Travel insurance for repatriation and medical evacuation

Finally, some good news! Travel is picking up, so some insurers have started offering cover again. Just remember, you won't be covered for any pandemic-related claims if you do take out domestic travel insurance.

Repatriation insurance typically covers you for emergency evacuation or transportation to your home country, emergency reunion so your travel companion can travel with you, and repatriation of remains, should the worst happen.

Can I get medical evacuation or repatriation insurance on a domestic travel insurance policy?

It can be hard to find specified travel insurance cover for medical evacuation by road or air if you need emergency medical assistance in Australia. That's because Medicare should cover you for most eventualities. Out of ten brands that we reviewed, Travel Insurance Direct was the only one to offer cover for medical evacuation or repatriation on home turf (up to $50,000). Read more about Travel Insurance Direct in our review.

If you're cruising on Australian waters and want to be covered for emergency medical evacuation, you'll typically need to purchase a comprehensive international travel insurance policy. Remember to always read the fine print in your PDS to find out how and if you're covered.

Travel insurance brands offering repatriation and medical evacuation cover for overseas trips

Brand	Conditions	Apply
1cover	Covered under emergency medical assistance. If you're injured overseas, 1Cover will pay their emergency assistance provide First Assistance, to arrange medical transfer if you need to be transported to the nearest overseas hospital for emergency medical treatment or evacuation if you need to be bought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision.
American Express	You're covered for emergency medical supervised evacuation and repatriation under the overseas emergency medical assistance section of the policy.
Budget Direct	By choosing this travel insurance, you can access a network of 24 hour telephone assistance centres, and an international network of medical and emergency assistance providers who can help in many ways including to coordinate evacuation or repatriation where you are located to a suitable medical facility or back home to Australia, subject to assessment and approval.
Columbus Direct	You're covered under the overseas medical expenses, emergency repatriation and other expenses section of the policy for transportation costs for emergency repatriation to your country of residence.
fastcover	You're covered for your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas, or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision.
InsureandGo	Depending on your specific needs, MAPFRE ASSISTANCE (emergency assistance provider for InsureandGo) can coordinate evacuation or repatriation where you are located to a suitable medical facility or back home to Australia, subject to assessment and approval.	Get quote
itrek	iTrek is backed by First Assistance who will arrange for the following assistance services if you injure yourself overseas or become sick while overseas: Your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision
Skiinsurance.com.au	Skiinsurance.com.au is backed by First Assistance who will arrange for the following assistance services if you injure yourself overseas or become sick while overseas: Your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision
Tick	Depending on your specific needs, MAPFRE ASSISTANCE (emergency assistance provider for Tick Travel Insurance) can coordinate evacuation or repatriation where you are located to a suitable medical facility or back home to Australia, subject to assessment and approval.
Travel Insurance Saver	Travel Insurance Saver covers you under Section C of the policy for evacuation and repatriation costs.
Travel Insuranz	You are covered up to the amount shown in the schedule of cover for necessary and reasonable costs incurred as a result of your bodily injury, illness or death during your trip in respect of: Emergency medical, surgical and hospital treatment and transportation. At the sole discretion of underwriters and their representatives, who reserve the right to make the final decision as to whether or not it is medically necessary, this also includes the cost of repatriation to your normal country of residence, by whatever means deemed medically necessary
Virgin	Virgin Travel Insurance is backed by Allianz Global Assistance who will arrange for the following assistance services if you injure yourself overseas or become sick while overseas: Your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision The return to Australia of your dependants if they are left without supervision following your hospitalisation or evacuation
Holiday Rescue	You're covered under the Emergency Medical Evacuation benefits if Holiday Rescue decides that you need to return to Australia or move to another hospital for treatment. This covers; For transport for necessary medical assistance and/or non-medical assistance; and to bring dependants named on your certificate of insurance back to Australia if they're left unsupervised.
Webjet	For emergency assistance anywhere in the world at any time, Allianz Global Assistance is only a telephone call away. The team will help with medical problems, locating nearest medical facilities, your evacuation home, locating nearest embassies and consulates, as well as keeping you in touch with your family and work in an emergency.
AllClear	MAPFRE Assistance must be contacted immediately in the event of a serious injury, illness or hospitalisation, where repatriation has to be considered.
Australia Post	If you suffer a Disabling Injury, Sickness or Disease the insurer will pay the usual and customary cost of medical treatment, ambulance transportation and emergency dental treatment provided outside Australia by or on the advice of a qualified medical practitioner or dentist.
Insure4less	The expenses may include, but are not limited to, medical and hospital expenses, ambulance costs, evacuation, repatriation and other transport costs.
Medibank	You are covered for the usual and customary cost of medical treatment, ambulance transportation, and emergency	Go to site
Online Travel	If you are hospitalised, you, or a member of your travelling party, MUST contact Allianz Global Assistance as soon as possible. If you do not, then to the extent permitted by law, we will not pay for these expenses or for any evacuation or airfares that have not been approved or arranged by Allianz Global Assistance.
Zoom	First Assistance will provide the following services if you injure or become sick overseas: Arrange access to a medical adviser for emergency medical treatment while you are overseas. Arrange medical transfer if you need to be transported to the nearest overseas hospital for emergency medical treatment or evacuation if you need to be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision. Provide reasonable expenses for emergency hospitalisation that may be required while you are overseas. Pass on messages to your family or employer in case of an emergency Arrange for your accompanying dependants to return to Australia if they are left without supervision during your journey.
ahm	If You suffer a Disabling Injury, Sickness or Disease We will pay the usual and customary cost of medical treatment, ambulance transportation and emergency dental treatment which is provided outside Australia by or on the advice of a qualified medical practitioner or dentist. This also includes the usual and customary cost of emergency repatriation or evacuation. In all cases the cost of evacuation or to bring You back to Australia will only be met if Your claim is approved by Us and it was arranged by and deemed necessary by Our emergency assistance network.	Go to site
World Care	WorldCare is backed by Allianz Global Assistance who will arrange for the following assistance services if you injure yourself overseas or become sick while overseas: Your medical transfer or evacuation if you must be transported to the nearest hospital for emergency medical treatment overseas or be brought back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision The return to Australia of your dependants if they are left without supervision following your hospitalisation or evacuation

What is repatriation insurance?

Repatriation is the act of returning someone to their place of origin. In the context of travel insurance, it means returning someone to their home country after they have suffered an illness or injury overseas. Repatriation insurance typically covers:

• Emergency evacuation or repatriation. This covers you for emergency medical transportation, either to return you to your home country or to transport you to the nearest overseas hospital or medical facility (such as being airlifted out of the mountains after a skiing accident).
• Emergency reunion. This pays for a friend or family member to be by your bedside if you are medically evacuated. The benefit will normally pay to fly them to wherever you are and pay for their accommodation and living expenses while they are with you.
• Repatriation of remains. Repatriation insurance covers the cost of returning your mortal remains to your home country if you pass away while overseas.
• Travel assistance. This provides a range of services for minor problems experienced overseas such as help with translation, lost documents and emergency prescriptions.

Why is it important to have?

Medical evacuation and repatriation cover could save your life one day. Without it, you could find yourself with a massive bill that you might spend years or even the rest of your life paying off.

For example, medical evacuations from the USA to Australia typically cost anywhere from $75,000 to $300,000, due in part to the distance involved. Even a medical evacuation from somewhere much closer to home, like Bali, can cost up to $60,000.

Why so expensive? The reason is usually because you can’t just be put on the next commercial flight home. You might need to travel by special air ambulance, have access to expensive medical equipment and be escorted by medical personnel; all of which can add up to a lot of money in a very short time.

And that’s why you should have adequate repatriation and medical evacuation cover (ideally up to $500,000), particularly if you are planning to travel somewhere remote where the nearest medical assistance is a long way away.

What does repatriation and medical evacuation actually cover?

Repatriation cover is only for serious and life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Broken bones, while serious, don’t usually require medical evacuation, unless you are in a remote area with no medical facilities (such as skiing off-piste).

Emergency medical evacuation is for removing you to the nearest suitable medical facility if what’s available locally is limited or non-existent. It can be in an ambulance, a helicopter or medical aircraft, depending on the facilities available, and the degree of urgency associated with your injury or illness.

Repatriation to your country of origin is reserved for situations where you are suffering from a long-term illness or injury and have been deemed unfit to travel by a doctor, meaning you would be better off (physically and financially) recovering at home. Typical repatriation and medical evacuation cover includes:

• Access to emergency medical treatment
• Transport to the nearest overseas hospital or back to Australia with appropriate medical supervision
• A guarantee of payment for emergency hospital expenses
• Assistance with contacting friends and family back home
• Assistance with returning unaccompanied dependents to Australia

What won’t I be covered for?

There are some general exclusions that apply to repatriation cover (circumstances in which cover will not be provided). These include:

• Your return flight to Australia – the insurer will use your return ticket to help recover costs. If you don’t have a return ticket, you will be charged for a one-way economy ticket.
• Costs you incur by continuing your trip after being declared unfit to travel and refusing to be repatriated
• Costs associated with an undeclared or unapproved pre-existing medical condition
• Costs you incur once you arrive back home in Australia

Repatriation from a cruise

Cruising is a type of travel where repatriation cover is particularly important to have. Your cruise ship has only limited medical facilities onboard and the nearest hospital may be many hundreds of kilometres away. This means that if you have a heart attack or fall seriously ill, you will have to be airlifted to the nearest land hospital, and this can be an extremely costly service that isn’t covered by any kind of health insurance.

Having repatriation and medical evacuation cover will give you the peace of mind knowing that if something happens to you at sea, you’ll get the best attention in the fastest time and won’t be faced with a bill for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars when you get back home.

Role of a travel insurance emergency assistance team overseas

Most travel insurance companies have their own overseas medical emergency assistance service or employ such a service to act on their behalf. These teams are available 24/7 should you have a medical emergency and can assist by arranging hospital admissions, medical evacuation and emergency medical treatment.

Their emergency service providers include medical experts who will assess your need for assistance and whether repatriation is required. They are authorised to act on behalf of the insurer, so they are often your first point of contact in a medical emergency. They are also experts in the countries they service and can provide local assistance with a range of matters, including lost documents and emergency prescriptions.

Because they are your insurer’s representatives in the field, it’s important to follow their instructions, as one of the exclusions most insurers include in their policies is no payment if you ignore the advice of your emergency assistance provider. You must also get authorisation from your insurer before making any arrangements yourself, otherwise your claim may be voided.

What do I do in a medical emergency overseas?

How you go about making a claim will depend on the type of incident you are claiming for. If it’s a medical emergency, you must first contact the insurer’s emergency medical assistance provider, who will help arrange appropriate assistance and authorise payment.

If you are seeking medical treatment for a minimal amount (say, less than $2,000), you might consider paying upfront and claiming it back from your insurer later. But if you require specialist medical treatment, hospitalisation, medical evacuation or repatriation, you must seek authorisation from the medical emergency assistance provider beforehand.

If you’re claiming for a relatively minor incident, such as lost luggage or a cancelled flight, you can claim online or by mail when you return to Australia. Each insurer has a different deadline, so read your product disclosure statement (PDS) to make sure your claim is lodged on time.

Five steps to take in an emergency

If you've experienced a medical emergency overseas you should:

1. Get yourself to nearest medical facility and seek help
2. Have your passport handy
3. Contact your insurer, they will advise you on how to proceed
4. Do what the doctors tell you and undergo medical treatment
5. Keep in touch with your travel insurance assistance team

Apply for travel insurance for medical and emergency repatriation

Make sure the policy you choose covers you for emergency medical and repatriation. Compare the travel insurance brands in the finder.com.au panel and get covered today.

Compare policies for repatriation insurance

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