Birmingham, AL - Imagine being in the jungles of El Salvador and suddenly experiencing heart pains. Dr. Stephen Gleason, Iowa's Commissioner of Health, a family care physician and faculty member at the Mayo Clinic, was lending his medical expertise to victims of the January earthquake, when the crew ran out of water. He suffered a heat stroke, which led to heart problems. His colleagues managed to get Dr. Gleason out of the remote village via wheelbarrow and boat, but it was his MedjetAssist membership that brought him back home to his family in Des Moines, IA.

"I always keep my membership card on me," said Dr. Gleason. "I bought it eight years ago after hearing about it through a medical society mailing. I don't think people should travel without it."

MedjetAssist is a worldwide air medical evacuation and emergency consultation service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Members are guaranteed transport to the hospital of their choice, anytime they are hospitalized more than 150 miles away from home-either in the U.S. or abroad. Unlike many insurance or platinum card plans, MedjetAssist is the only medical evacuation program that will transport members regardless of medical necessity. This enables the patient to decide where they will receive treatment, and gives them the ability to be transported close to family and friends in times of crisis. Membership is $205 for an individual and $325 for families. Had Dr. Gleason paid for this type of transport privately, his expenses would have been more than $18,000.

"I can't say enough about the quality of staff and their attention to detail… and I'm a physician. That says a lot," commented Dr. Gleason.

"With many people making summer travel plans, now is the time to be thinking of medical travel protection," says Roy Berger, President of MedjetAssist. "By obtaining membership with MedjetAssist, you will be saving yourself time, money and peace of mind should an emergency take place."


Interviews are available with Dr. Stephen Gleason and MedjetAssist spokespersons.
To arrange an interview or for more information, contact Eric Goldberg at (212) 288-1144 or egoldberg@geoffreyweill.com.