While many insurance policies cover some expenses if you should have an accident or fall ill while overseas, most do not cover medical transport back to the United States. MEDJET transports members, free of charge, in a medically equipped and staffed jet to the hospital of the member's choice, from virtually anywhere in the world.
Roy Berger, the president of the firm (based in Birmingham, Alabama), says he likes "to think of it as AAA for your body. If your car breaks down, AAA comes to the site and gets you moving again. If you're seriously injured or hospitalized while traveling, MEDJET Assistance brings you home at no cost to you."
The service applies within the USA, too, of course, because you may just want to be in a hospital near home instead of in some vacation spot halfway across the country, or at the other end of it. "About 60 percent of our transports occur domestically," said Berger. The firm has been in operation since 1991, and now has more than 50,000 members, the rate of joining growing at about 25% a year. Some big firms, such as National Geographic Television and Boise Cascade, take out policies for their employees.
Members are guaranteed transport to the hospital of their choice, anytime they are more than 150 miles away from home and hospitalized. Lloyd's of London underwrites the membership program to guarantee every member a transport, no matter the cost or location. In addition to medical transportation, the company provides other services to members, including medical referrals, medical monitoring and consultation, language interpretation, emergency message relay, legal referrals, visa, passport and immunization information, and transportation of mortal remains.
The phone line is open 24/7. For membership information, phone MEDJET Assistance at 770/522-8855, fax 770/552-8898, or contact their Web site at www.medjetassistance.com.
