Members
enjoy access to the following:
- Emergency Evacuation / Repatriation
- Transport
of Mortal Remains
- Transportation of Escort
- Family Visitation
- Minor
Children Return / Escort
- Vehicle Return
- Medical Monitoring
- Medical
Referral
- Guarantee of Medical Expenses
- Insurance Coordination
- Lost
Document Service
- Legal Assistance
- Emergency Delivery of Prescription
Items
- Emergency Cash Transfers and Advances
- Language Assistance
Payment
must be made at the time of service in order to receive a discount.
Medical
Travel Assistance not available to Florida and Washington Residents.
Every
day Americans traveling abroad become seriously ill or injured and need to be
air evacuated to receive quality medical attention. Any illness or accident can
become life-threatening in the absence of modern medical <>care, especially in
many remote or undeveloped regions of the world requested by American travelers.
Members
have access to a worldwide network of medical and travel assistance personnel
and emergency evacuation benefits when traveling over 100 miles away from home
and suffering a serious injury or illness. Peace of mind is knowing that help
is only a phone call away.
A complete
list of services, exclusions and limitations is available to all members.
*Travel
Assistance not available to CT, FL, OR and WA residents
Frequently
Asked Questions Statistics
TRAVEL
ASSISTANCE FAQ
Q. How do members access the
Travel Assist Service?
A. Members simply call a toll-free phone number
to access the Worldwide Travel Assistance Network. If a toll-free number is not
available from within a country to which the member is traveling, they can
call Travel Assistance collect. The telephone access numbers are printed in the
member’s fulfillment kit and on the membership card.
Q.
When do members utilize the services?
A. Travel Assistance is available
24 hours a day, every day of the year. Many times people are under the impression
that the services are used only in serious cases. Be assured that Travel Assistance
is there to help with any type of illness or injury, regardless of the severity.
Q.
Is there a part of the world where Travel Assistance cannot provide services?
A.
No. Travel Assistance services extend worldwide.
Q.
How many cases does Travel Assistance handle a year?
A. Travel Assistance
manages approximately 30,000 cases per year in virtually every country of the
world; of which, approximately one half are emergency medical cases.
Q.
How does Travel Assistance help locate appropriate medical care?
A. Travel
Assistance has a global network of over 40,000 international providers. The network
contains hospitals, clinics and physicians, as well as other providers geared
uniquely to the travel insurance industry, such as air ambulances, house call
physicians and medical escorts. Travel Assistance has rigorous credentialing and
recredentialing standards. Travel Assistance members are provided referrals based
on the medical specialty needed, location, language, office hours, training, etc.
Q.
Does Travel Assistance require that members go to specific hospitals, doctors,
or clinics?
A. In order to reap the full benefits of our service, we
strongly recommend that members contact Travel Assist before entering
hospitals so that we can refer them to facilities that we have previously worked
with. Travel Assistance refers its members to the best providers in the area.
If our members go to other providers, Travel Assistance cannot be certain of the
level of treatment. However, Travel Assistance will provide the same assistance
services regardless of where the members are treated.
Q.
What happens in the event of a hospitalization?
A. It is important that
Travel Assistance is notified as soon as possible. Travel Assistance will then
monitor the members care and work through the complex details of foreign
hospitalizations. Travel Assistance will immediately speak with the treating
doctor to assess the member’s condition, treatment plans and whether
or not an evacuation is necessary. Travel Assistance will update member’s
family, employer and personal physician as appropriate. In addition, Travel Assistance
will coordinate all insurance verifications and admission details.
Q.
How does Travel Assistance facilitate hospital admissions?
A. Travel
Assistance will coordinate all billing and insurance verifications, including
settling any guarantees of payment. This ensures that there is no delay or denial
of medical treatment because a member is unable to make the up-front payment or
because a member's insurance is not recognized.
Q. What
if the local facilities are not capable of providing treatment?
A. In
evaluating the local facilities, Travel Assistance considers such factors as the
quality of the blood supply, medical technology and specialties available, use
of sterile equipment and the patient's medical requirements. If facilities are
inadequate, the Travel Assistance Regional Medical Advisor will report on the
safety of such and evacuation, any medical needs the patient may require en route
and the evacuation plan details. Travel Assistance will consult with all parties
involved and fully manage the issues surrounding the evacuation.
Q.
Once a member is released from the hospital, do the services end?
A.
Travel Assistance assists with a member's case until they have returned home or
have received final treatment.
STATISTICS
"In
2004, U.S. households
generated 663.5 million trips and 1.164 billion person-trips within the U.S.,
up more than 2 percent over 2003." Travel Industry Association
of America, 2004
"International
tourism grew by 10 percent in 2004, and the number of international tourist arrivals
will reach more than 1.5 billion by 2020, predicts the World Tourism Organization."
Futurist, 2005
"Medical evacuation can easily cost
$10,000 or more, depending on the location and medical condition." National
Centerfor Infectious Disease Health Information for International Travel, 2001
– 2002
"39% of North American business travelers
are confident their international travel will increase during 2003." American
Express International Business Travelers Survey, 08/02
"Millions
of people constantly travel on business and vacations, both within the United
States and abroad." Lifeguard Emergency
Travel, Inc. - 03/02
*Medical Travel
Assistance not available to OR, FL, CT and WA residents.
