Medical emergency necessitates medical evacuation

Earlier this year a 20-year-old Kara Dunn was on a vacation trip to Europe, which began in Spain. The day after she and her friend landed in Spain she began to experience a plethora of strange symptoms, which culminated in her heading to the emergency room. Her situation continued to deteriorate, as medical personnel struggled to diagnose her ailment as Guillain Barre Syndrome. Once diagnosed, she was stabilized and medically evacuated the U.S.

Her girlfriends started a Go-Fund-Me page which raised approximately US$ 100,000. In her interview with NBC’s Megyn Kelly on 22 October, Dunn advises she did not have travel insurance. The UK’s Daily Mail advises that “her travel insurance will pay for the flight in full. We are blown away. A huge thank you to On Call International, World Nomads travel insurance, and FoxFlight air ambulance.” Her Go-Fund-Me pages confirms that the medical evacuation was covered by insurance, but noted that the family’s expenses careened to more than $100,000. An extract: “The cost of the emergency flight back to the United States will now be covered by insurance, however, out-of-pocket medical expenses, physical therapy and transportation/housing for our family is $100,000.”

Regardless, Dunn was successfully evacuated and is now enroute to a full recovery.

Travel Security Checklist - Medical and Health Risk Information reminds us of the need to travel with appropriate insurance.

Travel / Medical Evac / Security Extraction Insurance – This is your backup plan in an uncertain world. Companies exist which combine premium travel insurance with medical evacuation and /or security extraction coverage for when things really go sideways.

The US Department of State emphasizes to travel with evacuation insurance because while they will assist you in a medical evacuation, the cost is 100% yours.

I’ve written a piece, “Be sure to have the right insurance” which discusses the different types of insurance a traveler might wish to consider. Trip insurance, health insurance and evacuation insurance (medical or unrest).

Air Ambulances are not cheap, and moving a patient from Mexico to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars, while moving one from Australia to the United States may well run over a hundred thousand dollars.