Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)
It's sometimes necessary to transport patients to another medical facility to be treated when the capability to manage a patient is beyond the medical means available at USNH GB. If such a situation develops, your physician will begin the necessary paperwork to initiate the Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) process for Department of Defense (DoD), Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) sponsored eligible beneficiaries.
Eligibility for Use of the MEDEVAC System
DoD-Sponsored Patients
Uniformed Services patients may be provided transportation within or between theaters for inpatient and/or outpatient treatment or consultation that is unavailable locally from any DoD approved healthcare facility, and for which movement is required.
Active Duty Family Members using TRI-CARE Standard, Retirees using TRICARE Standard, TRICARE Reserve Select, TRI-CARE Retired Reserve are eligible for medical evacuation including air ambulance services. However, these beneficiary categories do not receive cash-less/claimless service and must pay for the service upfront and then file a claim for reimbursement.
TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, TRICARE Prime Overseas, TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas, TRICARE Young Adult-Prime beneficiaries are eligible for medical evacuation only if the patient must be seen quickly for their medical condition and the required care is unavailable or cannot be safely obtained in the patient’s location.
MEDEVAC Insurance
Medical evacuations from Guantanamo Bay can be in excess of $30,000. If you are not eligible for the MEDEVAC system, review your medical insurance policy to ensure it provides for medically necessary evacuation transportation. If your policy does not include this coverage you are strongly encouraged to add this coverage through your own health insurance provider or purchase separate MEDEVAC insurance and provide proof to Patient Administration.
Consumers are responsible for researching insurance options. This
list of MEDEVAC insurance companies is provided for your convenience. Reference to these specific commercial products and the use of trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Department of the Navy or U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay and is not a guarantee of offerings, which can and do change.
If you have questions, call Patient Administration at 7-2292 or 7-2019 or our Customer Relations Representative at 7-2072. (From the U.S. dial 757-458-2998 Option 1 then 5 digit extension)
Who Can Ride with a MEDEVAC System Covered Patient?