Here’s what a real emergency medical evacuation looks like, using a Bali (and Lombok) vacation as an example
Picture this: you’re on a long-awaited trip to Bali, maybe island-hopping over to Lombok for a few quieter days near Mount Rinjani or the Gili Islands. Everything’s going great until it isn’t — a bad fall on a hike, a scooter accident, a sudden illness — and the nearest clinic just isn’t equipped to treat it. This is exactly the situation emergency medical evacuation coverage is built for.
- Emergency medical evacuation gets you from a hospital or clinic that can’t adequately treat you to one that can — sometimes to the next island, sometimes all the way back to the U.S. It’s not search-and-rescue, and it’s not the same as being airlifted off a mountain; it’s about getting you to appropriate medical care.
- It’s already built into every travel insurance plan we offer, no matter which plan or deductible you choose. If you purchase one of our travel medical plans for a Bali or Lombok trip, this benefit is already part of it.
- The cost without it can be serious — emergency medical evacuation costs can vary substantially and may reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, depending on the distance, aircraft, medical condition, and complexity of the case.
What Happens If You Actually Need to Use It?
Back to that fall on the Lombok trail: if the injury can’t be treated locally, here’s how it works. You, a travel companion, or even hospital staff on your behalf call your insurance company first, and the doctors treating you on the ground talk directly with the insurance company’s medical staff to assess your condition. Only your insurance company or its designated assistance provider can approve the emergency medical evacuation. Once it’s approved, your insurance company handles everything from there: choosing the transport, coordinating with the receiving hospital, and managing the logistics from start to finish. There’s typically no cost to you beyond your regular premium. Since the exact coverage amount is listed in your policy’s Summary of Benefits and varies by plan, connect with one of our GNI international insurance advisors to confirm your specific limit before you go.
Not everyone needs a separate emergency medical evacuation plan, but some travelers do — it really depends on what coverage you already have in place, and situations vary a lot from person to person. For those cases, we also offer stand-alone emergency medical evacuation plans that may focus on eligible transportation and related assistance, rather than duplicating the broader medical coverage available under a travel medical plan. Some of these plans also include sending you back to your hospital of choice, if the medical team treating you on the ground and the insurance company both agree it’s the right call for your condition.
Quick Q&A
What’s the difference between a travel insurance plan and an emergency medical evacuation-only travel plan?
Every travel plan we offer, including emergency medical evacuation-only plans, includes the emergency medical evacuation benefit — that’s what they share. The difference is medical coverage itself. A regular travel insurance plan covers your medical treatment, like doctor visits and hospital stays. An emergency medical evacuation-only plan does not; it covers getting you from one hospital to another, and your care during that transport, but not the treatment once you’re there. Some (not all) emergency medical evacuation-only plans also let you choose which hospital you’re taken to, depending on your medical condition and your care team’s recommendation. Not sure which type fits your trip? Connect with a GNI advisor to talk through your options.
How much does an emergency medical evacuation actually cost without insurance?
It varies widely by distance and complexity, but a real emergency medical evacuation can run anywhere from about $25,000 to well over $150,000 out of pocket. Emergency medical evacuation benefit limits vary by plan, and some of the travel medical plans we offer provide limits of $100,000, $250,000, or more. Always confirm the exact benefit limit on your specific policy before traveling. Don’t assume your coverage amount; always confirm the exact emergency medical evacuation benefit limit on your specific policy before you travel. Want to know your specific plan’s limit? Request a quote and we’ll walk you through the numbers.
Heading to Bali, Lombok, or anywhere else off the beaten path? Browse our travel insurance plans to see what’s already built in, or request a quote and we’ll help you compare options based on your itinerary before you go. If you want to see more of the ins and outs of travel and medical insurance, our Ask Doug video library has more.
Benefits, exclusions, eligibility rules, coverage limits, lookback periods, and pre-existing condition provisions can vary by carrier and plan—and may change over time. As we like to say, change is always in the air, so use the guidance above as a helpful starting point, not a guarantee of coverage, and confirm the current plan terms before applying.
Insurance plan details and insurance company processes may change from time to time. Please connect with one of our GNI international insurance advisors for the most current information.
