TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Medevac Insurance

I know we've been down this road before but I just had an acquaintance of mine that had to be airlifted off SXM and back home to Michigan at a cost of $45,000. Maybe at 64 I should start thinking about the Medevac Insurance.

With as much as you personally travel to SXM, yes, you should think about getting a yearly policy through Sky Med or elsewhere. You can get a policy which includes air evac pretty cheaply from the airlines each time you book, but for you, it might be worth it for the yearly policy.

We never used to buy any insurance. Now we always buy it.

I think I'll look into it before my next trip.

It's so cheap-- it's a no-brainer. We bought SkyMed for 8 days for 2 people--120$.

I agree with their comments, Tim. After coming to SXM for 6 years, the last 3 trips I started getting a SkyMed policy each time. If something serious happens, Michigan is a LONG way away from "paradise".

Motown-we just spent a month on the island-we buy coverage every year through Allianz when we purchase our American airline tickets. $105.00 for 2 people. 2 years ago we got caught in an ice storm returning through Charlotte, NC-the insurance paid meals, lodging and taxicabs.

But SkyMed doesn't offer coverage when you venture to Europe or Central America.

Any specific recommendations for coverage that includes those (and other) areas?

gary

Skymed will fly you to your hospital of choice. Others only fly you to the nearest US hospital. We choose the yearly plan just in case.

From somewhere in Europe, my question?

gary

My wife and I have had a policy with Medjet Assist for years because 1) their coverage is worldwide so no matter where in the world you travel to you are covered and 2) they fly you to the hospital of your choice no matter how far that is from where you are at the time you are hurt. If you travel often enough then their annual policies are the way to go. If you are an occasional traveler then you can purchase coverage for individual trips.

I don't believe this covers medical evacuation, if you are interested in that.
We have used that company, TravelGuard and are just trying a new company that is not as expensive, but it brings you to a hospital near home.

Certainly it does. We buy insurance through Alliance (sp?? Not sure how it's spelled), all the time when we buy tickets through AA and it covers medical evac. It doesn't "take you home" like Skymed, but it definitely has medical evac, as well as medical coverage, etc. I'm not sure that it covers trip cancellation, but that is not that important to us, as we figure we can reschedule a hotel and we usually get frequent flyer tickets, which on AA, you can reschedule the DATES without any penalty, if you keep the same flight itinerary.

The past five years we purchase Medjet yearly. They fly you to your hospital of choice and you are covered in Europe also. Skymed does not cover Europe.

OOPs I meant to your home hospital. And some hotels do not refund your money if you cancel the last minute if you are sick.
I think ours is one that you must take travel insurance. And our plane tickets too.

(I also thought the amount they charge, while in the process of buying the tickets, was so little, it only included the cost of the ticket.) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I guess on the hotel it depends where you stay, but if we are staying at Beachside, I know they would let us reschedule. It is much cheaper to buy your insurance at the same time that you are buying a ticket, even if it is through Alliance afterwards. I guess it's because they have some kind of a deal with the airline? Don't know, but it is cheaper to buy at the time you buy your ticket, for sure.

I have been reluctant to weigh in but in July I was Life Flighted off St Martin. I was misdiagnosed and mistreated at a French hospital,my wife and a treasured friend went through Steven and many others at Club O to have me and my wife flown from SXM to MIA then HOU transferred to Methodist Hospital.The cost was $684,000. I survived,but another 12 hours would have been a different ending! It took 3 days to negotiate the plane and transfers,that's cutting it close!!! BTW I was not a client of Club O at the time but they helped my wife at her greatest time of need and never asked more than an update on my condition! Much love to Stephen,all staff and Carlos!!! For my kite! TEXAS

Wow! Glad you made the right decisions and you're okay now and able to share this. Thanks for the numbers surrounding your misfortune. This should give cause to most of us to recheck our insurance policies, JIC........... and I guess it pays to have good friends in unusual places. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Wow, hope you are doing better now...

DAN offers a global option of all-inclusive travel insurance. In addition to diving emergencies, up to $250,000 in emergency relocation expense plus every other type of travel insurance included.
Divers alert network. I pay about $650 annually

Check out Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card. True, it's $450 annual fee BUT, among other benefits you get $300 travel credit per year.
But this is about travel insurance. If you book your travel using this card, you and spouse/domestic partner and dependent children are covered for every type of travel insurance there is. Here is the relevant part.....What is Covered..
This is not an exhaustive list. Examples include:
Transportation, medical services, and medical supplies that are necessary for your emergency evacuation
Transportation includes, but is not limited to, AIR AMBULANCES, land ambulances, and private motor vehicles. Coverage Amount up to $100,000. Of course all other categories of trip insurance are covered as well. As a side benefit you get complimentary entrance to Priority Pass airport lounges around the world including Princess Juliana.

You might check the SEPARATE coverage for air evac, as to what the coverage limit is for that. You need at least $50,000 coverage just for the air evac. Just because the TOTAL coverage is $100,000, doesn't mean there is $100,000 just for the air evac part.

Looking at our 2017 Allianz policy the cost was $99.56 for 30 days;coverages med-vac is $50K emergency medical & dental is $10K, trip cancellation $686.00, delay etc $500.00, trip interruption $686.00. We used the interruption coverage during Charlotte ice storm-we scanned receipts and email to Allianz-they sent separate checks to me and the wife=each received 50% of the claim. In total it was $300.00+. Our health care coverage has a provision to return us to their "home network".

Thanks for sharing your xperience and congrats on your survival. Could you tell what insurance you had and how much of that astronomical expense was covered? We are exploring different and definitely want a policy that takes you to the hospital of your choice. Would appreciate your info. Thanks so much!