Frequently asked questions
Does TravelShield Transport for COVID-19?
Yes, TravelShield transports for Covid-19 hospitalizations, along with all the other illnesses and accidents that can land you in a hospital while traveling. Transport benefits are both domestic and international.
What is the difference between my Travel Shield Coverage and my Travel Insurance policy?
Basic Travel Insurance often covers travelers from financial loss resulting from canceled trips, lost baggage, medical expenses, and some medical evacuation expenses, while Travel Shield provides additional services and covers all financial burdens associated with emergency evacuations. With a Travel Shield Membership, the cost of transporting you in an ambulance to the emergency aircraft, the flight, and then on to another ambulance to the hospital of choice is included in your membership.
What does TravelShield do?
Regardless of medical necessity, if a member is hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, TravelShield will arrange medical transfer to the hospital of their choice within their home country with no pre-existing condition exclusions (under age 75), health questions, deductibles or claim forms. There are no monetary limits to the program's benefits and no restrictions on the amount or type of travel taken annually.
Doesn’t my current health or travel insurance cover air-medical transports?
The vast majority of traditional health providers do not provide coverage for air-medical transfer services. If there is some coverage of this type, it will likely contain restrictions and significant out-of-pocket costs. Check with your provider for specific details.
Who decides whether I am transported?
If you call TravelShield, our medical department will consult with your local attending physician to determine your stability for transfer. If you meet the criteria for transport and are medically stable, the decision is yours.
If I want to be transported from one hospital to another in a medical situation, are all my costs covered?
As long as your membership is up to date and you meet the criteria for transport, TravelShield will arrange air-medical transfer from bedside to bedside at no out-of-pocket cost to you. All you pay is your membership fee.
What isn’t covered under the TravelShield Membership?
TravelShield acts as your own private global response team helping remove you out of harm’s way and transport you to a safe location with physicians in your preferred network. TravelShield covers the entire cost of transport should you need to be evacuated, however, it does not cover your medical expenses such as hospital stay, emergency room charges, doctor visits or medication. Members are financially responsible for their own medical insurance or travel medical insurance.
How many transports am I allowed each year?
Members under the age of 75 are allowed two transports per membership year. In the case of a common accident involving multiple enrolled family members, each and every member of the enrolled family will receive one transport.
If we have the family plan, can multiple members be traveling on different trips throughout the world and still be covered or do we all need to be traveling together?
Yes, all members on the family TravelShield membership are fully covered wherever they are traveling, as long as they are listed on the account. If one of your children is studying abroad while you and your spouse are vacationing in the Caribbean you can rest assured TravelShield resources are available to assist each family member if an emergency crisis were to occur.
How long will my repatriation take if I’m hospitalized internationally?
Medical repatriation timeframes can vary. They depend on many different factors, including but not limited to the time it takes to process the required permits and visas for the countries involved. For details that are specific to your situation, please contact TravelShield prior to your travels.
What constitutes a “family” under family plan membership?
A family plan membership may include a primary member, a domestic partner or spouse, and up to five dependent children up to age 26.
Do you have the resources to transport my entire family if we were all involved in a medical situation and subsequently hospitalized?
Yes. Some TravelShield authorized affiliate aircraft can transport up to two critical patients at once, and can dispatch multiple aircraft at one time. Through our affiliate network, we can also transport several non-acute patients at once on a common aircraft.
Does TravelShield operate or maintain its own aircraft?
No. TravelShield is an authorized Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) utilizing the services of licensed Part 135 air carriers to meet your air ambulance transportation needs. TravelShield does not own, lease or operate any aircraft, and has no affiliation with any direct air carrier. As an IAC, TravelShield contracts for the provision of air transportation services in its own name and coordinates the provision of medical services for your flight. All flights are operated by licensed direct air carriers.
What are TravelShield’s requirements for the aircraft and crew?
TravelShield requires all authorized medical aircraft to be twin engine with a minimum of two pilots specially trained and certified for the specific aircraft they are flying. Medical teams must be specially trained in the care of critically ill or injured patients at altitude, with experience in both short- and long-range air medical transport missions. All authorized affiliates must comply annually with TravelShield standards with regard to liability insurance limits, as well as pilot and medical crew training.
What medical capabilities do the aircraft have?
Aircraft operated by TravelShield authorized affiliates are fitted with state-of-the-art medical equipment and are able to operate as flying intensive-care units. All aircraft have the capability of accommodating one critical patient and family member along with a medical team.