as Individual or Family (self/spouse or partner/all dependent children) plans, priced at $209 and $279 for individuals or $269 and $339 for families. All plans include the following benefits:
Premier upgrade is worth the cost
However, upgrading to the Premier package gets you upgraded from economy class if you're able to be transported home via commercial airliner, transportation to the destination of your choice and not just home (if you live in San Francisco but want to be treated at UCLA), a hotel stay while waiting for transportation home, bereavement reunion coverage, transportation for not just one but three travel companions, pet care and return home, and a hotel room for the travel companion while the member is hospitalized. We'd say that's probably worth the extra cost, if you're going to use EA+ for your medical evacuation coverage.
Actual benefits provided don't line up with expectations
What about reputation? EA+ has the Better Business Bureau's top grade and accreditation, with only one complaint filed with the BBB in the most recent three-year period. But, that doesn't seem to line up with the nearly three dozen reviews left on the BBB site, averaging a not-so-impressive 2.47 out of 5 stars.
Customer complaints
More than one EA+ client said that when they tried to make a claim that ought to have been covered, they got no help. This included a denial for not getting advance authorization on an emergency hospital trip, telling the client "If you are not admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay, we don't cover any expenses.” Another complaint said that when they expected EA+ to coordinate with their travel insurance provider and help with a transfer to a different hospital, they were told "We don't do any of those things. That's just marketing.” Not exactly what you want to hear, is it?
Lots of exclusions to be aware of
That lines up with some of the exclusions we spotted in the fine print at the bottom of the Emergency Assistance Plus website. For example, if you are a resident of Washington State, you have to be traveling more than 100 miles from your home to use your coverage. You can't get any coverage here if you live in New York State. And, here's the one that's the ultimate loophole: "All services must be arranged and provided by EA+.” Kind of defeats the purpose of "emergency services” if they have to be approved by EA+ first!
No positive reviews to speak of, outside of the EA+ website
In fact, other than the testimonials on the Emergency Assistance Plus website itself, we couldn't find anyone with glowing praise for this medical evacuation provider. Pointing out the numerous exclusions in the policies here, most people considering becoming a member are counseled by previous subscribers to look elsewhere.
Lowest-ranked option for medevac coverage
Emergency Assistance Plus is our lowest-ranked option among medical evacuation providers. It seems like the company looks for opportunities to deny you benefits, and often in ways that don't become apparent until you actually try to use your policy. With virtually no independently-verified positive feedback, EA+ has miles to go before we'd trust them with our safety while traveling. We recommend that you get your medical evacuation policy from one of the higher-ranked options on our list.
Medical evacuation services have gained significant popularity due to the critical role they play in ensuring timely and efficient transport of patients needing urgent medical care. This rise in popularity is due to a number of factors that emphasize the importance of accessibility, advanced medical care, and global reach in emergency situations.
Imagine you're trekking through a dense jungle in Southeast Asia when you slip and severely twist your ankle. Stranded in a remote location with no immediate medical aid, you activate your emergency beacon. Within hours, a specialized medical evacuation team arrives by helicopter, transporting you to the nearest advanced medical facility for treatment.
Of course, most of us don't live such exciting lives. But, medical evacuation might still be a necessity: you might be on a business trip in a different town when you experience sudden chest pain, or perhaps you're on a cruise in the Caribbean and you break your arm getting on the tender to the port. If the local hospital lacks the necessary facilities and expertise to address your condition adequately, having medical evacuation coverage can get you transportation to a renowned cardiac center in a nearby city or back home to the States for surgery on your arm in a facility you trust (and in a language you speak).
One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of medical evacuation services is the critical need for rapid response in medical emergencies. When people suffer severe injuries or illnesses in remote or inaccessible locations, the ability to quickly transport them to advanced medical facilities can be life-saving. Medical evacuation services provide a vital lifeline, ensuring that patients receive immediate attention and are moved to appropriate care centers with minimal delay.
Additionally, the level of care provided during medical evacuations is a key factor in their appeal. These evacuation services are often equipped with advanced medical equipment and staffed by highly trained medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics who specialize in critical care transport. This can ensure that patients receive continuous and specialized medical attention throughout the journey, bridging the gap between the site of the emergency and the healthcare facility.
Medical evacuation providers offer crucial services for individuals who encounter medical emergencies while traveling, typically transporting a patient from one location to another, often from a remote or under-equipped medical facility to a more advanced one, or even back home.. These services can be purchased as standalone memberships or policies, or they can be bundled with travel insurance policies offered by insurers.
How can you determine which type of medical evacuation coverage is right for you, and from which provider? There's a lot to keep in mind, but here are a few ways you can compare your options and make your choice:
Medical emergencies can be unpredictable, but having reliable evacuation coverage can give you a lot of peace of mind while traveling. To help you choose the right plan and provider, the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have meticulously researched and ranked some of today's most popular medevac options. Use this information to get the protection you need for your next adventure!
Select any 2 Medevac Services to compare them head to head