Step by step
- Get emergency care locally. Go to the nearest hospital or call the local emergency number.
- Find out about the quality of care. Ask the treating doctor what the patient needs, and whether the hospital can provide it.
- Call your travel insurer's assistance line and note the case number.
- Contact your consulate. U.S. citizens can get help from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
- If local care isn't adequate, plan a move: to a better hospital nearby, or home. Call us at +1 305-662-4006 from abroad, or 1-800-827-0745 in the U.S.
Options for getting home
| Option | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Medical escort | Stable patients who can sit upright on a regular flight; a nurse or paramedic travels along |
| Commercial stretcher | Stable patients who must lie flat, on routes where airlines offer it |
| International air ambulance | Critical or unstable patients, or when speed matters |
Before you travel
- Check what your health insurance covers abroad. Many plans, including Medicare, cover little or nothing outside the U.S.
- Consider travel medical insurance that includes medical evacuation, or an air ambulance membership.
- Check vaccination and health advice for your destination with the CDC Travelers' Health site.
- Enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and see its guidance for Americans abroad.
- Keep copies of passports, insurance cards and a medication list.
Common questions
What should I do first in a medical emergency abroad?
Get emergency care from the nearest hospital. Then contact your travel insurance assistance line and your country's embassy or consulate.
How do I get a patient home from another country?
Depending on the patient's condition: a commercial flight with a medical escort, a commercial stretcher on some routes, or a private international air ambulance. A coordinator can compare the options and costs.
Will my health insurance work abroad?
Many domestic health plans, including Medicare, offer little or no coverage outside the U.S. Travel medical insurance or evacuation coverage is worth considering before you go.
Can fragile patients avoid airport security lines?
A private charter or air ambulance avoids crowded terminals and long security lines, which can be very hard on fragile or wheelchair-bound travelers. Passengers still go through customs on international flights.
Last reviewed October 2026 by the Air Ambulance Central flight coordination team.