Medjet expands coverage to include COVID-19 infections

Medjet members hospitalized with active COVID-19 infections are now eligible for air medical transport within the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean

Air medical transport and security response membership provider Medjet announced today that beginning October 19, 2020, members who fall ill from COVID-19 and become hospitalized while traveling in the contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, may now be transported to a home hospital of their choice. Medjet, like all other programs of its kind, had previously excluded active COVID infections from transport, and is the first to adjust its program to include it, the company says.

“We know that COVID has become our members’ number one concern, and we wanted to address that,” said Mike Hallman, CEO of Medjet. “We always try to evolve our services based on member needs.”

To roll out the enhancement, Medjet has sourced more aircraft with isolation pods and crews with proper training.

Hallman said, “We have worked through operational issues, clearances and ongoing restrictions relative to the 48 contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. We can now provide our members with the same hospital-to-hospital medical transport benefits that we’ve always provided, at the level of service our members have come to expect, to get them home safely should they fall ill with COVID-19.”

Broader international transport for COVID-19 is not yet available, but all other hospitalization events for which Medjet transports remain covered.

“The same car accidents, heart attacks, strokes, slip and falls, etc. that happened pre-COVID, kept happening during COVID, and will keep happening after COVID,” said Hallman. “Members hospitalized internationally, who are not COVID-positive, remain eligible for transport to their hospital at home.”

Prior to the pandemic, safety and security ranked as the top concern for many travelers. MedjetHorizon, Medjet’s transport membership with added 24/7 security and crisis response benefits, was its fastest-growing membership.

“We expect our MedjetHorizon numbers to remain strong,” said Hallman. “The pandemic, while elevating medical concerns amongst travelers, has also elevated crime and safety concerns, even in places that used to be perceived as ‘safe’.”

Domestic medical transport flights can cost up to $30,000

Despite the increased cost of providing transport for a COVID-19 positive member, Medjet will continue to absorb 100% of all costs associated with the transport, and maintain their “no cost caps on transports” policy. A regular air ambulance transport can cost up to $30,000 domestically, and up to $180,000 internationally.

The new benefit will be available to current and new MedjetAssist and MedjetHorizon members as of October 19, 2020. Medjet memberships will remain the same price, starting at $99.

Medjet memberships are available to residents of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and protect members while traveling 150 miles or more from their primary residence.