When I plan a big trip, whether it’s hiking in Peru’s Sacred Valley, exploring the Galápagos, or finally taking that bucket-list safari, I spend hours researching hotels, curating the perfect itinerary, and making sure I pack just right. What isn’t as exciting to plan for is what would happen if something went wrong.
A twisted ankle on a trail, an unexpected illness, or even something more serious—these things don’t always cross your mind when you’re in the thick of planning. But the truth is, medical emergencies can (and do) happen while traveling and frankly, the older I get, the more I think about the “what ifs”.
I never travel, especially abroad, without travel insurance. But most standard travel insurance only covers getting you to the nearest “adequate” medical facility, not back home to your family and your trusted doctors.
That’s where Medjet comes in.
Medjet is a global air medical transport and security response membership program for travelers. If you are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, Medjet arranges (and pays for!) bedside-to-bedside transport to the hospital of your choice back home.
Travel insurance will only move you if they (not you, but they) deem it “medically necessary”. Medjet will move you home just because you want to move. I don’t know about you, but if I have to be in the hospital, I would rather be somewhere surrounded by my doctors and family than in a foreign country where I don’t speak the local language or across the country all alone.
Disclosure: This article is written in partnership with Medjet. All opinions are my own.
What Really Happens If You Get Sick or Hurt Abroad
Here’s a scenario many travelers don’t consider: you’re on safari in Kenya when you develop severe abdominal pain. You’re rushed to a local hospital, but the facilities are limited. Travel insurance may pay the medical bills or arrange transport to a larger “acceptable” hospital nearby—but that would still be thousands of miles away in a country where you don’t speak the language or know the medical system.
Plus, even if you have a travel companion, they may not be able to afford to take more time off or cover the expense to stay with you, leaving you far from your friends and family support network that everyone needs during trying times.
Travel Facts
For midlife travelers who are embracing more adventurous and far-flung trips than ever before, that’s a risk worth thinking about. I love active trips that involve hiking, kayaking, and exploring, but I also know that if something happened to me far from home, I’d want the option to be moved to the doctors and the support system I trust.
Over the years, I’ve heard too many stories of broken bones, car accidents, and medical emergencies that have happened while on vacation. I don’t want fear of the “what ifs” to stop me from traveling and living my life, but I also want the security and safety of my home medical system and support network.
A single medical transport can cost between $30,000 and $250,000. A Medjet membership can save you that if you need one.
Images courtesy of Medjet
How Medjet Works
Medjet is a medical transport membership program. If you are a Medjet member who is hospitalized while traveling, Medjet can arrange and pay for your medical transport from the local hospital to the hospital of your choice at home.
No out of pocket expenses. No claim forms. No adventure travel exclusions. No waiting until you are “well enough” to return by commercial flight. No pre-existing condition exclusions (for those under 75.) Simply call Medjet, and they take care of the logistics and expenses to get you where you want to be.
There are two levels of membership, MedjetAssist and MedjetHorizon, to offer peace of mind when you travel:
MedjetAssist
MedjetAssist provides and pays for hospital-to-hospital medical transfers for members if an injury or illness and hospitalization occur during international travel or domestic trips more than 150 miles from home.
Unlike health or travel insurance, which typically transports to the “nearest acceptable facility,” and only further if “medically necessary,” a Medjet Member is transferred to their home hospital of choice, regardless of medical necessity and with no co-pays or hidden costs.
Medjet has no adventure travel exclusions, no claim forms or subrogation, and no pre-existing exclusions (under age 75).
MedjetHorizon
MedjetHorizon includes all the benefits of a MedjetAssist membership, plus worldwide travel security and crisis response services.
Members have access to a 24/7 travel security network for in-country response, including extraction if necessary, for a wide range of safety threats while traveling including natural disasters, political threat, terrorism, wrongful detention, disappearance, pandemic, and more.
MedjetHorizon members can call for help any time they feel uneasy; there is no need to wait for government issued hard triggers or official evacuation orders.
Why Medjet Stands Out
Medjet was the first to bring the air-medical transport membership concept to the United States and remains the most trusted name in the business. It’s the program chosen by professional travel writers, celebrities, athletes, and organizations like AARP, the NFL, and Morgan Stanley.
The older I get, the more risk averse I have become (probably because I’ve seen so much of what can happen.) What I appreciate about Medjet is the peace of mind that it provides. While travel insurance is essential, a Medjet membership is the icing on the cake that brings the most peace of mind and allows me to fully focus on enjoying the adventure instead of letting worry hold me back.
Recent Member Transports by Medjet
Why It Matters for Midlife Travelers
For many women in midlife, this is the time to embrace long-awaited trips: a river cruise in Europe, a walking holiday, or an adventure trip to Chile. These are active, bucket-list adventures, often in remote destinations. At the same time, we’re more mindful of health needs and more aware of wanting to be surrounded by family if something unexpected happens.
Medjet gives me the confidence to travel boldly while knowing I have a safety net. It’s not about fear—it’s about making smart, empowering choices that allow me to keep saying yes to adventures.
On my recent solo trip to the Galápagos, I realized how important this kind of coverage could be. The islands are magical, but also remote. If anything had happened while I was out hiking lava fields or snorkeling, the nearest hospital would have been on the mainland in Ecuador. In that moment, I knew I would want the option to then be flown home to Rhode Island, to be with my family and in the care of my own doctors.
That’s exactly the peace of mind Medjet provides.
Ready to Travel Smarter?
Medjet memberships start at a surprisingly affordable rate and can be purchased for short trips or annual coverage, depending on your travel style. Before your next adventure, consider giving yourself—and your loved ones—the reassurance that if the unexpected happens, you’ll have the power to get home.
You can learn more and explore membership options here.
Medjet at a Glance
What It Is:
A global air medical transport and travel security membership program.
Who Can Join:
Residents of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Members must join before leaving on a trip. If you are under 75 you can sign up online or by phone.
How It Works:
- If hospitalized 150+ miles from home, Medjet arranges and pays for bedside-to-bedside transport to the hospital of your choice in your home country.
- No claim forms. No out-of-pocket expenses. No pre-existing condition exclusions under age 75.
Membership Options:
- MedjetAssist: Medical transport membership.
- MedjetHorizon: Medical transport + travel security and crisis response.
Cost:
- Short-term memberships from $99.
- Annual memberships from $315 individual / $425 family.
Why It Matters:
Don’t get stuck in a foreign hospital. Medjet gives you the power to choose your hospital at home. Take trips, not chances.
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Tamara Gruber is an award-winning travel writer and the founder of Your Time to Fly. With more than a decade of professional writing experience across two travel publications and hundreds of destination guides, she specializes in crafting practical, detailed itineraries that help travelers explore the world with confidence. Her work reflects years of on-the-ground research across the globe. Tamara is a member of SATW and serves on the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association.
