Travel Resources for Adventurers
Global Rescue vs Medjet: What's Better for your Trip?
Written by Antonio Cala.
Table of Contents
If you are planning an adventure or remote travel, having reliable medical evacuation and travel protection is crucial for peace of mind and safety. Two leading providers in this niche are Global Rescue and Medjet.
Both companies specialize in offering emergency medical evacuation services, but they differ in various aspects such as coverage options, membership benefits, and pricing.
In this article we will provide a comprehensive comparison of Global Rescue and Medjet, examining their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision on which provider best suits your travel safety needs.
If you would like to know more about insurance options for adventure travel, make sure to check out our Complete Guide to Adventure Travel Insurance. Let’s jump in.
Global Rescue & Medjet Overview
Global Rescue
Global Rescue offers medical protection specifically tailored for adventure travelers heading into remote areas, whether alone or in groups. Coverage is available for all nationalities, with options for individuals over 75 years old.
Their services focus exclusively on medical and evacuation coverage, without including trip protection or baggage coverage.
The primary appeal of Global Rescue is its extensive global rescue network, enabling them to provide unparalleled emergency evacuation services to adventure travelers.
Medjet
Medjet on the other hand is an evacuation-only protection. If something happens to you during your travels they will fly you home from wherever you are.
It’s only available for residents of the US, Canada or Mexico and options for people up to 84 years old are also available.
Global Rescue in Detail
Nationalities: all nationalities are covered.
Pre-existing conditions: Yes.
Seniors Over 65: People aged 65-75 are included in the Individual Plan. Extended Plan memberships are available to those age 75-84 and include all services but are contingent upon completion of a medical form and a physician’s medical verification.
Trip Duration: Short term policies (7, 14 or 30-days) and long term policies (1 to 5 years) available.
Groups: Individual, family and student plans available.
Situations covered: It covers civil unrest, natural disasters, government evacuation orders and other security emergencies (when purchasing the Security package).
Reasons To Buy
Remote locations coverage.
Coverage available for 65-84.
Pre-existing conditions accepted.
All nationalities accepted.
Reasons To Avoid
The price is a bit higher than other insurance policies. However, no other company provides the same coverage as Global Rescue.
It doesn’t cover trip cancellations or delays.
It doesn’t cover equipment.
Worldwide field rescue (up to $500,000) in remote or dangerous environments. Global Rescue’s deployable teams are standing by to rescue their members from the point of illness or injury for any serious medical emergency.
Medical Evacuation. Global Rescue’s fully deployable medical teams have unparalleled capabilities to transport our members back to their home hospital of choice from anywhere in the world. This includes global COVID-19 transport.
Medical & Security Advisory Services. Global Rescue’s operations centers are staffed by experienced nurses, paramedics and military special operations veterans. Global Rescue also has partnerships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations, Elite Medical Group and Partners HealthCare, the Harvard Medical School affiliate.
Security Membership. Global Rescue’s teams of military special operations veterans are available to provide advisory, consultation and evacuation services for events like natural disasters, terror attacks and civil unrest when you are in danger.
Destination Reports & Event Alerts. Destination reports for 215 countries and principalities worldwide include entry requirements, COVID-19 travel status and restrictions, detailed health and security assessments and required immunizations. Keep up to date on health and security events worldwide.
My Global Rescue Mobile App. Access Global Rescue services in one location. Browse destination reports and alerts, activate emergency assistance, real-time virtual health visits and keep track of the people you care about with GPS tracking and messaging.
Security Package. Physical extraction when you are in danger of bodily harm. It includes civil unrest, natural disasters, government evacuation orders and other security emergencies.
High Altitude Evacuation.. This is for individuals traveling above 15,000 ft (4,600 m) during any part of their trip (excluding airplane travel). It also includes emergency physical transport due to injury or illness.
Global Rescue offers the most comprehensive travel protection available worldwide, featuring minimal restrictions and extensive coverage compared to other medical insurance options.
It’s an evacuation & medical-only protection plan, specifically designed for adventure travelers heading to remote areas. For adventure trips, especially in remote locations, Global Rescue is our top recommended choice.
Medjet in Detail
Nationalities: Only residents of the United States, Canada and Mexico
Pre-existing conditions: Yes.
Seniors Over 65: Travelers aged 65-75 are covered. For people aged 75-84, see the Diamond plan available.
Trip Duration: Short term and long term plans available.
Groups: Individual, family, student and expatriate plans available.
Reasons To Buy
Coverage up to 84 years old.
Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver Available.
Option to ship your motorcycle back home in case of emergency.
Reasons To Avoid
Only available to residents of the US, Canada & Mexico.
It doesn’t cover trip cancellations or delays.
It doesn’t cover equipment.
Medical & Transport Benefits
- Hospital to Hospital Medical Transfer for member regardless of Medical Necessity.
- Members determine to which Medical Facility to be moved
- All-Expenses-Paid Air Medical Transport in the United States as well as Internationally
- Covers both business and personal travel
- Travel Medical Emergency Referrals, Monitoring, Telephone Interpretation and Message Relay
- Transfer of Mortal Remains
- Emergency Medical Cash Advance
- Ground Ambulance and Specialty Hospital Transfer (under 150 miles)
Travel Security & Crisis Response Benefits
- 24/7 Travel Security Response and Evacuation Services due to Political Threat, Terrorism, Natural Disaster, Pandemic and Violent Crime
- 24/7 Crisis Response to Kidnap for Ransom, Disappearance, Wrongful Detention, Blackmail & Extortion
- Trip Intelligence and e-Alerts
- Legal Referrals
Medjet distinguishes itself as a premium global medical transport and travel security provider, offering exceptional coverage with minimal restrictions.
Designed specifically for adventure travelers on independent or organized trips to remote areas, this evacuation-only protection covers individuals residing in the US, Canada, or Mexico, including those with pre-existing conditions, and offers options for individuals aged 75-84.
As an evacuation-only insurance, it does not cover medical expenses, trip cancellation/interruption or lost/damaged baggage.
Comparing Coverage Details
Company |
Plan |
Medical Expenses |
Emmergency Evacuation |
Trip Cancellation |
Trip Delays |
Equipment Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Travel |
$100,000 |
$500,000 |
None |
None |
None |
|
|
Assist |
None |
100% |
None |
None |
None |
Pricing
Comparing the two companies based solely on price wouldn’t be fair, as one company offers more than the other.
Global Rescue provides medical coverage & emergency evacuation , while Medjet offers evacuation-only, but all the way to your home country.
For a 2-week plan, Global Rescue travel membership costs around $184, while the Medjet Assist membership costs around $155.
Again, I wouldn’t recommend to compare both services on price alone as Global Rescue offers medical coverage that Medjet doesn’t.
What's Covered & Who's Eligible
Company |
Nationalities Covered |
Preexisting Conditions |
Coverage for Seniors Over 65 |
Destinations Covered |
Adventure Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
All |
Yes |
Yes, up to 84 |
All |
All |
|
|
US, Canada & Mexico |
Yes |
Yes, up to 84 |
Most Countries |
All |
User Reviews and Testimonials
Insurance companies often receive negative online reviews due to issues like complex policy language, claim denials, slow processing times, and perceived unfair practices.
Global Rescue and Medjet also receive some bad reviews online, but both companies receive a lot of positive reviews as well.
Global Rescue Online Reviews
Medjet Online Reviews
Conclusion
If you plan to go adventuring in remote areas or doing any adventure activity, the absolute best choice is Global Rescue. Apart from their world-class evacuation services, their membership includes substantial medical coverage as well.
If you only want evacuation protection, or you have complex medical needs that would rather get back home to get treated by their doctor if a medical emergency happens while traveling, or you travel by motorbike and would like to get your bike back home in case of emergency, then Medjet is the best option for you.
Other Travel Insurance Reviews
If you would like to read more about other insurance companies for adventure travelers, you can check out our other reviews below:
- Allianz
- Dive Assure
- Divers Network Alert
- Global Rescue
- Faye
- Medjet
- Ripcord
- SafetyWing
- Travel Guard
- Travelex
- World Nomads
If you would like to read more about insurance options for other type of adventure trips, you can check out our other reviews below:
- Skiing & Snowboarding
- Hiking Trips
- Mountaineering & High Altitude Trekking
- Mountain Biking, Bike-touring & Bike-packing
- Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing & Bouldering
- Kayaking, White Water Rafting & Paddle Boarding
- Fishing & Spearfishing
- Diving Liveaboards & Freediving
- Sailing, Kite Surfing & Surfing
- Adventure Cruises
- Adventure Motorcycling
Other Reviews Online
While researching, you might want to know what other publications say about Global Rescue and Medjet.
Although direct comparisons between the two are rare, here are some of the most popular reviews for each provider.
The Guide to Medjet – by nerdwallet.com
Global Rescue Travel Insurance Review – by nerdwallet.com
About the Author
Antonio was born and raised in Southern Spain, and quit his job in 2013 to travel the world full-time with his wife Amanda for 10 years straight. Their passion for adventure took them to visit 150+ countries.
They cycled 25,000km + from California to Patagonia, sailed over 10,000NM around the Caribbean & Sea of Cortez, rode their motorbikes 30,000 kms+ across West Africa (Spain to South Africa) and visited Antarctica, among many other adventure expeditions. Today, they’re still traveling, currently around the USA with an RV.
Traveling to so many places, remote destinations and by different means taught them a lot about travel insurance, which policies to hold depending on the area and the type of adventure they were doing. Antonio now publishes regular content to help other travelers choose the best travel insurance for adventure trips.
Together, they also run the travel community Summit, the RV site Hitched Up, the boutique accommodation blog Unique Places and the popular newsletter Adventure Fix, where they share their knowledge about the places they’ve visited and the ones still remaining on their list.
Antonio Cala
Co-Founder of Adventure Fix