MEDEX
MEDEX coordinates your medical care should you require treatment abroad as well as providing medical evacuation insurance. If you are leaving the country in conjunction with a UF program, it is required that you have this insurance in addition to standard health insurance.
Click here to download a pdf containing pre-departure requirements as well as the MEDEX Emergency Assistance Program Enrollment Form. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view this file.
This page answers very important questions about the coverage that MEDEX provides to UF students and faculty when they are abroad. Please read the following carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the MEDEX program pay for any medical services while I am traveling overseas?
- How does MEDEX help locate proper medical care?
- What happens in the event of hospitalization?
- What if the local facilities are not capable of treatment?
- If there is not adequate medical care available in the immediate area I am located, will MEDEX fly me back to the United States?
- If it is necessary to evacuate me to another country and I can receive treatment on an outpatient basis, will MEDEX pay for my lodging, meals, and travel costs to and from the medical facility?
- If I am denied airline boarding access because I am contagious, will the MEDEX program pay for any expenses I incur due to the extended stay and will they change my flight?
- If I am injured or ill and my family decides not to follow MEDEX advice to evacuate me to a different medical facility, what future assistance am I entitled to through MEDEX?
- Once I am released from the hospital, do the services end?
- If I am injured overseas and my family decides to travel to be with me, will MEDEX pay for the costs associated with their travel?
- If MEDEX evacuates me to another country for medical care, what should I do when I am ready to return to my original overseas location?
- Does MEDEX offer any coverage for my spouse and dependents?
Answers
Does the MEDEX program pay for any medical services while I am traveling overseas? top>>
MEDEX does not pay for any medical services. The medical bills are the responsibility of your primary insurance carrier. MEDEX will coordinate all billing and insurance verifications. This ensures that there is no delay or denial of medical treatment because you are unable to make up front payment or because your insurance is not recognized. Up front payments are advanced by MEDEX after payment guarantee from the traveler or insurance carrier.
MEDEX provides assistance services, as indicated in the brochure, to help individuals traveling overseas get appropriate medical care and/or travel-related assistance. In the event an individual's condition is life-threatening and there is not adequate medical care available in the immediate area, MEDEX will pay for the evacuation costs associated with transferring the person to the nearest appropriate medical facility. In the event of death, MEDEX also covers the repatriation costs to ship the remains to the home country.
How does MEDEX help locate proper medical care? top>>
MEDEX has a database of over 40,000 providers. These providers encompass doctors, hospitals, clinics, air ambulance companies, and others. Providers are carefully selected based on the medical specialty needed, location, language, office hours, etc. All providers are regularly reviewed to ensure quality standards. In addition, all coordinators who will assist on your case are multilingual and highly trained.
What happens in the event of hospitalization? top>>
It is important that MEDEX is notified as soon as possible. A MEDEX RMA (Regional Medical Advisor) will immediately speak with your treating doctor to assess your condition, your treatment plans, and whether or not evacuation is necessary. MEDEX will update your family, employer and personal physician as appropriate. In addition, MEDEX will coordinate all insurance verifications and admission details.
What if the local facilities are not capable of treatment? top>>
If facilities are inadequate, the RMA report will convey the safety of such an evacuation, any medical needs en route and the plan of action. MEDEX will consult with all parties involved and fully manage issues surrounding the evacuation. In evaluating the local facilities MEDEX also considers such issues as the quality of blood supply, needle usage and medical technology available.
If there is not adequate medical care available in the immediate area I am located, will MEDEX fly me back to the United States? top>>
The MEDEX policy will pay for evacuation costs to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Due to the need for immediate treatment, most cases will not allow for the flight time required to travel back to the United States.
If it is necessary to evacuate me to another country and I can receive treatment on an outpatient basis, will MEDEX pay for my lodging, meals, and travel costs to and from the medical facility? top>>
MEDEX does not cover anything other than the immediate evacuation costs. MEDEX can assist you with all incidental arrangements; however, the costs are your responsibility.
If I am denied airline boarding access because I am contagious, will the MEDEX program pay for any expenses I incur due to the extended stay and will they change my flight? top>>
The MEDEX program would not cover the aforementioned expenses. MEDEX only pays evacuation costs if the condition is life-threatening and appropriate medical care is unavailable. However, MEDEX can assist is making arrangements for interrupted or disrupted travel plans resulting from an emergency situation.
If I am injured or ill and my family decides not to follow MEDEX advice to evacuate me to a different medical facility, what future assistance am I entitled to through MEDEX? top>>
Once a person does not follow MEDEX advice, MEDEX will not pay for any future evacuation costs. If the member does later wish to be evacuated, MEDEX will help the individual coordinate travel arrangements to another medical facility, but they will not pay for the associated costs.
Once I am released from the hospital, do the services end? top>>
MEDEX assists with your case until you have returned home or have received final treatment.
If I am injured overseas and my family decides to travel to be with me, will MEDEX pay for the costs associated with their travel? top>>
If you are hospitalized for more than seven days, the MEDEX program will arrange and pay for the economy round trip flight for a family member to the place of hospitalization. MEDEX can also assist with other family members' travel arrangements to be with the patient, however, the program only pays for one ticket.
If MEDEX evacuates me to another country for medical care, what should I do when I am ready to return to my original overseas location? top>>
You should work with MEDEX directly to arrange your return travel. By following this procedure, you can be assured MEDEX will pay for the return transportation costs. If you fail to coordinate your return with MEDEX and you experience future complications, MEDEX will not pay for any additional evacuation costs.
Does MEDEX offer any coverage for my spouse and dependents? top>>
You may purchase MEDEX coverage for a spouse and/or dependents traveling with you. Please complete this section on the Medex enrollment form (PDF).
The MEDEX Website can be accessed at www.medexassist.com.