Seeking medical assistance while abroad can be a challenging process. You may not speak the language, be near a hospital or have enough local currency on hand to pay for treatment. To make matters worse, your travel insurance may or may not cover the cost — if you even have travel insurance, that is.

Medjet is a company that provides comprehensive help when you need to return home in a variety of situations. While most travel insurance companies have a long list of exclusions, this membership service will assist you in any medical emergency.

Here’s what you need to know about Medjet, what situations it does and doesn’t cover and who should consider using it in today’s travel environment.

What is Medjet?

Medjet is a medical evacuation subscription service that will assist you in the event you become ill or have an accident more than 150 miles from your home. It allows you to immediately return home to your own doctor or preferred medical facility.

This service differs from traditional travel insurance policies in several ways:

You can choose where you receive care. Many travel insurance plans that offer medical evacuation benefits don’t allow you to choose where you’re evacuated to; they’ll only pay to send you to the nearest medical facility. Medjet will fly you home as fast as possible to the medical facility of your choice, even if you could get the same treatment where you are.

All activities are covered. Travel insurance policies often don’t cover injuries caused while participating in adventure activities like scuba diving or rock climbing. Medjet will help you get care even if you’re injured during one of these types of activities.

There are no coverage limits or claims to file. Because Medjet operates as a subscription service, it will cover the entire cost to transport you home. Unlike traditional insurance, you won’t need to file any claims, wait for reimbursement or worry about hitting a coverage limit.

It only covers medical evacuation. Travel insurance typically covers a variety of scenarios, including trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage loss and more. Medjet only covers costs if you become ill and need to return home when traveling.

What is included with Medjet?

Medjet offers two different plans: MedjetAssist and MedjetHorizon. MedjetAssist only covers medical evacuation costs, while MedjetHorizon adds coverage for evacuation due to crisis situations, among other benefits.

For both plans, once you’re admitted to a hospital abroad, contact Medjet to activate your benefits. If you must fly home, you’re allowed to travel with one companion at no additional cost. You are permitted up to two medical evacuations per year.

MedjetAssist

This plan covers the following:

Medical transfer between hospitals even if it is not medically necessary.

Choice of medical facility.

All expenses covered for the transfer, whether overseas or within the U.S.

Medical emergency referrals, translation services, monitoring and message relay.

Transfer of mortal remains.

MedjetHorizon

This plan provides the same coverage as the MedjetAssist plan, plus:

Cash advance for a medical emergency.

Ground ambulance and specialty hospital transfer (under 150 miles in distance).

All-hours travel security response and evacuation due to political threat, terrorism, natural disaster, pandemic and violent crime.

All-hours crisis response in the event of kidnap for ransom, disappearance, wrongful detention, blackmail and extortion.

Legal referrals.

Trip intelligence alerts.

Does Medjet cover COVID-19?

Yes. If you need to return home for medical coverage related to COVID-19, and you’re not ordered to remain under quarantine, you can take advantage of Medjet benefits.

What does Medjet not include?

Medjet is strictly a medical evacuation service. It will cover the entire cost of your medical transport — as well as provide assistance in certain crisis situations under the MedjetHorizon plan — but it doesn’t cover other items typically covered by travel insurance.

If your bags get lost, your flight is delayed, you get robbed on the street or you lose your passport, these situations aren’t covered by Medjet. If you want comprehensive coverage for multiple travel mishaps, it’s a good idea to buy a travel insurance plan or use a credit card that provides travel insurance.

How much does Medjet cost?

The cost of Medjet varies based on a number of factors, including your age, the type of coverage, how long you want coverage and if you want to include family in the membership.

An example plan for an individual under the age of 74 with 15 days of coverage for medical transfer, security and crisis response was $245.

Use the company’s enroll tool to get a price estimate for your ideal plan.

What are Medjet’s membership options?

The company offers various membership plans that cater to different types of travelers:

Short-term: Individuals under the age of 75, for trips 30 days or shorter.

Annual: Individuals or families under the age of 75, valid for less than 90 consecutive days per trip.

Diamond: Annual plan for people ages 75-84, valid for less than 90 consecutive days per trip.

Collegiate: Study abroad students and faculty, valid up to 140 days.

Expatriate: Individuals who live or work abroad (six- or 12-month memberships).

Motorcycle: Coverage for getting your bike home with you in an emergency.

Domestic: U.S. residents who are working or traveling in the continental U.S.

Customized memberships: Coverage for companies, organizations or other groups.

Note that you need to purchase a membership before your trip starts in order to be eligible for plan benefits.

Who is Medjet best for?

This service can be a great option for anyone, but it's particularly useful for those who:

Travel to remote places. If there’s limited medical care in the region, knowing you can easily return home in case of emergency can be reassuring. Medjet pays for medical evacuation globally without restrictions, so you’re guaranteed coverage.

Participate in adventure travel activities. Whether you’re planning a mountaineering trip in Nepal, a motorcycle trip through South America or a scuba adventure in Tahiti, you can go on your trip and count on being covered.

Have complex medical needs. For travelers with pre-existing medical conditions, having the option to return home and receive care from doctors familiar with your situation can reduce stress and expand your travel options. Additionally, there are no pre-existing condition exclusions with Medjet.

Medjet medical evacuation coverage, recapped

While it’s not traditional travel insurance, Medjet provides a useful service if you get sick or injured in a foreign country. They will bring you home without hassle or restrictions so you can receive medical care from the physician of your choice. Is the price of a membership worth it? That’s for you to decide.

But, for those who have benefited from Medjet’s services over the years, they are surely grateful that they had it.