Do you ask yourself, “Is Medjet worth it?” Discover why this travel protection membership is my must-have for safe, stress-free journeys around the world.
Travel has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, filled with wow moments I could never have imagined as a young child in rural Virginia. But behind every trip, there’s an unspoken truth: things don’t always go as planned. A slip on cobblestones, an unexpected illness, or a sudden accident can land you in a hospital far from home. That’s where Medjet comes in. Unlike traditional travel insurance, which only gets you to the nearest hospital, Medjet is a membership program that arranges hospital-to-hospital transport, moving you back home to the hospital of your choice.
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My Viking River Cruise Was Filled with Wow Moments
I thought about this often on my recent Viking River Cruise from Paris to Prague. The journey began in Paris, where I stood in awe of the spectacular renovations on Notre Dame. I sipped Champagne in Reims and visited centuries-old tasting rooms, the cool air carrying whispers of history along with each glass poured. In Trier, I retraced steps from 41 years ago, when we lived there and welcomed our son into the world.
We traveled down the scenic Mosel, past steep hills covered with the famed Riesling vines. As we traversed the Rhine and Main rivers, we passed through dozens of locks.
We loved sailing along the Rhine River in Germany. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
I admired fairytale villages, ornate cathedrals, and the timeless flow of Europe’s waterways. Bamberg dazzled with its half-timbered houses, and finally, we reached Prague—a city I’d long kept on my bucket list. Walking through its cobblestone streets felt like stepping into a dream.
But amid all the wonder, a quiet thought always lingered: what if something goes wrong? What if, in the middle of these wow moments, I found myself in a hospital bed far from home? That’s why I never travel without Medjet.
How Does Medjet Differ From Travel Insurance?
I always recommend that travelers purchase travel insurance. It’s the foundation—the “cake” that protects you if you face lost luggage, canceled flights, or medical bills abroad. But here’s the truth: travel insurance only gets you to the nearest acceptable hospital. Once you’re stable, that’s where you’ll stay until you’re well enough to return home on a regular flight.
That’s where Medjet changes everything. Think of it as the icing and sprinkles on top of the cake. Medjet is a membership program that arranges hospital-to-hospital transport, getting you from a hospital abroad to a hospital of your choice back home. It’s not insurance. It’s not field rescue. It’s peace of mind—the assurance that you won’t be stuck in a foreign hospital if you’re seriously ill or injured.
On my river cruise, I couldn’t help but think: what if I had been hospitalized in Trier or Bamberg? With travel insurance, I’d be cared for in Germany until I could manage a long-haul flight home. With Medjet, I could be transported directly to a hospital in the US—or even to a specialty hospital if needed. That distinction matters.
What Is Medjet? (And What Isn’t It?)
Medjet pioneered the air medical transport membership concept and remains the top-rated program of its kind. Here’s what it offers:
- Bedside-to-bedside hospital transport—no claim forms, no out-of-pocket costs
- Choice of hospital at home—whether that’s your local facility or a center of excellence elsewhere in your home country, like the Mayo Clinic. You choose.
- No exclusions for adventure travel and, under age 75, no pre-existing conditions exclusions
- Family message relay and translation assistance when language barriers complicate care abroad
- Transfer of mortal remains—a difficult but important benefit to consider
It’s also important to know what Medjet is not. It is not insurance. It doesn’t replace the “cake” of coverage. It doesn’t do field rescues, helicopter pickups, or pay hospital bills. It arranges seamless, bedside-to-bedside transport through trusted partners all over the world.
Medjet arranges seamless, bedside-to-bedside transport through trusted partners all over the world. Photo courtesy Medjet
In other words, if you’re hospitalized more than 150 miles from home, whether in Indiana or India, Medjet gets you home to the hospital of your choice.
What is the Difference Between MedjetAssist and MedjetHorizon?
There are two membership options worth considering, depending on how—and where—you travel.
MedjetAssist
MedjetAssist is the foundation membership. It includes:
- All expenses paid air medical transport to the hospital of your choice at home
- Bedside-to-bedside transfers
- No “medical necessity” clauses—if you’re hospitalized and want to be moved to a hospital at home, Medjet makes it happen
- No exclusions for pre-existing conditions (under 75) or adventure travel
MedjetHorizon
MedjetHorizon membership includes all of the above, plus travel security and crisis response benefits, including:
- Emergency cash advances up to $60,000 for medical emergencies
- A 24/7 security line to call if you feel your safety is threatened while traveling
- Crisis response, and extraction if necessary, for situations like disappearance, political threat, wrongful detention, kidnapping, natural disaster, and more
When I think of the places I’ve traveled—from river cruises in Europe to RV adventures across the US—I see MedjetAssist as the must-have baseline. MedjetHorizon adds another layer of peace of mind for those going further afield or to destinations with less stability.
MedjetAssist and MedjetHorizon—Choose the best options for your travel needs. Photo courtesy Medjet
How Much Does Medjet Cost and How Easy Is It to Join?
You might think a service like this would be prohibitively expensive, but that’s the beauty of Medjet. Short-term memberships start at just $99 for an 8-day trip—perfect for a weeklong cruise or a vacation abroad. Annual memberships are equally accessible: $315 for individuals and $425 for families (covering two adults and up to five kids).
MedjetHorizon memberships start at $474 annually for individuals and $614 for families. When you compare that to the cost of one hotel night in Paris or a special dinner in Prague, it’s easy to see the value.
Enrollment is also simple. If you’re under 75, you can sign up instantly online or over the phone before leaving on a trip. Over 75 requires a quick health questionnaire, so it’s best not to wait until the last minute.
Real-World “What If” Scenarios
When I travel, I’m focused on the joy—the first sip of Champagne in Reims, the way Prague’s Old Town Square glows at dusk, or the laughter of revisiting Trier with decades of memories in tow. But life has taught me that “what ifs” happen.
Imagine this:
- You’re in Bamberg and slip on cobblestones, fracturing your hip. Insurance pays your medical bills and gets you to a local hospital. But your hip replacement specialist is at the Mayo Clinic in the US. With Medjet, you can be transported directly there.
- A traveler in Cape Town suffers a heart attack. Instead of staying indefinitely in a small local hospital, Medjet arranges transport to a cardiac specialty hospital back home in New Jersey.
- With MedjetHorizon, a traveler caught in sudden political unrest or a natural disaster can access security and evacuation support.
- A traveler vacationing in Florida has a diving accident and breaks two vertebrae in her back. She wants to get home to her family in South Carolina. While not traveling around the globe, Medjet still transports her to the hospital of her choice close to home.
In each scenario, the difference is striking. Without Medjet, you’re left to navigate foreign healthcare systems, language barriers, and uncertainty. With Medjet, you have control—you’re transported home, surrounded by family, receiving care where you feel safest.
Why Do I Recommend Medjet?
I’ve been traveling my entire life, and my lifestyle today means I’m often far from home—sometimes across the world, sometimes in a remote corner of the US. Over the years, I’ve learned that travel planning isn’t just about picking hotels and restaurants. It’s about preparing for the unexpected.
Travel insurance remains essential. It’s the cake you should always bake before you go. But Medjet? That’s the icing and sprinkles. It elevates your safety net, turning uncertainty into reassurance.
As I stood in Prague, gazing up at the Astronomical Clock, I realized something: my travels are richer because I don’t carry the weight of worry. If the worst happens, I won’t be stuck in a foreign hospital. I’ll be on my way home. We invite you to explore Wander With Wonder for more of our favorite cruises—and more of our favorite international travel tips.
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