A.The Services and Benefits apply when a participant is traveling more than 100 miles from his/her permanent place of residence and a local medical facility cannot perform the medically necessary treatment.
Q. Do the Services and Benefits reimburse expenses for an
emergency evacuation arranged by the participant, family member,
hospital, police, etc.?
A.No. All arrangements for an Emergency Medical Evacuation
must be made by the Assistance Provider's Representative. The Travel
Assistance Program services and benefits are a pre-paid benefit
program, not insurance and expenses cannot be reimbursed.
Q. What other benefits are provided in addition to the
Emergency Medical Evacuation Benefit?
A.Other benefits include:
- Transportation of participant's spouse or family member when member is hospitalized for more than 7 days. In addition, lodging and meal expense for spouse or other family member up to $ 100 a day for 10 days.
- Minor child(ren) return home transportation and/or escort for such purpose, if necessary.
- Return of participant's vehicle up to $ 1,000.
- Transportation of participant to domestic hospital from international hospital, if deemed medically necessary by the Attending Physician and Assistance Provider's Program Medical Director and subsequent to a previous Emergency Medical Evacuation.
- Transportation of participant's spouse or other family member acting as escort for participant based on availability of space.
Q. If I am on a mountain skiing and I fall and break my
leg and I have my cellular phone, can I call and have a helicopter
pick me up?
A.The Emergency Medical Evacuation benefit is a hospital to
hospital evacuation benefit. The benefit does not cover the initial
911 situation. It is imperative that the Assistance Provider's
Medical Staff consult with the Attending Physician to assess the
participant's medical condition so that whatever means of
transportation is utilized for the Emergency Medical Evacuation; it
is properly equipped and staffed.
Q. If my spouse is in a foreign hospital and going to be
evacuated to a hospital in the United States , does the family
reunion benefit provide transportation to the foreign location, so
that I may accompany my spouse back to the United States ?
A.: The Family Reunion benefit provides transportation to
the hospital where a participant is hospitalized, if that
participant is expected to be hospitalized for more than 7 days.
Q. Does the Travel Assistance benefit cover my mother who
lives with me?
A.The Travel Assistance benefit covers the participant,
his/her legally married spouse and dependent children, the primary
participant's unmarried child from birth until his/her 18 th
birthday; or the primary participant's unmarried child who is over
18 years old, but not older than 25 years old and is enrolled as a
full time student at an accredited school or college and/or is not
employed on a full-time basis.
Q. While I am traveling in Europe , I become injured in
an automobile accident. I am taken to a local hospital where surgery
is to be performed. I want my local doctor to perform the surgery.
Can I be evacuated back home to my local hospital?
A. If the Program Medical Director of the Assistance
Provider in consultation with the Attending Physician are in
agreement that appropriate surgery can be provided at the present
location an evacuation will not be authorized. The benefit provides
for an Emergency Medical Evacuation when it is Medically Necessary
to move the participant to the nearest facility where adequate care
can be provided. In addition, once the participant has recovered
adequately and the Attending Physician and Assistance Provider's
Program Medical Director agree it is Medically Necessary, the
benefit will provide transportation for the participant to a
hospital or nursing home nearer his permanent place of residence
within certificate limits.
