EN Contact us
Member
Photo © Migin/IStock
  1. World Nomads
  2. Usa
  3. Travel Insurance
  4. Whats Covered
  5. Medical Repatriation

Travel Insurance for Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation

Learn how travel insurance benefits may provide emergency evacuation abroad

    As featured in:

  • As featured in:

At a glance

  • World Nomads offers plans that include travel insurance benefits for medical evacuation and repatriation.
  • If your condition is acute, severe, or life threatening and there aren’t adequate medical facilities in your immediate area, you may be covered for the costs of being transported to a place where you can get suitable medical care. Terms and conditions apply.
  • If your local treating medical provider and our non-insurance Travel Assistance Team determines it’s best for you to go back to the United States, you may be covered for the costs to travel back to your point of origin or primary residence. Additional terms and conditions apply.
  • You may be reimbursed for the cost of transporting your baggage if you're evacuated and your baggage doesn't accompany you.

Why should you consider travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and repatriation?

No matter where you’re traveling, accidents and sickness can happen at any time. But what happens if you get hurt while trekking through South America and the nearest hospital or appropriate medical facility is far away? You’ll need to get to a place where you can get medical care, and in some instances, you may need to come back home for treatment.

The US Department of State’s website states that most health insurance plans don’t pay to get you back to the US if you need medical evacuation. Per their estimates, an air ambulance back to the United States can cost up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Medical transport could be a lifesaver, but it could also quickly deplete your savings. Because of that you, you may want to consider getting a quote for a single-trip or annual travel protection plan that includes travel insurance benefits for medical evacuation and repatriation. Those benefits may cover, up to the maximum benefit amounts, the cost to get you to the closest adequate medical facility or home for further treatment. If you’re going to be at the hospital for more than 7 consecutive days, it may also include the transportation of a family member or companion who can be with you at your bedside, or the return of a dependent child back to your home.

What Could be Covered for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

  • Commercial flights
  • Air ambulance or Medevac flights
  • Sea level aircraft
  • Helicopter
  • Ground ambulance
  • Necessary medical services and supplies
  • The return of your baggage

Important to Know

  • Pre-authorization is required for medical evacuation from the local attending physician and our 24/7 Non-insurance Emergency Assistance Team
  • Medical evacuation is only applicable if you have an acute, severe, or life- threatening medical emergency and there’s not adequate treatment in your immediate area
  • Continued medical care once you’re back home isn’t covered
  • Terms and conditions apply; read your plan documents to understand the coverage

Plans and Medical Evacuation Maximum Benefit Amounts

Compare all benefits and plans
Standard PlanExplorer PlanEpic PlanAnnual Plan
Up to $400,000 for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, and up to $1,000 for baggage return 

Get a quote		 Up to $500,000 for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, and up to $1,000 for baggage return

Get a quote		 Up to $700,000 for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, and up to $1,000 for baggage return

Get a quote

Up to $100,000 per trip for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, and up to $1,000 for baggage return



Get a quote

What is the difference between medical evacuation and repatriation?

World Nomads Travel Insurance may cover both medical evacuation and repatriation, but those are two different things. An emergency evacuation may cover transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility where treatment is available if you have an acute, severe, or life-threatening medical emergency and there’s not adequate treatment in your immediate area.

Repatriation is a type of evacuation that may return you back home to the US when a doctor advises that you should no longer travel. This typically happens after your condition has stabilized. At that time, your travel insurance benefits for repatriation may cover your transportation to get you back home to the US to your point of origin or primary residence so you can seek further treatment.

World Nomads travel insurance also covers repatriation of remains. You may not worry about what happens after you die, but your family will, particularly if it happens overseas.

Travel Safely: Things We Recommend You Do Before Departing on Your Trip

  • Research your destination. Check out the US government’s safety warnings for your destination before traveling. You can see if good medical care is widely available in the locations where you’ll be. You can also view all current advisories listed by the US Department of State.
  • Sign up for portable health records. This is one of the non-insurance services included when you purchase a World Nomads plan with travel insurance benefits for medical evacuation and repatriation. This is a secure solution that allows you to have immediate access to your medical records anywhere in the world. If you’re traveling and end up having a medical emergency, it’s helpful for your medical team to know about important things such as your prescriptions, allergies, and medical conditions.
  • Check vaccination requirements before you go. Your World Nomads plan includes another additional service that gives you pre-trip medical support. A team of US-licensed physicians can prescribe you vaccinations and medications that you may need for the destinations where you’ll be traveling.
  • Have travel protection information easily accessible. Save the phone number for the 24/7 Non-insurance Emergency Assistance Team in your phone, as well as the plan number for the travel protection plan you purchased. In remote areas, you may not have cell service or electricity to charge your phone, so it’s not a bad idea to have a copy of this printed as well. You don’t want to be searching for that information if you have an emergency.

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for emergency evacuation. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.

  • What should I do if I have a medical emergency while traveling abroad?

    In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call the local emergency authorities first to receive immediate assistance. If you’ve purchased a World Nomads plan that includes benefits for medical evacuation, and repatriation, contact the 24/7 Non-insurance Emergency Assistance Team as soon as possible. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

    You’ll want to have this information handy when you call:

    • Your plan number
    • A contact number where you can be reached
    • The nature of your problem
    • Your location
  • How do I file a claim?

    You can file a claim online, but you must notify us within 20 days of any losses, or as soon as is reasonably possible, and submit documentation within 90 days – including all receipts and invoices from medical and transportation providers. In order to submit a claim for a medical evacuation, you will need to get a pre-authorization by our 24/7 Non-insurance Emergency Assistance Team before you’re evacuated, and you’ll need to submit proof of that as well.

20251229-5087479. This is not a full list of what is and isn’t covered, so please check your plan document for a full list of maximums, terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions that may apply to your state specific plan. Any example scenarios provided above are not a guarantee of coverage. All claims are subject to review, require documentation and are considered

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Protection

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.

  • Standard Plan: $2,500
  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Epic Plan: $15,000
  • Annual Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalized?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Standard Plan: $125,000
  • Explorer Plan: $150,000
  • Epic Plan: $250,000
  • Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Evacuation

We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.

  • Standard Plan: $400,000
  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Epic Plan: $700,000
  • Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Evacuation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.

  • Standard Plan: $1,000
  • Explorer Plan: $2,000
  • Epic Plan: $3,000
  • Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.

Protect your health

  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance Help Line
  • Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Evacuations
  • Bedside Companion Travel
  • Emergency Medications

Protect Your Trip

  • Trip Cancellation
  • Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
  • Trip Delay & Trip Interruption
  • Missed Connection (Explorer or Epic)
  • Rental Car Damage (Explorer, Epic or Annual)

Protect Your Stuff

  • Baggage Delay
  • Passport and Visa Loss
  • Lost or Stolen Bags
  • Personal Tech, Equipment & Gear
  • Baggage Return After Evacuation

Non-Insurance Services

  • Medical & Non-Medical 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line
  • Translators Available
  • Pre-Departure Telehealth Services
  • Portable Health Records
  • Delayed or Lost Baggage Tracking and Delivery
This is a general summary for US residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefits limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the plan documents for full details.