Credit cards that offer medical evacuation insurance
Quick insights
- Medical evacuation insurance may cover costs associated with transporting you or a family member you’re traveling with to the nearest medical facility to receive care in the event of serious illness or injury.
- Not all credit cards include medical evacuation coverage so check your card's terms and conditions to determine if yours does.
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card includes Emergency Evacuation and Transportation (medical evacuation coverage) among many other travel benefits.
Credit cards can offer various benefits and cardmember perks. With everything from cash back on purchases to points that can be redeemed for a host of offers, having a credit card may provide you with unexpected benefits. One you might not have considered is medical evacuation coverage. In this article, we’ll explore this coverage, some of its limitations and which cards provide it.
Medical evacuation coverage: a breakdown
Medical evacuation may cover the costs associated with getting you to the nearest medical facility should you suffer serious illness, injury or even death while traveling. Transportation can be via ambulance, helicopter or commercial air and may also cover the repatriation of remains should you or a family member die.
If you are severely injured and require a lengthy hospital stay, medical evacuation coverage may also cover the cost of a relative or friend traveling to be at your bedside.
As with all benefits, coverage varies based on the card so be sure to check all terms and conditions. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can receive up to $100,000 worth of coverage for qualifying Emergency Evacuation and Transportation costs.
Limitations of medical evacuation coverage
Not every trip to the hospital will be covered, so it’s important to know some common exceptions to medical evacuation insurance.
If you require medical care due to a serious sickness or injury, the coverage will typically only get you to the nearest medical facility, not back home. You also may be covered for transportation costs home or to an appropriate hospital near your home if you need further treatment after having been treated at a local hospital.
Always check your card’s terms and conditions. The following circumstances may not be covered under medical evacuation coverage:
- The medical evacuation provider did not authorize the emergency medical evacuation, transportation or repatriation of remains in advance.
- Medical evacuation and/or transportation is not medically necessary as determined by the provider.
- Transport that happens during a trip that is less than 5 days, more than 60 days or is not more than 100 miles from your residence
Remember, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation is only available if you book at least part of your trip using your Sapphire card, so keep that in mind when securing flights and making reservations to take advantage of your card’s travel benefits.
Credit cards that offer medical evacuation coverage
Not every credit card includes medical evacuation coverage, and some may have an annual fee. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card includes Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage but has an annual fee. As always, read the guide to cardmember benefits to fully understand the terms and coverage.
If you are interested in getting a card with Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage as well as other premium travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card may be a good option.
Chase Sapphire Reserve travel benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card’s travel benefits make it a viable option for frequent and even occasional travelers. In addition to Emergency Evacuation and Transportation coverage, the card’s travel protection benefits include:
- Baggage Delay Insurance
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement
- Trip Delay Reimbursement
- Auto Rental Coverage
Travel benefits with Sapphire Reserve extend beyond insurance though. In addition, you will get access to airport lounges, fee reimbursements for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS Fee Credit as well as paying no foreign transaction fees.
In summary
Medical evacuation coverage may not be something you consider when comparing cardmember benefits of various cards, but it’s coverage you may be glad to have when you need it. Should you require emergency transportation to a medical facility or hospital to receive care, this benefit may cover all or a portion of the costs associated with getting you to the medical care you need. Not all credit cards offer this type of travel benefit, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve does, as well as a host of other premium travel benefits.
