BajaNomad

Skymed

Tommy A - 5-1-2022 at 07:50 PM

Thinking of getting Skymed for when I am traveling/ staying in Baja, is it worth it, anyone have an experience dealing with this company during an emergency?
Thx

JZ - 5-1-2022 at 07:58 PM

About 5-6 years ago I signed the family up for MedJet. https://medjetassist.com/

I did a good bit of research back then and it seemed like the best. Not sure if that is still true today. I let it lapse after a couple yeas.

If you do some searches on here you'll find some discussion on the topic.


[Edited on 5-2-2022 by JZ]

BajaMama - 5-2-2022 at 06:57 AM

It's a good idea to have it. An acquaintance from our ex pat community recently experienced a series of strokes, had to go to La Paz and was airlifted home to British Columbia. I have no idea who the provider was, may have been the insurance provided by the Canadian government (that is the impression I got anyway).

BigWooo - 5-2-2022 at 08:19 PM

Another option to consider:

https://redpointtravelprotection.com/plan/ripcord/

pacificobob - 5-3-2022 at 06:50 AM

I keep waiting for a believable testimonial where an insured client stated something like " I was injured and and was whisked to my hometown hospital in a medevac gulfstream and never got a bill"

Tommy A - 5-4-2022 at 08:00 AM

Me too.

mtgoat666 - 5-4-2022 at 10:35 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
I keep waiting for a believable testimonial where an insured client stated something like " I was injured and and was whisked to my hometown hospital in a medevac gulfstream and never got a bill"


I know someone who got transported from la paz to home hospital in Bay Area CA, after breaking a hip. But I dont think it was a Gulfstream, pic looked like a Learjet. It was not "whisked" transport. Took a full day to get to la paz, then needed to be evaluated by hospital in la paz to verify injury/stability, involved an overnite in la paz hospital, then next day flown to Oakland. So basicly 2 nites in mexico after her injury, then flight to Oakland.
I understand the approval time from insurer was quite fast, after getting to hospital in la paz. Approval was very fast after la paz med staff talked with insurer (approved in under an hour or 2). I think jet arrived in la paz less than 24 hours after check in to la paz hospital.
She told me that her transport costs were basically zero beyond the insurance policy cost (i think she had hospital costs in la paz).
Don't know if you count me as "believable testimony." I happen to believe her.

JZ - 5-4-2022 at 11:09 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


I know someone who got transported from la paz to home hospital in Bay Area CA, after breaking a hip. But I dont think it was a Gulfstream, pic looked like a Learjet. It was not "whisked" transport. Took a full day to get to la paz, then needed to be evaluated by hospital in la paz to verify injury/stability, involved an overnite in la paz hospital, then next day flown to Oakland. So basicly 2 nites in mexico after her injury, then flight to Oakland.
I understand the approval time from insurer was quite fast, after getting to hospital in la paz. Approval was very fast after la paz med staff talked with insurer (approved in under an hour or 2). I think jet arrived in la paz less than 24 hours after check in to la paz hospital.
She told me that her transport costs were basically zero beyond the insurance policy cost (i think she had hospital costs in la paz).
Don't know if you count me as "believable testimony." I happen to believe her.



Great info, thanks for sharing.

John Harper - 5-4-2022 at 11:10 AM

This guy is on the local fishing radio show, and seems very knowledgeable about travel insurance.

https://safariglobaltravel.com/

Might be worth an email or phone call just to get advice from someone who knows the industry.

John

Don Pisto - 5-4-2022 at 11:25 AM

some more thoughts on the subject....
https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/healthcare/mexico-medi...

Alm - 5-10-2022 at 06:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Tommy A  
Thinking of getting Skymed for when I am traveling/ staying in Baja, is it worth it, anyone have an experience dealing with this company during an emergency?
Thx

Skymed is different from a dozen of others in that they take you to a hospital in your "home town". You must specify the "home" when signing the contract, it can be changed later.

Another difference is - much higher price. Medjetassist costs half as much and will also take you "home". DAN costs 5 or 6 times less - $50 a year? don't remember, but will take you only to the nearest suitable hospital which could be in Baja but between language problems and healthcare quality questionable even in Mexicans' opinion, they will "likely" take you to the closest US hospital.

All these schemes require you to be 100-150 miles away from whatever "home" you specified in the contract, when injured.

They are not very fast. I recall an account from Puerto Vallarta, the guy was hospitalized right there, after call placed on weekday morning it took 16 hours to roll him into the US hospital. Call placed n the night or on weekend will take longer. Evac planes won't land on an airstrip in a small town. There was a a nomad-broker from one of these companies, he mentioned a list of airfields that they serve, I don't remember now. With a stroke you have 4 hours window to get treated before irreparable damage occurs - might not die but speech and cognitive abilities will not be the same.

DIWR17 - 5-12-2022 at 01:29 PM

Try Imglobal.com

Patriot Travel insurance. That's who I've used for 20 years down here.

[Edited on 5-12-2022 by DIWR17]

lizard lips - 5-14-2022 at 07:06 AM

I investigate life insurance claims and medical claims all over the world and do work for travel insurance companies. I once had a medical claim where the insured had his gall bladder removed at a clinic in Cabo where they attempted to charge the insurance company more than 20 times the normal fee for this type of procedure. Of course they didn't pay and the clinic's name is now on the hit list of ex-pats not to use. Most travel insurance companies investigate these claims and others always because of the constant fraud involved. Skymed or an affiliated air transport can be purchased with the total package. Never had a problem with Skymed and they are an excellent service. Go on-line to review and always obtain travel insurance when on vacation!

Alm - 5-14-2022 at 11:56 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lizard lips  
Skymed or an affiliated air transport can be purchased with the total package.

Yes. One may purchase a standalone evac plan like Skymed additionally to the package of travel insurance even when the latter includes some evac service. This could indeed help to avoid being treated in places like Cabo where the included evac service won't work because it only takes you to the "nearest appropriate" hospital.

When the situation is really urgent you'll have to be treated in nearest appropriate place anyway.

mtgoat666 - 5-14-2022 at 12:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
Quote: Originally posted by lizard lips  
Skymed or an affiliated air transport can be purchased with the total package.

Yes. One may purchase a standalone evac plan like Skymed additionally to the package of travel insurance even when the latter includes some evac service. This could indeed help to avoid being treated in places like Cabo where the included evac service won't work because it only takes you to the "nearest appropriate" hospital.

When the situation is really urgent you'll have to be treated in nearest appropriate place anyway.


Typically, the air ambulance won’t be dispatched by insurer until the patient has been evaluated by a local med professional (insurer wants to know particulars before authorizing air service) and patient is stable.