Evacuation & Repatriation Insurance amount

[LindaAL]

Does anyone have any idea what the cost might be to be medically evacuated from the Caribbean to the 

United States, or the cost of repatriation of remains? In choosing Trip Insurance, it can go up to a million

limit, but not sure if that is necessary. I have tried googling the information, but haven't gotten an answer.

Thank you! 

[Essiesmom]

Try the trip insurance board here.  It’s under. Russell Discussion Topics.  EM

[GeezerCouple]

6 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Try the trip insurance board here.  It’s under. Russell Discussion Topics.  EM

 

What is "Russel Discussion Topics"!?

 

Here's the link to CC's Travel Insurance sub-forum:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/

 

GC

[Essiesmom]

14 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

What is "Russel Discussion Topics"!?

 

Here's the link to CC's Travel Insurance sub-forum:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/

 

GC

Ugh.  Nothing like auto corrupt and hitting post without proof reading.  EM

[GeezerCouple]

1 minute ago, Essiesmom said:

Ugh.  Nothing like auto corrupt and hitting post without proof reading.  EM

 

"auto corrupt".  Great term! 😉

I hadn't heard that one before, but I'm certainly going to be using it in the future (alas!).

Thanks.

 

GC

[sparks1093]

I was just reading an article about a lady that needed a medevac from Jamaica. $40k. No insurance. 

[navybankerteacher]

2 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

I was just reading an article about a lady that needed a medevac from Jamaica. $40k. No insurance. 

And, would it even be deductible as a medical expense?

[sparks1093]

2 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

And, would it even be deductible as a medical expense?

I suspect that it would be provided it exceeded 7.5% of the person's adjusted gross income, and $40k probably does for a lot of people. Here's a link to the article, which I meant to post sooner https://abc13.com/houston-woman-stuck-in-montego-bay-jamaica-carnival-vista-cruise/12217285/

[GeezerCouple]

20 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

I suspect that it would be provided it exceeded 7.5% of the person's adjusted gross income, and $40k probably does for a lot of people. Here's a link to the article, which I meant to post sooner https://abc13.com/houston-woman-stuck-in-montego-bay-jamaica-carnival-vista-cruise/12217285/

 

I hope she is recovering quickly, now that she's on oxygen, etc.!

 

Something else to think about, given that travel insurance (which they did not have) was mentioned.

 

Many policies, including someone's regular home health insurance IF it covers foreign travel, will only medevac if it is "medically necessary".

 

I have no idea what the facilities are where this patient is.  However, for most regular health insurance, the patient would probably only be medevac'd if the local physicians AND the insurance beancounters agree that the medical facilities are not sufficient for the care.  

And what most of "you and we" would consider "sufficient" may not be what those decision-makers consider "sufficient".  That would vary considerably with the patient's condition and the exact facilities available.

 

For this reason, when we are traveling (not just now, alas), we get an annual policy from MedJetAssist (they also have "per trip" coverage) such that IF one is admitted to a hospital as an INpatient (not just emergency or observation, etc.), then YOU can call MJA and (for USA members, anyway) have them take you to the hospital of your choice in the USA.  If that requires a full medical ambulance with staffing, so be it.  You must be able to be safely medevac'd, but that's going to be the situation regardless of funding source.  So we could be taken to "our" hospital, which is a major teaching hospital, or we could go to a specialist hospital in another state, etc.

One must be at least 150 miles from home, and near an airport.  (MJA only uses fixed-wing planes, not helicopters, etc.  This is for "distance transport" in most cases.)

GC

[Joebucks]

I don't claim to be an expert. However, from what I've seen, most of these plans will cover evacuation from the Caribbean just fine. Those "million dollar" flights if they even exist, are like remote islands, far away from the US.

[Hlitner]

I agree with Joebucks.  Most basic  evac plans have at least $100,000 of evac coverage which is more than enough from any Caribbean port.  

 

Hank

[donaldsc]

Here is an interesting thought.  You obviously need to have insurance for medical evacuation.  However what if you or someone in your party dies.  If you don't have repatriation insurance and you or your loved one decides not to pay for reparation of the body.  The cruise company certainly does not want to have to handle the dead body.  You figure that since the deceased will be repatriated just to be stuck in a hole in the ground it is a waste of money to bring the body back.  So what happens next?  Can the cruise company force you to take the body?

 

DON

[sparks1093]

On 10/28/2022 at 1:26 PM, donaldsc said:

Here is an interesting thought.  You obviously need to have insurance for medical evacuation.  However what if you or someone in your party dies.  If you don't have repatriation insurance and you or your loved one decides not to pay for reparation of the body.  The cruise company certainly does not want to have to handle the dead body.  You figure that since the deceased will be repatriated just to be stuck in a hole in the ground it is a waste of money to bring the body back.  So what happens next?  Can the cruise company force you to take the body?

 

DON

Every plan I've seen that offers medevac coverage includes repatriation of remains and I make sure it does. Whether or not you can be forced to take the body probably depends on your relation to the decedent.

[klfrodo]

When I was trying to do some research regarding my BCBS Healthcare policy thru my employer that did cover international travel, I called and asked some very specific questions. One of those questions being repatriation of remains. The answer was an emphatic No. That was one of the many reasons that a separate travel insurance policy worked better for my needs.

[ldubs]

On 10/28/2022 at 10:26 AM, donaldsc said:

Here is an interesting thought.  You obviously need to have insurance for medical evacuation.  However what if you or someone in your party dies.  If you don't have repatriation insurance and you or your loved one decides not to pay for reparation of the body.  The cruise company certainly does not want to have to handle the dead body.  You figure that since the deceased will be repatriated just to be stuck in a hole in the ground it is a waste of money to bring the body back.  So what happens next?  Can the cruise company force you to take the body?

 

DON

 

Assuming the deceased is a spouse or other relative, they probably can't force you to take the remains, but they can sure force you to pay the costs associated with disposing of the remains.    I wonder though about a traveling companion of no relation.  Who would they think is responsible for the remains, IDK?  

 

[sparks1093]

On 10/27/2022 at 9:42 AM, Hlitner said:

I agree with Joebucks.  Most basic  evac plans have at least $100,000 of evac coverage which is more than enough from any Caribbean port.  

 

Hank

Very likely, but this is an area where I don't mind being over-insured and the difference between a comprehensive plan that offers $100k of insurance isn't that much less than one that offers $250k (and the $250k plan likely has a higher allowance for medical treatment as well). Of course if one is only looking at an medevac plan then the $250k probably costs significantly more.

[Hlitner]

3 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Very likely, but this is an area where I don't mind being over-insured and the difference between a comprehensive plan that offers $100k of insurance isn't that much less than one that offers $250k (and the $250k plan likely has a higher allowance for medical treatment as well). Of course if one is only looking at an medevac plan then the $250k probably costs significantly more.

One reason (out of many) that we like the GeoBlue Trekker is the high coverage amounts for both medical and evac.

[sparks1093]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

One reason (out of many) that we like the GeoBlue Trekker is the high coverage amounts for both medical and evac.

Thanks for the reminder about that plan, we'll be in a position to fully benefit from it in another year of so since we will be in a position to travel out of the country often enough for it be the best option.