Monday, July 7th
2025 Medical Evacuation Reviews
TravelGuard
- 3 tiers of travel insurance to choose from
- All plans include medical evacuation coverage, ranging from $150,000 to $1,000,000
- Includes transportation to the "nearest adequate medical facility” and home if warranted
- "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
- In business for over 20 years
AIG's TravelGuard is a leading provider of travel insurance and assistance programs, offering comprehensive coverage for both international and domestic trips. With over 20 years of experience, TravelGuard has covered millions of travelers worldwide, providing essential protection against unexpected mishaps during their journeys.
3 travel insurance policies, all with medevac benefits
If you want medical evacuation coverage through TravelGuard, you'll have to choose from one of their three travel insurance plans. The Essential Plan gives you medevac benefits up to $150,000, the Preferred Plan goes up to $500,000, and the Deluxe covers up to $1 million in medevac expenses.
Transport may be to your facility of choice, but likely not
What's covered? As a travel insurer, it's not surprising that TravelGuard's medical evacuation benefit uses the typical "transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility” terminology, rather than giving the broader peace of mind that you can choose which facility to be transferred to. However, when we dug into the policy explanation (which, by the way, you can view during the quote process; we appreciate that transparency), it did say that transportation can be provided to another location or hospital of the insured's choice. But who makes that call? We're betting it's someone at TravelGuard and not you.
Premiums are affordable
Still, the premiums at TravelGuard are quite reasonable. We entered the details for our pretend traveler, a FL resident in her 30s taking a once-in-a-lifetime, month-long trip to Kenya. Essential coverage was priced at $655.18, Preferred came in at $1,031.34, and Deluxe was offered at $1,402.26.
800 complaints in 3 years, but still an "A+” from the BBB
TravelGuard has an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. We were surprised that this insurer wound up with such a good grade, considering there were nearly 800 complaints filed in the last three years. But, each issue received an appropriate response from TravelGuard, and it looks like most people are getting refunds and reimbursements when needed (even if it takes jumping through the extra hoop of filing a BBB complaint to get the company to pay attention).
Disappointing customer reviews
However, it's really hard to find policyholders who love TravelGuard - for any kind of coverage. In one place, across nearly 600 ratings, almost 90% had bad things to say, and it was usually the same thing: "TravelGuard denied my claim even for a covered service.” That goes for everything from trip cancellation to missing luggage, flight delays and COVID cases.
Good luck getting your claims paid
Even when people bought upgrades that should have protected them, it seems like TravelGuard finds a way to deny the claim, to make people jump through numerous paperwork hoops for months on end, you get the idea. While we didn't turn up any complaints specific to medical evacuations, we don't have any reason to believe that that's somehow TravelGuard's one shining area of phenomenal customer service.
We don't recommend TravelGuard for medevac coverage
We wouldn't count on TravelGuard to cover your medical evacuation, even if you meet all the terms of your policy. You might have some recourse if you file a complaint with the BBB, but do you really want to make your life that difficult? Whether you're looking specifically for medevac coverage or you want a good all-around travel insurance policy that includes it, you should probably look to a different company than TravelGuard.
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Which Medical Evacuation Service is the Best?
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.
Medical Evacuation FAQ
Continued from above...
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:
- Coverage area. Consider where you frequently travel. Providers may offer global coverage or have limitations based on regions or countries. Ensure your chosen provider covers the areas you visit most. Also look into whether the provider is networked with other evacuation services for greater coverage.
- Medical services provided. Evaluate the range of medical services offered. This includes emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains in case of death, medical referrals, and assistance in locating appropriate medical facilities.
- Transportation options. Look into the transportation options available. Providers may offer air ambulances, ground ambulances, or even commercial flights with medical personnel onboard. The speed and level of medical care during transportation can vary.
- Coverage limits and exclusions. Understand the coverage limits and exclusions of the policy. Some providers may impose restrictions on pre-existing conditions or adventurous activities like extreme sports.
- Cost and value. Compare the cost of coverage against the value of services provided. While affordability is important, prioritize comprehensive coverage over low premiums, especially considering the potentially high costs of medical evacuation. One way that some companies add value is through additional benefits like coverage for trip cancellation/interruption, transportation for travel companions, or even returning your vehicle to your home.
- Reputation. Be sure to consider what other clients say about the medical evacuation provider. Is there ample evidence that they'll come through for you in your time of need? Can you rest assured that you'll be able to reach someone 24/7 and get a quick response time?
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!
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