Medical Evacuation
Medical evacuation is the emergency transport of a patient to a facility with better care, often by air ambulance across borders.
Medical evacuation is the emergency transport of a patient to a facility with better care, often by air ambulance across borders.
Also known as
Medevac, Air ambulance transfer, Emergency medical transport
Why travellers need to know
Medical evacuation is one of the most expensive things that can happen to you abroad, and one of the hardest to arrange in the moment. Costs range from $5,000 for a short helicopter transfer to over $100,000 for an intercontinental air ambulance. Most standard travel insurance policies include evacuation cover, but the limits vary widely and some exclude high-altitude trekking or remote areas. Before any trip to a country where local healthcare is limited, check that your insurance explicitly covers evacuation to your home country or nearest adequate facility.
Real-world example
You're trekking near Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal when a member of your group develops symptoms of severe altitude sickness. The nearest hospital with ICU capability is in Kathmandu, a 30-minute helicopter ride but an 8-hour drive. A medevac helicopter is called. The flight costs roughly $4,000. Without travel insurance with evacuation cover, you're paying that upfront before the helicopter takes off.
Country-specific notes
🇳🇵 Nepal
Helicopter evacuation: $3,000–5,000
Helicopter evacuation from trekking routes is common and well-established. Routes from Annapurna and Everest base camps are flown regularly by multiple operators.
Some insurance fraud has been reported involving unnecessary evacuations. Use operators recommended by your trekking agency or embassy.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Regional evacuation hub for Southeast Asia
Bangkok has excellent hospitals, so evacuation within Thailand is rarely needed. Cross-border evacuation from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia to Bangkok is a standard pathway.
Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospital both accept international evacuations with direct billing to major insurers.
🇰🇪 Kenya
AMREF Flying Doctors: East Africa’s air ambulance
AMREF Flying Doctors operates the most established air ambulance service in East Africa. Nairobi is the regional hub for evacuations from Somalia, South Sudan, and rural East Africa.
AMREF offers tourist evacuation memberships starting at $30 for short visits. Worth considering for safari or remote travel.
🇧🇴 Bolivia
High-altitude evacuations to lower elevations
La Paz sits at 3,640m and Potosi at 4,090m. Altitude-related evacuations to Santa Cruz (which has the best hospital facilities) are not uncommon for visitors.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical evacuation cost?
Costs range from $3,000-5,000 for a short helicopter transfer to $50,000-150,000 for an intercontinental air ambulance with medical crew. Repatriation to your home country from a remote location can exceed $200,000.
Does travel insurance cover medical evacuation?
Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include evacuation cover, but limits vary from $100,000 to unlimited. Check your policy for exclusions around altitude, adventure sports, and pre-existing conditions. Some budget policies exclude evacuation entirely.
What is the difference between medical evacuation and medical repatriation?
Medical evacuation moves you to the nearest adequate facility (often in another country). Medical repatriation brings you back to your home country for ongoing treatment. They are separate insurance benefits with separate limits.
Your Nomedic IPS gives evacuation teams your allergies, medications, and diagnoses via QR code — no phone calls to your GP back home.