Does Travel Insurance Cover an Air Ambulance?

It depends on the contract

There is no general rule: some travel insurance contracts and some bank cards include a repatriation or evacuation guarantee, others only cover medical expenses abroad, and some exclude certain situations. The wording of your own contract is what counts. In many cases, the assistance company decides, with its medical team, whether a repatriation is needed and by which means.

The points to check in your policy

• The guarantee itself: is there a repatriation or medical evacuation guarantee, or only coverage of medical expenses?
• The means of transport: some contracts mention the air ambulance explicitly, others refer to the "most appropriate means" decided by the insurer's medical team.
• The ceiling: is the guarantee limited to a certain amount?
• Exclusions: pre-existing conditions, risky activities (diving, skiing, scooters...), age limits and geographic limits are common exclusions.
• The conditions of a bank card: a card's insurance often applies only if the trip was paid with that card, and has its own limits.
• The obligation to call the assistance company first: many contracts require the insurer to be informed before costs are incurred.

Who decides the means of transport?

When a patient is covered, the assistance company's medical team usually decides, with the treating physicians, whether a repatriation is needed and by which means: ground ambulance, commercial flight with medical escort or air ambulance. The decision is based on the patient's medical condition, not on comfort. Ambulance Flight can work directly with the insurer or the assistance company, and gives them the elements they need to take their decision.

What to do if you are not covered

• Ask the insurer to confirm its decision in writing, with the reasons.
• Check whether another contract may apply (a card, an employer's contract, a mutual insurance).
• If the family decides to organize the repatriation directly, we can give a written quote before departure and support the file for a later reimbursement request.

A few tips before traveling

• Keep the assistance number and the policy number on your phone and on paper.
• Read the exclusions, especially if you plan risky activities.
• Check whether the guarantee applies to your destination and to your age.

To understand what drives the cost of a repatriation, read what determines the cost of an air ambulance flight. You can also read how long it takes to organize a medical repatriation.

General information only — not personalized medical, legal or insurance advice. Your insurance contract and the treating physician's opinion prevail in your situation.