Medical Evacuation Membership Value Calculator
Estimate whether a medical evacuation membership pays for itself by weighing annual fees against the likelihood and cost of an air ambulance during your planned travel schedule.
Coverage terms vary. Confirm benefit limits, exclusions, and coordination requirements with the membership provider before relying on this calculator for critical travel decisions.
Examples
- $525 fee, $85,000 evacuation, 0.6% per-trip probability, 6 trips, no reserve ⇒ Expected value $2,535.00, break-even probability 0.10%, $422.50 value per trip, $85,000.00 uncovered without reserves.
- $189 fee, $35,000 evacuation, 0.2% probability, 2 trips, $10,000 reserve ⇒ Expected value -$49.00, break-even probability 0.27%, -$24.50 per trip, $25,000.00 uncovered after reserves.
FAQ
Do premium credit cards make memberships redundant?
Many cards reimburse up to a cap or require you to pay upfront. Enter that cap as part of the self-funded reserve to see the remaining exposure a membership could cover.
How do pre-existing condition exclusions factor in?
If exclusions apply, reduce the evacuation probability to reflect the chance a claim is denied or price a supplemental membership that waives the exclusion.
Can I annualize single-trip policies with this tool?
Yes. Convert the per-trip premium to an annual cost and set trips to one. The break-even probability output still shows the odds needed for the policy to pay off.
Should I include repatriation of remains costs?
If that service is important, add its estimated cost to the evacuation amount so the expected value calculation reflects the full logistics package.
Additional Information
- Evacuation costs vary widely by region, aircraft, and medical team requirements; use carrier quotes or travel insurer disclosures for realistic estimates.
- Probability per trip should reflect itinerary risk—mountain expeditions, remote cruises, or limited medical infrastructure raise the odds compared with urban travel.
- Self-funded reserves offset part of the one-time expense but can take days to access; memberships often include coordination, bedside-to-bedside transport, and hospital selection services.
- Re-run the calculator annually as your itinerary mix and evacuation pricing change, or if premium credit cards add medevac benefits that reduce your incremental need.