Q: What is medical repatriation, and how does it work if I am injured or fall ill abroad?
A: Our policies provide comprehensive cover for emergency medical transportation and repatriation up to our policy limits. However, because our insurance is designed strictly for unexpected emergencies rather than private medical care, repatriation operates under these core principles:
1. Immediate Notification Requirement
If you experience an illness, injury, or accident that requires you to be admitted to a hospital as an in-patient, you or someone on your behalf must contact our Emergency Medical Assistance Service as soon as possible. You must notify them before any independent arrangements are made to fly you home.
2. Our Right to Move or Repatriate You
We reserve the right to transfer you from one hospital to another, or to arrange for your medical repatriation back to the United Kingdom at any point during your trip. This decision is made by our Emergency Medical Assistance team (in consultation with your local attending doctor) as soon as it is deemed medically safe for you to travel. If your treatment can be safely and reasonably delayed until you get back to the UK, the policy will not pay for private treatment abroad.
3. What If You Choose Not to Be Repatriated?
If our medical teams determine that it is safe for you to fly home to continue your recovery, but you refuse to accept our decision and choose to stay abroad, your medical coverage for that condition stops immediately.
From the exact date of your refusal, we will refuse all claims for further local treatment, additional accommodation, or future repatriation under the following sections:
Section 1: Cancelling or Cutting Short a Trip
Section 2: Medical Emergency and Repatriation Expenses
Section 6: Personal Accident
Section 8: Cruise Cover
Note: Your cover under all other non-medical sections of the policy (such as baggage) will continue normally for the rest of your scheduled trip.
4. Class of Travel and Ticket Deductions
Emergency transportation covers the necessary costs of air ambulances or alternative travel, including qualified medical attendants. However, transport is based on the identical class of travel you used on your outward journey.
If we pay for your return flight home early, the policy does not cover the cost of your unused original tickets. Furthermore, if you traveled without a return ticket booked, the standard cost of an economy flight home will be deducted from your final claim payout.
Please note: All cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, and any applicable excess.