Blue Cross Insurance includes the global emergency services of Assist America.
The Assist America global emergency services program supports you when you have a medical emergency away from home. Whenever you travel more than 150 kms away from home or abroad (for no longer than 90 days in a row) you can call upon Assist America's vast resources to help solve any medical emergency--all it takes is a single phone call.
Assist America's Operations Center is staffed 24/7 by medically-certified professionals who can help you quickly and efficiently. The program has no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, geographic risk, adventure sports, alcohol-related incidents or suicide, and employs the highest standards of care. Assist America's policy is to "solve the problem" when it comes to travel urgencies, with resources such as:
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Medical Consultation, Evaluation & Referral
Our Operations Center is staffed 24/7 by medically-certified, multilingual personnel who can evaluate, troubleshoot and make immediate recommendations for any emergency situation. When a call for help comes in, they put in motion Assist America’s vast English-speaking, Western-quality provider network to solve medical and non-medical emergencies anywhere in the world. Assist America members are assured of being directed to the most dependable healthcare and problem-solving resources by our highly trained team.
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Hospital Admission Assistance
Many countries maintain a non-obligatory attitude towards healthcare. That is, medical treatment—even in an emergency—is provided based on an individual’s ability to pay for it, and not as a basic right. Keep in mind that most domestic health insurance cards have very little significance or recognition in foreign lands. For international visitors to any country, an already complex medical emergency can be further complicated by financial snarls, usually at the most inopportune time. Assist America is deeply respected and connected worldwide, and because of this we can offer a hospital admission guarantee for our members often on our name alone. If necessary, we will advance funds directly to the treating facility to guarantee the best of care.
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Emergency Medical Evacuation
It is no secret that the quality of healthcare varies widely from location to location. Assist America evens the odds by keeping up to date on medical resources in geographies all over the world. If a member becomes ill or injured in an area of the globe where appropriate care is not available, we will intervene and use whatever transportation, equipment and personnel are necessary to evacuate that individual safely to the nearest facility that meets our rigorous standards. And the full cost of any evacuation, including medical treatment while in transport, is paid by Assist America.
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Medical Monitoring
Our relationship with our members goes way beyond the initial phone call for help: we remain a connected, caring and medically savvy partner through the duration of any case. We maintain regular communication with the patient and attending medical staff, closely monitoring the quality and course of treatment, and we stay in close touch with the patient’s family to relay information as appropriate and provide support during what is almost always a confusing time. When a case is finished, we always make a final follow-up call to ensure everything has been taken care of satisfactorily. Members consistently report being pleasantly surprised at how invested and proactive we are about their welfare.
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Medical Repatriation
There is no sweeter music to the ears of a patient than news from the doctor of being released to go home. Unfortunately, sometimes the mind’s enthusiasm is ahead of the body’s capabilities, especially for the physical challenges of a long journey after being debilitated. Assist America, when deemed medically necessary, will provide transportation home or to a specified health facility with a medical or non-medical escort as required.
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Prescription Assistance
It is easy to replace a forgotten toothbrush on a trip, but when an “oops” hits because a prescription medication has been lost or left behind the solution is not so simple. Assist America works with the prescribing physician and a pharmacy in the area of travel to replace a member’s medicine. If necessary, we will arrange for the member to see a local doctor for a new prescription.
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Emergency Message Transmission
Time differences, telecommunications issues and the general disorganization that comes with an injury or illness away from home can make communication between the patient and their loved ones difficult. Assist America will transmit emergency messages reliably between the patient, family, friends, employer or whoever else needs to stay in the information loop.
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Compassionate Visit
Being compromised away from home is a stressful, intimidating experience for a patient, and being away from familiar faces and surroundings only makes it worse. At the same time, loved ones back home are often frantically worried. Assist America realizes that having a family member or friend present during a health crisis makes everyone feel more at ease and hastens the recuperation process. That is why we will arrange and pay the transportation costs for a loved one to join any member who is traveling alone and is expected to be hospitalized for more than seven days.
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Care of Minor Children
Members who become sick or injured while traveling can sometimes be presented with a dilemma about caring for their dependent children, but Assist America is there to help. If a child is left unattended due to an injury or illness of an accompanying parent we will arrange and pay for them to return home to a family member, or we will arrange childcare locally. We will also arrange care of children at home who are left unattended due to the parent’s unexpected absence. This could include transporting children to another family member, bringing a family member to the children or whatever other solution is necessary.
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Return of Mortal Remains
In the unfortunate event that a covered individual passes away while traveling, Assist America will arrange and pay for the necessary paperwork, body preparations and transport to bring the mortal remains home. Families who have experienced loss of a loved one have consistently thanked us for offering this service, saying it is a source of true comfort both emotionally and financially in times of great sadness.
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Lost Luggage or Document Assistance
Lost luggage or personal documents can turn quickly from a small nuisance into a major hassle, restricting plans and affecting travel itineraries. Assist America works with airlines to recover and deliver lost bags, liaises with transportation companies to replace lost travel tickets and contacts necessary agencies to solve issues of lost passports and other documents.
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Interpreter & Legal Referral
Medical emergencies are not the only predicaments that our members face. Assist America can make recommendations for trustworthy legal counsel and interpreter services in any country. Bail bonds can be coordinated in jurisdictions where they are legal.
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Pre-Trip Information
To help make our members the most informed and prepared travelers they can be, we offer comprehensive pre-trip insights on the Assist America website. Members can review country profiles, visa requirements, immunization regulations, security advisories right from our homepage.
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Much more...
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