Global Travel Shield (American Express Travel Services Co.)

Price: $285

For more information: 800-332-4899

URL: http://www.globaltravelshield.com

Though this insurance is backed by American Express, it’s available to all business travelers, regardless of which credit cards they hold. The annual plan includes per-trip coverages of up to $20,000 for emergency medical and dental coverage; up to $20,000 for emergency MedEvac and repatriation; up to $400 for baggage loss and $100 for expenses resulting from a baggage delay. It also includes up to $50,000 of something known as “airflight insurance,” which covers accidental death or dismemberment in the air and to or from the airport (so long as you’re going to or coming from a covered flight). Perhaps the biggest benefit is up to $1,000 per trip for trip cancellation or interruption, for a maximum of $500,000 annually. Legitimate reasons for cancellation or interruption include illness, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, labor disputes, and terrorist incidents.

Best suited for: Average business travelers

MedjetAssist Membership (Medjet Assist)

Price: $250

For more information: 800-527-7478

URL: http://www.medjet.com/

What it does (corrected)* : Technically speaking, MedjetAssist isn’t an insurance provider, but a membership organization like AAA for the business traveler himself, not just his car. Most members in the company’s annual program (more than 120,000 people have signed up so far) are entitled to two medical evacuations per year from just about anywhere in the world (provided the destinations are more than 150 miles from the customer’s home). Once a traveler needs assistance, the company transports members in medically staffed jets to the hospital of their choice, handles all repatriation paperwork (if the members are coming back to the United States from abroad), and pays for the transportation costs. There are no transportation-cost limitations and no preexisting-condition exclusions. The only downsides? The program does not include cancellation or interruption coverage, nor does it compensate for delays or lost bags.

Best suited for: Travelers with preexisting debilitating medical conditions

Global Rescue (Global Rescue)

Price: $329

For more information: 800-381-9754

URL: http://www.globalrescue.com

What it covers: Global Rescue provides two types of annual memberships: medical and security. The former includes an unlimited number of rescues and evacuations, as well as unlimited consultations with doctors from Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. The latter promises a private security team to conduct an unlimited number of rescues for customers who are facing imminent bodily harm or customers who are traveling in nations that declare all foreigners should leave. In both cases, members are eligible as long as they are traveling more than 160 miles from home. Because this service is set up to eliminate out-of-pocket costs by covering all deployment costs, the provider does not offer reimbursements of any kind (which can be a downside if the traveler has shelled out some cash). One bonus: If a medical member is too sick to be evacuated, Global Rescue will deploy medical personnel to the scene.

Best suited for: Travelers whose jobs involve a certain degree of adventure

* CORRECTION: The original story had some inaccuracies about Medjet Assist. They have been corrected. We apologize for the errors.

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