BMW MOA is proud of its ongoing partnership with MedjetAssist, the premier worldwide air medical evacuation and repatriation membership program for travelers. This partnership allows for BMW MOA members to enroll in MedjetAssist's membership program at discounted BMW MOA rates; and the optional "Motorcycle Protection" upgrade for the return of your motorcycle if the protected member is treated for injury or illness while traveling within North America (North America, Alaska, Canada and Mexico) and cannot continue on his or her motorcycle.

"BMW MOA is one of the most respected motorcycle owners associations in the country, and we are thrilled to partner with them on this initiative," said Roy Berger, President of MedjetAssist. "We salute BMW MOA for their progressive planning in combining our program with their benefits.

Ray Zimmerman, Executive Director of the BMW MOA, also spoke about the partnership saying, "Our association is careful to only select the most reputable partners and having MedjetAssist as part of our network represents a discerning choice to provide our members with peace-of-mind while they're away from home."

"It's a benefit that is greatly appreciated by our members," Zimmerman said.

The MedjetAssist program available to BMW MOA is not an insurance plan, but rather a membership program. As a member, if you're ever hospitalized for injury or illness more than 150 miles from home, domestically or internationally, on personal or business travel, MedjetAssist will transport them to the hospital of the member's choice for inpatient care.  MedjetAssist has an extra benefit that no other air medical evacuation program offers. As an "annual" MedjetAssist member, if you are traveling on your motorcycle 150 miles or more from home, within North America, the company will also make arrangements to have your motorcycle returned to you at no additional cost if injury or illness prevents your ability to continue on your motorcycle. All you pay for this MedjetAssist protection is the low annual membership fee which is now offered to BMW MOA members at a discounted annual rate of $205 for an individual and $325 for a family. The "Motorcycle Protection" benefit for motorcycle return is an additional $25 and only available as an upgrade to the annual MedjetAssist membership. Family membership is for the primary member, their spouse/partner and up to 5 unmarried dependent children under 19 or under 23 if full-time students.

The MedjetAssist Program with Motorcycle Transport (Return) Protection
There are several things that make MedjetAssist unique among medical evacuation service providers. For one; MedjetAssist lets you, the member, control which hospital will be your final destination. Other programs will only take you to what the provider considers to be the "nearest appropriate facility." Another distinguishing factor of the MedjetAssist program is that there's no medical necessity clause. If a member is hospitalized and needs inpatient care, MedjetAssist will provide its bedside to bedside services regardless of the nature of their illness or injury...often for scenarios that are neither critical nor life-threatening.

Best of all, the MedjetAssist air medical evacuation membership program also has a motorcycle return benefit in place if the rider is injured & cannot continue on his or her bike.  A $25 upgrade fee shall be added to the MedjetAssist membership fee for this benefit if requested at enrollment or renewal. You are automatically prompted during online annual enrollment at www.medjet.com/bmwmoa for this optional "Motorcycle Transport Protection" benefit. The entire program is quite unique & has been developed with input from riders for riders. The BMWMOA MedjetAssist Plan provides the following benefits for members:

• Fully-staffed air medical transport, regardless of medical necessity, domestically or internationally, to an inpatient hospital setting of the member's choice
• No pre-existing condition exclusions under age 75
• No deductibles, co-payments, waiting periods, claim forms or subrogation
• Injury or illness can be related to business or personal travel...motorcycle-related or not
• Return of the motorcycle to the member's shop or dealership of choice should the member be hospitalized, no dollar limit**
• Return of motorcycle if the member is treated on an outpatient basis, but diagnosed as "physically unable" to ride by a medical physician***
• Transport of mortal remains back to the place of burial
• 24-hour physician consultations when traveling 150 miles away from primary address of record
• Translations for medical services when traveling internationally
• Medical and legal referrals when traveling internationally

** Motorcycle Transport Protection is a $25 upgrade to the membership. Motorcycle return is limited to the continental United States, Alaska, Canada and Mexico ... annual & multi-year membership only, not available on short-term membership.
*** Motorcycles will be returned to the shops or dealerships of choice either within the members' cities of primary residence or cities closest to the members' primary residences.

BMW MOA Member Experiences

MedjetAssist has been in operation since 1991 and its Motorcycle Protection benefits have been available to the public since 2002. Since the alliance between BMW MOA and MedjetAssist was formed, several of our BMW MOA members have had the good fortune of being protected by the program when they needed it the most. In fact, one member, Mike Paull, has benefited from the program on two separate occasions while touring the world on his BMW.

Mike's first incident was while touring in China but his most memorable transport was a life and death race against time when he and his group had a disastrous collision in Russia with a semi-truck during a global touring event. On both occasions MedjetAssist was there for Mike to bring him home, via a flying intensive care unit, to his family and local hospital. Thanks in part to his MedjetAssist membership Mike is still touring and has just completed the 2006 Global Rider's World Tour, a 10,000 mile and 65-day trek from Beijing, China to Munich, Germany.

Charles Hehl's story was a bit closer to home than Mike's but none the less severe. Charles was touring the U.S. when he had an accident in Duluth, Minn. that resulted in a back injury. Further complicating his situation Charles developed a blood clot and started accumulating fluid in his lungs. MedjetAssist returned Charles home to Pottsville, Penn. and the comforts of his family and local healthcare system. And, because Charles was in North America, MedjetAssist also returned his BMW Touratech to Pottsville.

We'll be delving deeper into these & other fascinating air medevac and motorcycle return stories in future issues of BMW ON.

- BMW MOA Staff

For More Information
Interested in learning more about how simple it is to protect you and your family with MedjetAssist? Call MedjetAssist at 1-800-5-ASSIST (1-800-527-7478) and make sure to reference the  BMW MOA Medjet "plan" for the correct membership rates (or) simply log onto www.medjet.com/bmwmoa  to enroll. Make sure you and your family can travel with confidence. Take Trips. Not Chances.

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FAQ's

What makes MedjetAssist unique?
Regardless of medical necessity, MedjetAssist will transport members to the hospital of their choice for inpatient care with virtually no pre-existing condition exclusions and no health questions, deductibles or claim forms. There are no monetary limits to the program's benefits. Members may travel up to 90 consecutive days internationally worldwide before returning to their address of record in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. Expatriate/extended-stay membership is available for parties traveling more than 90 consecutive days internationally.

Do I have to register my motorcycle(s) when purchasing the Motorcycle Protection (Return) upgrade to the BMW MOA annual membership program?
You can at enrollment but it is not required.

If I want to be transported from one hospital to another in medical emergency, are all my costs covered?
As long as an enrolled member meets the required inpatient criteria at both the referring and receiving hospitals (facilities), then MedjetAssist provides all reasonable and necessary transport services from bedside to bedside. Without Medjet membership protection, air medical evacuation services average $15-25,000 domestically & often exceed $100,000 internationally.

Who makes the decision as to whether I am transported?
While the MedjetAssist medical department consults with both the receiving physician and the local attending physician as to what course of action is in the member's best interest, as long as the member meets the transport criteria (inpatient status at both ends), and all safety issues have been considered, then it is the member's ultimate decision as to whether or not he or she is transported.

How do you transport people from remote locations?
MedjetAssist has a network of authorized affiliate air medical providers throughout the world with access to 250+ dedicated, medically equipped & staffed aircraft. Select affiliate providers have specialized capabilities allowing access to more remote areas. MedjetAssist initiates & supervises every aspect of the entire mission process from start to finish.

Doesn't my current health care insurance or platinum card cover emergency evacuations?
Traditional health insurance providers do not provide coverage or reimbursement for air medical evacuation other than immediate on-scene accident ambulance services. Typical health insurance, travel insurance & platinum card coverage does not allow for worldwide "hospital of choice" evacuation, void of medical necessity requirements, without pre-existing conditions, deductibles, co-payments and with a motorcycle return ancillary benefit.

Is an air medical evacuation expensive?
Yes. Domestic air medical evacuation services normally average $15,000 to $25,000, while international transports can exceed $100,000. As a MedjetAssist member, the membership fee is the only expenditure for complete domestic and international protection.

For more information and to enroll in MedjetAssist visit www.medjetassist.com/bmwmoa or call MedjetAssist at 1-800-527-7478 referring to the BMW MOA Medjet Plan.