The Essential Guide to Medical Repatriation

Medical Repatriation is important for anyone facing a medical emergency while traveling abroad. It allows those not fit to travel on a commercial flight to be safely transported back home by air ambulance.

This service can be very expensive, but insurance often covers it. Read on to learn about medical Repatriation and who can benefit from it.

What is Medical Repatriation?

Medical Repatriation is the process of returning a patient home to their place of origin after an injury or illness. It is sometimes confused with medical evacuation, but the two are very different.

Medical repatriation can bring you safely back home for treatment if you suffer a critical injury or life-threatening illness outside your country. Hospitals in foreign countries often need the equipment or doctors to treat you properly.

Many travel and health plans offer insurance coverage for overseas repatriation flights. We work with most major providers to ensure their patients receive the best possible service for medical repatriation flights.

What are the Benefits of Medical Repatriation?

Medical Repatriation is vital for people who become seriously ill or injured while traveling abroad. This service allows them to return home for the necessary treatment rather than staying in their current country and facing mounting medical bills.

International health insurance policies cover most medical repatriation flights. However, the amount of coverage varies from provider to provider. Some plans only cover the cost of an emergency medical flight if deemed “medically necessary,” while others include more comprehensive coverage options.

In addition to being beneficial for patients, Repatriation is also a lifeline for hospitals that are overburdened with the financial burden of treating uninsured or under-insured patients. Repatriation services help relieve facilities of this burden while locating an appropriate facility for continued care. This can save them thousands of dollars in healthcare costs and even allow them to continue treatment longer, such as at an in-network hospital.

What are the Risks of Medical Repatriation?

When someone suffers a critical injury or illness while traveling abroad, they are often transported back home by medical repatriation. This service is typically covered by private insurance or statutory travel coverage with conditions.

During repatriation, the patient is flown back to their country or town of origin by a medically-equipped charter flight accompanied by a medical team. It is a process that has become increasingly common as travelers seek to avoid the potential risks of local healthcare systems.

It is important to note that medical repatriation is not the same as a medical evacuation. The latter is appropriate when the medical needs of the patient require them to be flown in an ambulance aircraft. To be able to take a medical repatriation flight, the patient must first be deemed fit for travel by their treating doctors. Administrators, doctors, and financial offices often make this very complicated decision without the patient being privy to the discussion.

How Can Medical Repatriation Help Me?

A medical repatriation flight is a safe, fast, and cost-effective way for individuals to travel long distances for medical treatment. Depending on the patient’s condition, this can be done in an air ambulance or with a medical escort on a commercial flight. Air ambulance planes are specially fitted to contain equipment similar to the ones used in Intensive Care Units, and they have medical personnel on board to supervise the patient throughout the flight and provide emergency care as needed.

Many insurance plans cover the costs of medical repatriation flights if necessary by the patient’s treating physician. However, some insurance companies only cover these costs if a certified medical transport company conducts the repatriation. These services can also help individuals avoid healthcare debt if their hospital bills are not covered by their insurance plan. This is especially important during a pandemic such as the COVID-19 outbreak.