Key points

  • Whether a policy covers an air ambulance depends entirely on its wording. Check before assuming.
  • Many travel insurance policies include medical evacuation or repatriation, usually only with prior approval from the insurer's assistance team.
  • Insurers decide on cover. A coordinator can supply the information they need, but cannot guarantee their decision.

An air ambulance is one of the most expensive parts of any medical journey, so the question of who pays often comes before everything else. The answer depends on the patient’s insurance policy and on the insurer’s decision about this particular case.

This guide is general information. It is not advice on any specific policy, and the insurer’s decision is final.

Types of cover

Travel insurance. Many travel insurance policies include emergency medical evacuation and repatriation for travellers who fall ill or are injured abroad. Cover usually depends on the insurer agreeing that the transfer is medically necessary, and on the transfer being arranged with their approval.

Health insurance in India. Some Indian health insurance policies include air ambulance cover, sometimes as an optional add-on, with conditions and limits. Others do not cover it at all. Read the policy wording or ask the insurer.

Employer and corporate cover. Some employers provide medical assistance cover for staff who travel or work abroad, through an assistance company.

Self-funded. Where no cover applies, the family pays. A written quotation that separates confirmed costs from estimates helps families make that decision.

What insurers usually ask for

  • The policy number and the policyholder’s details
  • A medical report from the treating doctor
  • Confirmation that the transfer is medically necessary
  • The proposed plan and quotation
  • Details of the receiving hospital

Most insurers with evacuation cover operate an assistance team that must approve the plan before the transfer. Arranging a transfer first and claiming later can lead to the claim being refused.

Avoiding delays

  • Call the insurer’s assistance number as early as possible and get a case reference.
  • Share that reference and the insurer’s contact with your coordinator.
  • Ask the insurer in writing what they will and will not pay for.

We can work directly with insurers and assistance companies once the family shares the policy details. See our page for insurers, TPAs and assistance companies.

Repatriation to India

For Indian families with a relative taken ill abroad, travel insurance is often the main source of cover. Read bringing a patient home to India for the full process.