Tommy A
Nomad
Posts: 225
Registered: 5-19-2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca
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Mood: Relaxed
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Skymed
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
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 13369
Registered: 10-3-2003
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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]
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1108
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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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).
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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Another option to consider:
https://redpointtravelprotection.com/plan/ripcord/
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2340
Registered: 4-23-2006
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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"
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Tommy A
Nomad
Posts: 225
Registered: 5-19-2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: Relaxed
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Me too.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20150
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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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.
Woke!
Hands off!
“Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres.”
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Pronoun: the royal we
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 13369
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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| 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.
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Great info, thanks for sharing.
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John Harper
Super Nomad
Posts: 2289
Registered: 3-9-2017
Location: SoCal
Member Is Offline
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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
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Don Pisto
Banned
Posts: 1282
Registered: 8-1-2018
Location: El Pescador
Member Is Offline
Mood: weary like everyone else
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some more thoughts on the subject....
https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/healthcare/mexico-medi...
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2751
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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| 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.
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DIWR17
Junior Nomad
Posts: 74
Registered: 1-6-2020
Member Is Offline
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Try Imglobal.com
Patriot Travel insurance. That's who I've used for 20 years down here.
[Edited on 5-12-2022 by DIWR17]
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
5-13-2022 at 11:08 AM |
lizard lips
Super Nomad
Posts: 1469
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: EARTH
Member Is Offline
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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!
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2751
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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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.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20150
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by Alm |
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.
Woke!
Hands off!
“Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres.”
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Pronoun: the royal we
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