I was digital nomading in Eastern Europe when the tanks rolled across the border. Airports closed. Commercial flights vanished. I called my medical insurance to get me out. They said, “We extract for broken legs, not broken treaties. You are on your own.”
Key Takeaways
- Medical vs. Security: We covered this briefly before, but it bears repeating in the Evac context. Medical Evacuation policies strictly exclude war and civil unrest.
- The “War Risk” Exclusion: Most policies have a clause saying “We do not cover losses caused by declared or undeclared war.”
- Security Extraction Teams: Companies like Global Rescue and FocusPoint (CAP Trips) have paramilitary-style teams that perform ground extractions (convoys) when airspace is closed.
- Government Evacuation: If your government sends a plane, they will bill you later (e.g., US State Dept billed citizens ~$2,000 for Lebanon evacs).
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Force Majeure.”
Insurance relies on probability. War is a catastrophic event that breaks the actuarial models. Therefore, standard insurers write it out. You need a “Membership” that sells security services, not an insurance policy that reimburses losses.
The Investigation: I Called Them
- Global Rescue: “Our security membership includes non-medical evacuation for war, terrorism, and civil unrest.” They have ex-special forces teams.
- Medjet Horizon: “We cover security evacuation to the nearest safe haven.” Note: They take you to a safe country, not necessarily home, if the threat is imminent.
- World Nomads: “We do not cover claims arising from war.” If a bomb hits your hotel, your medical bills might be covered (maybe), but the flight out to escape the war is NOT.
Comparison Table: Crisis Extraction
| Scenario | Standard Travel Insurance | Global Rescue (Security Upgrade) | Medjet Horizon |
| You are Shot (Medical) | YES (Usually) | YES | YES |
| Tanks in Street (Uninjured) | NO | YES (Ground/Air extraction) | YES (To safe haven) |
| Airport Closed | NO | YES (Convoy) | YES |
| Kidnapping | NO | YES (Negotiation/Advisory) | YES (Response) |
[IMAGE: Photo of a convoy of white SUVs with ‘Security’ markings driving through a conflict zone checkpoint]
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Monitor the “Trigger”: Security coverage usually triggers when the State Department issues a “Do Not Travel” advisory after you arrived. If you went there during the advisory, coverage is void.
- Buy the Membership: If you go to unstable regions (Middle East, parts of Africa/South America), Global Rescue is mandatory.
- Keep Cash: In a war zone, credit cards stop working. US Dollars are king for bribes or local transport.
- Go Early: Don’t wait for the airport to close. If news looks bad, use your “Trip Interruption” insurance (if applicable) to leave while commercial flights still run.
FAQ
Will they bring guns?
Security teams are usually unarmed advisors/logisticians. They are not mercenaries fighting your way out. They navigate checkpoints.
What is a “Safe Haven”?
If you are evacuating Sudan, they might take you to Saudi Arabia or Egypt. Once safe, you pay for your own flight home.
Does this cover nuclear events?
Almost never. Nuclear/Radioactive exclusions are absolute in 99% of policies.