What is the definition of Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation

Question: 
Please define the difference between the following terms: emergency air transportation, medical evacuation and repatriation services.

We are in the process of obtaining Ecuador health insurance.
Thank you.

Answer: 

Under an international health insurance plan offering an
emergency evacuation benefit the policy coverage for the benefit will ensure
that, in the event that there are no medical facilities in your current
location able to provide adequate treatment options, that you will be evacuated
to the nearest center of medical excellence in order to undergo care.

Emergency air transportation is a part of emergency
evacuation. In order to receive necessary treatment in places with low
standards of medical care you will have to be transported to a secondary
location. If this transportation occurs via an airplane or helicopter this is
called an Emergency Air Evacuation. However, not all emergency evacuations will
occur via air transportation; an Emergency Ground Evacuation refers to the
instances when you are evacuated via a land vehicle, such as an Ambulance.

Some policies providing an Emergency Evacuation benefit will
also allow for a Repatriation option, however this option may not be contained
on all Ecuador Health Insurance plans. A Repatriation Benefit under Emergency
Evacuation coverage will give you the option of being transported to your home
country to receive ongoing medical treatment, rather than being evacuated to a
medical facility which may be closer to the location in which you suffered from
the accident or illness in question.

However, it is important to note that Repatriation coverage
under Travel Health Insurance plan will be slightly different from the benefit
associated with an annual expatriate medical insurance policy. Generally a
Travel insurance Repatriation Benefit will ensure that, in the event of a trip
curtailment due to an accident or illness, the traveler will be transported
back (repatriated) to their home country.

Under an Emergency Evacuation Coverage Benefit it is not
possible for the policyholder to request an evacuation: the evacuation will
typically only occur when it is a recommended course of action by the treating
doctor at the medical facility you have been admitted to, and is agreed upon by
the insurance company. Any decision to perform an Emergency Medical Evacuation
will be considered in light of medical necessity, and the ability of the
treating healthcare facility to provide appropriate levels of medical care.

Pacific Prime can provide a range of expatriate health
insurance plans for Ecuador which will include comprehensive Emergency
Evacuation coverage. Due to the generally low standards of healthcare available
in Ecuador, primarily caused by a severe shortage of qualified healthcare personnel,
we highly recommend that any family considering relocation to the country
obtain an international health insurance plan which contains an Emergency
Evacuation benefit.

For more information about Emergency Evacuation coverage and
the options we offer for Ecuador Health Insurance plans, please contact an expert health insurance advisor. Alternatively you can complete the short quote
form at the top of this page to receive a free, customized quotation.