Understanding Travel Safety: A Comprehensive Comparison of Global Rescue and Its Competitors

Article Highlights:

• Field Rescue – Global Rescue comes to you at the point of injury or illness. Others don’t.
• Hospital of Choice – If you need continued hospitalization Global Rescue transports you back to your home hospital of choice. Most others don’t.
• No Activity Restrictions – Global Rescue membership has no activity restrictions. At all. Others refuse services if your injury or illness was caused by a prohibited activity.
• Distance From Home Minimums – Nearly all providers require members to be a certain distance away from home. Global Rescue memberships have no distance-from-home mileage requirements.
• Security Protection – Many providers’ evacuation services are medical-specific. Global Rescue’s membership security upgrade provides advisory and evacuation services for non-medical emergencies, like a government evacuation order, an unpredicted natural disaster, civil unrest or an act of terrorism.

The allure of international travel has never been stronger, and the latest data confirms it. U.S. passengers flying to international destinations are up more than 13% in January 2024 compared to January 2023. TSA data shows overall air passenger volume up more than 6% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

Picking a Travel Protection Partner

The travel boom shows no signs of slowing if travelers’ current and planned behavior holds, according to the Summer 2024 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. The motivations driving the ongoing surge in travel are the adoption of a YOLO (You Only Live Once) appreciation for life (43%) and travelers reporting having more money and time (31%) available to dedicate to their travel plans, according to the survey.

“The combination of individuals with more time, disposable income and a carpe diem attitude is sustaining travel industry growth,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

With the thrill of exploring new cultures and landscapes, however, comes the inherent risk of unexpected emergencies. From medical emergencies to natural disasters, travelers can find themselves in precarious situations far from home. According to the survey, having an injury or illness (51%) is the foremost concern among travelers, followed by civil unrest and terrorism (15%).

In such instances, having a reliable emergency response service is crucial. Global Rescue stands out in this field, but how does it compare to its competitors?

[Related Reading: Competitor Comparison]

The Importance of Travel Safety Services

Travel safety services have become essential for modern travelers. Whether you’re an adventurous backpacker, a business traveler or a family on vacation, the unpredictability of travel can pose significant risks. Emergencies can occur anywhere, from medical issues to natural disasters, and being prepared is vital. The right travel safety service can provide peace of mind, emergency medical evacuation and support in navigating local healthcare systems.

Overview of Global Rescue

Global Rescue is a leader in travel safety and medical evacuation services. Established in 2004, the organization has built a reputation for delivering comprehensive emergency services to travelers worldwide. Its offerings include:

• Medical Evacuation: Global Rescue provides transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility in case of a serious illness or injury. This service is particularly beneficial for travelers in remote locations where local hospitals may not be equipped to handle advanced medical care.
• Field Rescue: The organization offers field rescue services for those engaged in outdoor adventures, such as hiking, climbing or skiing. If a traveler is injured in a remote area, Global Rescue’s team can provide immediate assistance.
• Travel Intelligence Reports: Global Rescue provides members access to destination intelligence reports that inform them about health and safety risks, local laws and emergency contact numbers.
• 24/7 Support: The Global Rescue team is available around the clock to assist members with emergencies, coordinating with local authorities and healthcare providers.

Comparing Global Rescue With Competitors

While Global Rescue is a prominent player in the travel safety industry. But how does it compare to the competition? Here are some key aspects to compare:

Field Rescue

Most providers won’t rescue you from the point of injury or illness. You have to get yourself to the hospital first before their services kick in. That means if you are injured or ill and need rescue and transport to get to a medical facility in the first place, they can’t help you. While some travel insurance policies will reimburse you for rescue transport (after you submit a claim, of course), it’s still on you to figure out how to get out of trouble on your own.

Global Rescue pioneered worldwide field rescue. That means we will come to get you by any means necessary — including using helicopters, jets, 4X4 vehicles, speed boats, rescue teams on foot and more — and bring you to the nearest hospital capable of delivering the needed level of medical care. With us, you’re never stuck or left to figure out how to get to the hospital. When you contact us and tell us where you are, we will move heaven and earth to get you out.

Hospital of Choice

If you’ve been hospitalized away from home but need continued treatment or hospitalization in your home country, you may have to pay for that air and ground transportation out of pocket if you’re not a Global Rescue member. Assistance providers and other traditional travel medical insurance usually only evacuate to the nearest medical facility, where you would remain until you are deemed well enough to fly via commercial airline.

A Global Rescue membership includes medical transport back to your home or your home hospital of choice. No charge if you’re a member. Without it, medical evacuation can cost as much as $300,000, depending on where you are in the world and the distance you need to be transported.

No Activity Restrictions

Most assistance and travel insurance providers deny services if your injury or illness was caused by mountaineering, trekking, skydiving, spelunking, diving, parachuting, BASE jumping, ballooning, hang gliding, paragliding, skiing outside of a resort and beyond. It would be a hard lesson to learn that the provider won’t deliver on their services because you were partaking in an activity you didn’t realize was on their restricted list.

Global Rescue membership has no activity restrictions. At all.

Distance From Home Minimums

Nearly all providers require members to be a certain distance away from home, usually at least 100 miles or more, to qualify for medical evacuation services.

Global Rescue memberships have no distance-from-home mileage requirements. Traveling locally or far away, our rescue services always go with you. Global Rescue memberships, both travel and telehealth, have no distance-from-home mileage requirements. Traveling locally or far away, our services always go with you.

Is Membership Restricted by Residency?

Some providers prohibit memberships based on where you live. Not with Global Rescue. Whether your home residence is in Europe, Asia, North America, Australia, The Middle East, South America or anywhere else, a Global Rescue membership never discriminates based on where in the world travelers live.

Family Memberships

Some providers aren’t as inclusive with the definition of family members for a family plan. Many family memberships only recognize a “spouse” (and not a partner). They limit the number of children, have lower age limits for those children and insist they be in college.

A Global Rescue family membership does not require marriage — cohabitation is sufficient. As for your dependents, you may add up to six of them (other providers only protect up to five unmarried dependent children) up to the age of 26 (other providers only go up to the age of 23 and require they be in college; Global Rescue does not).

Security Protection

Many providers’ evacuation services are medical-specific and do not apply to a security situation.

Global Rescue’s membership security upgrade provides advisory and evacuation services for non-medical emergencies, like a government evacuation order, an unpredicted natural disaster, civil unrest or an act of terrorism. If you cannot evacuate on your own and are facing an imminent risk of bodily harm, Global Rescue will extract and transport you home. And like our medical membership, all evacuation costs are included in the price of the upgrade.

Outsourcing?

Some providers outsource their medical staff and intelligence services, as well as bedside personnel and medical travel escorts.

At Global Rescue, our experienced medical, security and intel staff are in-house, always on standby and fully deployable, meaning we can arrange to have our doctors, nurses and paramedics sent to your bedside to facilitate/oversee your care while abroad, as well as travel with you. We also have exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations, Mass General Brigham (the Harvard Medical School Affiliate), and Elite Medical Group, as well as 200+ medical centers of excellence that are pre-vetted by our staff to deliver specialized care in specific situations. Should our clients experience a security emergency, our security team staffed with special operations veterans, including former U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. Army Rangers, Green Berets and Marines, are standing by to advise and assist you as needed.

Scope of Services

Global Rescue offers a wide range of services including medical evacuations, field rescues and travel intelligence reports – a focus on comprehensive emergency response. Some competitors, such as Medjet and Travel Guard, provide medical evacuation services but may not offer the same level of field rescue support or detailed travel intelligence. For example, Medjet specializes primarily in hospital-to-hospital transfers but lacks a broader range of field rescue services.

Response Time

Global Rescue takes great pride in our ability to mobilize quickly in emergencies. Our global network of medical professionals and resources allow for rapid deployment. Competitor response times can vary, by a lot. While some may have similar capabilities, others may lack the infrastructure or resources for quick mobilization, particularly in remote areas.

Membership Models

Global Rescue offers flexible membership options that cater to different types of travelers, including individuals, families and groups. Our plans are designed to provide comprehensive coverage for various travel scenarios. Some competitors may have more rigid membership structures that are less accommodating to diverse travel needs. For instance, certain plans might only cover specific regions or types of travel (e.g., business versus leisure).

Choose Wisely

The importance of having a reliable travel safety service cannot be overstated. Global Rescue distinguishes itself from competitors through our comprehensive offerings, quick response times and commitment to member safety. While other organizations may provide similar services, Global Rescue’s extensive resources and experience set it apart.

When evaluating travel safety services, consider your travel habits, the activities you plan to engage in and your specific safety needs. A service like Global Rescue is particularly beneficial for those who travel to remote areas or participate in adventure sports, where the likelihood of needing emergency assistance is higher.

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that you can travel confidently knowing you have access to the support you need should an emergency arise. As you prepare for your next adventure, take the time to research and choose a travel safety service that offers comprehensive traveler safety and security services tailored to your unique travel style.