Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSick on campus? Insurer offers flights home
By Dan Scorpio
Posted: 10/3/07, 10:26 PM EST Section: News
For some college students, hospital care in the comfort of their hometown may only be a private jet flight away.
MedjetAssist, a medical care provider based in Birmingham, Ala., makes that possible by offering insurance coverage that includes medical evacuation back to the student's hometown.
"Medjet is the nation's premier medical evacuation program," said Mark Liebermann, public relations representative for Geoffrey Weill Associates, the firm that represents Medjet. "It's more about buying peace of mind for parents. For that alone, most parents think it is worth buying."
Liebermann said Medjet flies students in private jets that are "fully medically equipped and staffed."
Students pay $195 yearly for domestic coverage and $225 per year if living overseas. Service is only available to students who attend college more than 150 miles from their hometown. The cost remains the same regardless of the student's home state.
Cost is a major selling point for Syracuse University freshman Cirielle Colino, who lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico. And though she doesn't have MedjetAssist, the idea intrigued her.
"The money is a big issue," she said. "But if they fly me back to my family instead of being here alone, I would definitely do it."
This attitude, Liebermann said, is what Medjet is expecting from consumers.
"If you had a serious injury," he said, "the idea is that someone would rather be at a hospital close to home."
Kevin Young, a freshman from Albany, Calif., disagrees.
"I want to get better as soon as possible. If the journey inhibits my wellness or makes my illness worse, then I am completely against it," he said. "I would love to be near loved ones, but I want to get healthy first."
"My parents would feel better about it if I went home and then they could come and see me," said Aileen Driscoll, a freshman from Watertown, Mass. "I would be a little wary of the high altitude, but to go home, it would be worth it."
Freshman Victoria Vega said she thinks it will all come down to her parents.
"My parents would be worried about me if I got hurt, so I would want to go home," said Vega, a Caledonia, Mich., native. "Then they don't have to worry about how to get here and being uncomfortable.
"But if it is something real serious," she said, "I am not about to go on a plane for three hours."
Medjet's program is not currently run through any specific colleges or universities and relies on individual enrollment. Liebermann said that plans to partner with colleges are "still in the works."
Medjet currently has approximately 200 active collegiate memberships nationwide.
"This is a truly unique program," Liebermann said. "It is underutilized and provides amazing peace of mind to parents."
MedjetAssist, a medical care provider based in Birmingham, Ala., makes that possible by offering insurance coverage that includes medical evacuation back to the student's hometown.
"Medjet is the nation's premier medical evacuation program," said Mark Liebermann, public relations representative for Geoffrey Weill Associates, the firm that represents Medjet. "It's more about buying peace of mind for parents. For that alone, most parents think it is worth buying."
Liebermann said Medjet flies students in private jets that are "fully medically equipped and staffed."
Students pay $195 yearly for domestic coverage and $225 per year if living overseas. Service is only available to students who attend college more than 150 miles from their hometown. The cost remains the same regardless of the student's home state.
Cost is a major selling point for Syracuse University freshman Cirielle Colino, who lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico. And though she doesn't have MedjetAssist, the idea intrigued her.
"The money is a big issue," she said. "But if they fly me back to my family instead of being here alone, I would definitely do it."
This attitude, Liebermann said, is what Medjet is expecting from consumers.
"If you had a serious injury," he said, "the idea is that someone would rather be at a hospital close to home."
Kevin Young, a freshman from Albany, Calif., disagrees.
"I want to get better as soon as possible. If the journey inhibits my wellness or makes my illness worse, then I am completely against it," he said. "I would love to be near loved ones, but I want to get healthy first."
"My parents would feel better about it if I went home and then they could come and see me," said Aileen Driscoll, a freshman from Watertown, Mass. "I would be a little wary of the high altitude, but to go home, it would be worth it."
Freshman Victoria Vega said she thinks it will all come down to her parents.
"My parents would be worried about me if I got hurt, so I would want to go home," said Vega, a Caledonia, Mich., native. "Then they don't have to worry about how to get here and being uncomfortable.
"But if it is something real serious," she said, "I am not about to go on a plane for three hours."
Medjet's program is not currently run through any specific colleges or universities and relies on individual enrollment. Liebermann said that plans to partner with colleges are "still in the works."
Medjet currently has approximately 200 active collegiate memberships nationwide.
"This is a truly unique program," Liebermann said. "It is underutilized and provides amazing peace of mind to parents."
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