When you plan a trip, it is important to verify your insurance coverage before you leave. Is your health insurance valid in the event of an emergency if you are out of your “service area” or even in another country? Does it cover medical evacuation flights (air ambulance) or would you have to purchase a separate rider to get this coverage? The few hours saved can make a critical difference in your outcome, particularly in cases of burst appendix or spinal and head trauma.

Medical Emergency Travel Assistance (META) can be a lifeline during a medical crisis while you’re traveling in Mexico. With one toll-free phone call, 001-800-333-7333, you can reach specially trained staff members, who are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The International Services staff of Methodist Healthcare can arrange for an air ambulance, admission to the hospital upon your arrival in San Antonio, and care by an attending physician. The staff has relationships with many of the major resorts in Mexico, which can help smooth the way for timely medical transport. Wallet-size META cards, with the toll-free number, are available from the Methodist Healthcare HealthLine at 210-575-0355 or toll-free at 800-333-7333. The International Services staff reports that META is having one of its busiest years, having facilitated 24 transports from throughout Mexico since the beginning of the year. With advance notice, staff members are available for interviews on META.

If you are interested in doing a story on any of these items, please phone Shirley Wills at 822-2378 or 365-4488 (cell) or JoAnn King, 575-0171 or 917-7916 (pager). For media assistance during the weekend, please phone Methodist Hospital, 575-4000, and ask for the public relations representative on call.