Emergency Assistance Plus
vs. Global Rescue

Key Takeaways

• EA+ offers reliable, worldwide emergency medical transportation, best for a wide variety of travelers who need a flexible plan.
• Global Rescue’s emergency protection plans are ideal for high-risk travelers.
• Choose the option that best fits your unique travel style and safety needs. 

When it comes to travel assistance services, choosing the right provider can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety and peace of mind during emergencies. 

When comparing two reputable options like Emergency Assistance Plus® (EA+®) vs. Global Rescue, your travel style and protection preferences can guide you toward the best choice.

EA+ offers straightforward annual plans that include travelers of all ages and medical conditions, with unlimited trips included in each plan. Global Rescue includes a plan with field evacuation services, which is helpful if you plan on high-risk or adventure travel. 

In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll explore the key features, requirements, and costs to help you make an informed decision.

Emergency Assistance Plus

Best for: Global emergency travel assistance for all travelers

Emergency Assistance Plus (EA+) is a robust travel assistance membership program designed to provide emergency evacuation, return home, and travel assistance services. 

With over 7.5 million members at the company’s 25th anniversary, it’s one of the most reputable medical evacuation services in the travel world, with unlimited annual travel and accessibility regardless of your age or medical condition. 

With EA+, you and your family can travel with confidence, knowing that you have access to a team of professionals who will arrange and provide services on your behalf, such as medical transport, medical referrals, and other essential travel-related emergency services.

Services offered 

EA+ offers two annual plans, both available for individual and family travelers. These straightforward options come with several services at an affordable, low annual fee, including: 

• Medical Evacuation and Repatriation: EA+ ensures that you receive medical transport to the nearest appropriate medical facility in case of an emergency. If necessary, they will also arrange and provide for your safe return home.
• Medical Assistance: EA+ provides access to medical referrals and consultations, helping you find the right healthcare provider while traveling. They also offer prescription assistance to replace lost or forgotten medications.
• Travel Assistance: In addition to medical services, EA+ helps with non-medical emergencies such as replacing lost travel documents and arranging transportation for a family member to join you if you’re hospitalized and away from home. EA+ also supports those traveling with prescription medication who need access to refills in an emergency.
• No Out-of-Pocket Costs: One of the standout features of EA+ is that all costs for emergency services are included in the membership, eliminating the need for complex insurance claims and requests for reimbursement.

EA+ members can opt into family emergency travel assistance with an Extended Family plan, which helps other family members with transportation support in an emergency. 

If you travel to high-risk regions, adding Expanded Evacuation protection includes paid evacuation and transportation services in the event of a social or political emergency, natural disaster, or other security emergency.

Learn more

Restrictions 

EA+ has a few basic requirements to consider. Services can’t be retroactively applied, which means that protection is only active after you’ve purchased your membership. You will also be transferred to the nearest appropriate medical facility instead of your hospital of choice in the case of an emergency.

Otherwise, EA+ is a very flexible membership program with very few restrictions. One key difference between Global Rescue vs. Emergency Assistance Plus (EA+) is that it doesn’t limit or exclude older travelers or those with pre-existing conditions. 

EA+ also employs the most efficient and safe method of transportation possible at no additional cost, while Global Rescue may charge extra for certain evacuation methods.

Pricing 

When comparing Global Rescue vs. Emergency Assistance Plus, EA+ has a more affordable pricing structure for most travelers, with flat, transparent rates. You can select the EA+ Essential Annual Membership or EA+ Premier Annual Membership, depending on the level of protection you need. There are also individual and family plans.

Current EA+ plans (priced annually) include:

• Essential individual: $249
• Essential family: $309
• Premier individual: $319
• Premier family: $379

Participating partner discounts are also available for EA+ members, often offering a $110 discount that reduces the Essential plan to as low as $139, a robust plan that covers your medical evacuation costs.

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Pros and Cons 

Pros:

• No restrictions based on age
• No pre-existing condition questionnaires or age-based restrictions
• Trips of any length are supported
• Take as many trips as you want each year
• Services are active no matter how far you are from home, except for Washington residents, who must be 100 miles from home to activate services.

Cons:

• Can’t choose your hospital of choice
• No individual trip plans available

Reviews 

The Emergency Assistance Plus program regularly receives positive reviews and is one of the best travel membership programs available, according to several members. It holds an A+ ranking on the Better Business Bureau thanks to its reputable services.

When a member’s spouse passed away while abroad, the EA+ team provided timely support for the out-of-state accident, and she reports the following positive experience: 

“They helped me know what to do to get my husband’s body home and paid for the transportation, his cremation, and some death certificates. It was a real comfort to me in a difficult time.”

Global Rescue

Best for: Travelers to remote or high-risk areas

Global Rescue provides a broad range of medical, security, evacuation, and travel risk management services. Tailored for a wide range of travelers, including individuals, families, and enterprises, Global Rescue places a strong emphasis on security and risk mitigation. 

This travel assistance program is best for adventurous individuals who need support during higher-risk travel activities, but Global Rescue alternatives may be a better fit if you don’t go on these kinds of trips.

Services offered 

When opting for a higher-tier membership, Global Rescue offers field rescue services and covers long-distance medical transportation costs, making it a top choice for high-risk adventure travel. 

Here are additional inclusions in their plans:

• Medical Evacuation and Field Rescue: Global Rescue offers emergency medical evacuations from the point of injury or illness to the nearest appropriate medical facility. They also provide field rescue services, which include extraction from remote or inaccessible locations.
• Security Services: Global Rescue offers security evacuations in cases of political unrest, natural disasters, or other security threats. They also provide risk assessments and real-time intelligence to help travelers avoid dangerous situations.
• Travel Assistance: Like EA+, Global Rescue assists with lost documents, transportation arrangements, and other travel-related emergencies.
• Telehealth Services: Members have access to medical consultations with paramedics, nurses, and physicians via telehealth, providing immediate medical advice and support.
• Membership Cost: Global Rescue offers various membership plans, which are higher in cost than EA+.

Restrictions 

Global Rescue has more overall restrictions than EA+. Members must be at least 100 miles away from home to activate evacuation services, which may not be robust enough if you prefer shorter trips. Individual members are limited to two transports per year, while families are limited to one, unlike EA+, which offers unlimited evacuations in its annual membership. 

Pricing 

Global Rescue’s starting plan begins at $139 and only includes a single trip, making the service notably pricier than Emergency Assistance Plus. To determine how much Global Rescue costs for your specific travel needs, here are all of their plan tiers: 

• Single-trip individual plans: Start at $139
• Individual annual plans: Start at $349
• Single-trip family plans: Start at $229
• Annual family plans: Start at $615
• Security evacuation package available for an additional fee

Pros and Cons 

Pros: 

• Includes all medical air evacuation costs
• Provides field rescue services in select plans
• Offers a money-back guarantee

Cons: 

• Trip cancellation is limited
• Limitations on medical transportation, just offering one or two evacuations, depending on the type of plan you hold

Reviews 

Global Rescue hasn’t received accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, and a handful of Trustpilot reviews reveal that the company isn’t always transparent about its medical and transport logistics. However, some Global Rescue reviews mention a positive experience with their customer support team. One member shared:

“We had a fantastic experience with [Global Rescue] with a helicopter rescue on our prior expedition.”

How to choose between EA+ and Global Rescue

When choosing between EA+ and Global Rescue, decide what you value as a traveler. EA+ offers simple, affordable plans that broadly protect a wide range of individuals, regardless of age or medical history.  And since Global Rescue has age-based restrictions and add-on costs, EA+ may be the better choice. 

While many call EA+ and Global Rescue insurance plans, they are not, and instead complement medical and/or travelers’ insurance by picking up where your coverage ends. Because of this, it’s essential to choose an emergency protection plan if you want the most robust support while traveling. 

Year-round travel support with EA+

When deciding between Emergency Assistance Plus and Global Rescue, you’re better off with EA+ if you prefer broader support, unlimited trip protection, and lower pricing. Services are available worldwide, 24/7/365, providing protection around the clock. 

Sign up for an EA+ plan today to unlock dozens of services and travel with peace of mind knowing your time abroad is well-protected. 

FAQ

How does emergency assistance work? 

Emergency travel assistance provides members with medical transportation services during an emergency, such as an illness or accident. Many companies offer additional support, including assistance with companion travelers, paperwork support, and 24/7 agent support. 

Is Global Rescue or Medjet better? 

Global Rescue is better for high-risk travel, while Medjet is best suited for those who prefer transportation to their hospital of choice. However, Emergency Assistance Plus is best for a wide variety of travelers, with fewer age and medical requirements than Global Rescue and Medjet. Additionally, EA+ is often a more affordable option. 

What does Global Rescue cover? 

A Global Rescue membership provides emergency medical evacuations for those who experience an injury or illness, and certain plans also offer field rescue services that deploy to remote and even dangerous regions. Exact features and services depend on the specific plan a traveler signs up for, in case emergencies arise.