Introducing our First Course: MedjetAssist Plus – Letter from the President

Posted on February 4, 2010
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As you sit down at the MedjetAssist dinner table your entree is going to be the evacuation/repatriation portion of our program. As a Medjet member, the meat and potatoes of what you are looking for is the ability to be evacuated and ultimately repatriated to home in the event of accident or illness and hospitalization. We understand what you want.

The dessert is certainly going to be a safe and successful journey and the ability to navigate in good health and spirits and we wish all members a nice hearty round of dessert!

The salad sometimes tends to get overlooked and a nice robust salad always makes the meal taste better.

Introducing our first course- MedjetAssist Plus. The Plus program has been a part of the Medjet offering for the last seven years and met with great success. I’ve been remiss in this space not to highlight it in the past, as it’s one of those special bonus opportunities that we want to make sure all Medjet non-Plus subscribers are aware of.~~

Plus has five very distinct features all of which can help make the upcoming journey more enjoyable, much like a good salad compliments dinner.

Online Medical and Document Storage-  With this great service you have secure maintenance of medical and personal information both online and through a handy USB flash device to keep with you so your pertinent information is immediately available to medical providers in any emergency situation!

The Communications Bundle- We offer the latest and most exclusive communications options on the market to our Plus members.  From satellite phones to cell phones to a BlackBerry, the communications bundle offers something for every traveler whether you are going hunting in Africa, sightseeing in Europe or on business in Hong Kong.

The Bundle offers:

- Free international cell phone rental.
- First week free of satellite phone rental and discounted for duration after the first week. Also includes voicemail and free incoming calls.
- First week free of BlackBerry rental and discounted thereafter.

(Note- the rental fee on the phones is waived for the first week. You still pay discounted air time.)

Personal Travel Advisories- Prior to your departure or even during your journey you can receive quick access and eAlerts to insider information on politics, public health and safety from over 260 countries and cities around the world.

Specialty Transport- This feature has been part of the Plus program for all new Medjet members since April 2008.  If you require care only found at a specialty hospital more than 150 miles from home, Medjet will arrange transportation from your home hospital to the appropriate specialty hospital as a benefit of Plus membership.

Cash Advance for Medical Emergencies- Many foreign hospitals require payment before providing treatment.
MedjetAssist can provide our Plus members a cash advance of up to $50,000 to take care of any immediate medical needs with approved repayment guarantee.

The MedjetAssist Plus program is available for only $119 a year as part of your membership.  And one Plus membership covers everyone under the family umbrella so it’s only a one time annual charge and not for each member on the plan.~

For more information or to enroll take a look at our website-  www.medjet.com (hit the Membership tab and then Membership Types, or simply click the Plus button on the right side of the home page, to access further Plus details)  or give us a call at 1-800-527-7478.

A Medjet Plus membership, just like a good salad, sets the table for a good meal or in this case a more enjoyable journey.

Safe travels,

Roy Berger

So Much Information, So Little Time

Posted on February 4, 2010
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By John Gobbels, Medjet VP/COO

With all the information at our fingertips it’s hard to find qualified places to obtain travel and safety information before and during a trip. It seems that everyone has hundreds of bookmarks to their favorite sites and I feel their pain.

One site that continues to grow in size and usefulness in both content and vetted information is our own Medjet Blog. The Medjet Blog provides our members with information from travel packing to health and safety to security.
Some travelers may not want to believe it, but the world is not the same place it was 20 years ago. Just packing your bags and setting out to visit the Middle East or trekking in the Philippines takes a bit of planning and preparation.
One site that is mandatory browsing is the U.S. State Departments site for travel alerts and travel warnings. This site provides important travel information that will help plan a safe and uneventful trip. Instead of going and searching the sites for this information, the MedJet Blog has an RSS feed directly from the State Department site. This gives you up to date information 24/7 right from our Blog direct from the State Department.
Along with the Medjet Blog, the MedjetAssist Plus program also provides our members with e-travel advisories for their journey. Just enter the destinations and appropriate arrival and departure dates and the Medjet e-travel advisory will send important demographic as well as security updates that could just save your vacation if not your life. To find out more, visit our Plus program here: http://medjet.com/plans/plus.aspx.
If you still hunger for a more detailed security description of the places you plan on visiting, Medjet along with its Security Partner the Steel Foundation can provide up to the minute, personalized security assessments of any location in the world. Medjet and Steel can also provide on the ground security for yourself and family if you require it. Contact Medjet to find out more: 1.800.527.7478.
In any case, remember to think ahead, remain aware of your surroundings and don’t become complacent. Always travel safe and always travel with the safety and security of MedjetAssist.

Stop the Car

Posted on February 4, 2010
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 40 million injuries were received in 1998 by people involved in automobile accidents worldwide. Many of these people are travelers who are hundreds of miles from the best healthcare. Those travelers who are Medjet members will have a team of experts to help them through the chaos of their medical emergency. Make sure that you have a plan in place should a medical emergency interrupt your travel plans, make sure that you have a Medjet membership.

India – Security Issues Travel Alert

Posted on January 29, 2010
Filed Under Travel Alerts -- From www.travel.state.gov | Comments Off

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to ongoing security concerns in India. The U.S. government continues to receive information that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in India. Terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their willingness and capability to attack targets where U.S. citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit. This replaces the Travel Alert dated December 29, 2009, and expires on April 30, 2010.

The November 2008 attacks in Mumbai provide a vivid reminder that hotels, markets, and other public places are especially attractive targets for terrorist groups. U.S. citizens are urged always to practice good security, maintain a heightened situational awareness and a low profile. U.S. citizens are advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites, or choosing hotels, restaurants, entertainment and recreation venues.

U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad."

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Americans are also encouraged to read the Country Specific Information for India, available on the Embassy's website and on the Department’s website.

U.S. citizens with questions or concerns may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information:

-- The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11- 2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407. For after-hours emergencies, call 91-11-2419-8000.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone +91-22-2363-3611; fax +91-22-2363- 0350. For after-hours emergencies, call 91-22-2363-3611, ext. 0.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2811-2027. For after-hours emergencies, call 91-44-2857-4000, 91-44-2811-2000, or 91-44-2811-2021.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91- 33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335. For after-hour emergencies, call 91-99030-42956 (cell) or 91-33-3984-2400, ext. 0.

-- The U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad is at Paigah Palace, 1-8-323, Chiran Fort Lane, Begumpet, Secunderabad 500 003; telephone: +91 (40) 4033-8300. For after-hours emergencies, call 91-90-0060-4234.



Peru Travel Alert

Posted on January 28, 2010
Filed Under Travel Alerts -- From www.travel.state.gov | Comments Off

Heavy rains have caused landslides throughout Peru’s Sacred Valley, blocking overland and train routes into and out of the major tourist destinations of Cuzco and Macchu Picchu. The government of Peru has declared a state of emergency in the affected region. The U.S. Embassy is actively engaged in a joint Peruvian-led effort to help evacuate stranded U.S. citizens and others in Aguas Calientes, at the base of Machu Picchu. U.S. citizens intending to travel to the Sacred Valley of Peru should postpone their plans for at least the next several days.

The Peruvian government and the Embassy are sending helicopters to the city of Aguas Calientes to assist in removing people stranded by the weather. Delays resulting from the rains, high altitude and fuel shortages have hampered air operations. The Embassy sent teams to Aguas Calientes, where many tourists are stranded; to the town of Urubamba, where tourists who are being evacuated from the area of Machu Picchu are arriving; and to Cuzco, to assist American citizens who are stranded there. The road from Urubamba to Cuzco is open and transportation is being provided to the evacuees. U.S. citizens in Cuzco may wish to contact the U.S. Consular Agency located at Avenida Pardo #845, in Cuzco.For inquiries about U.S. citizens in the affected region, please call 1-888-407-4747 or email PeruCuzco@state.gov.