My husband, Joe, and I want to express how much your team means to us bringing us safely home!! Our hearts go out to all of you. 

Our Transatlantic cruise from Tampa, Florida to Barcelona, Spain to celebrate my 70th birthday on the high seas was interrupted by a freak accident in the Azores, one of our Ports of call. While walking along a road, my husband wanted to take a pic of a small flower on the edge of a very steep road with gravel and rock. I told him “No Way” as it was dangerous, but he thought he was ok. As he stepped around me, his feet slipped on the gravel and gravity just pulled him down the road as he yelled, “I can’t stop, someone help me”.

Three men ran after him, but he crashed into a rock wall. When they brought him back to the road, he had a very large laceration to the bone in his right knee. He was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, cleaned and many stitches. We continued our cruise at sea for 3 more days with the ships doctor changing his dressing, but infection set in. Ultimately, the cruise ship sent us to a hospital in Valencia, Spain. 

My nightmare became worse. The language barrier was horrible. He was bed ridden and I had the responsibility or his care - Bathing, bathroom, feeding and care for myself. While in the hospital I was allowed to stay with Joe. I had to buy our meals at the café in the hospital. After 3 days, I remembered that we had Emergency Assistance Plus. I placed a call and was reassured help was on the way. 

All of you at Emergency Assistance Plus were there not only for Joe, but for me. I wanted to go home and felt I would be lost in Spain forever. They listened to me cry and comforted me by telling me I was not alone, and help was on the way, and I would not be left. I had a very emotional time with all of this. I can’t tell you enough how comforting all of you were to me. God brought us all together!

Emergency Assistance Plus got me a room at a nearby hotel while we awaited our nurse escort to arrive to help get us home. When I opened the door when our nurse escort, Walter, arrived my heart knew I was going to be ok and go home. Walter went above and beyond and handled everything – finding a wheelchair for Joe, making appointments for our COVID tests, even making sure we ate and bringing me an adapter and charger for my phone which I had been unable to charge. 

Finally, we were GOING HOME!! Our first flight took us to Frankfort, Germany. Once landed, Joe was well taken care of with transportation around the airport by minivan and wheelchairs and security to help with the airports. Thank you for arranging all of this.
 
For the first time in our lives, we flew first class due to Joe’s medical condition and I was very much impressed by all of this. Walter helped Joe each time with bathroom needs and vitals throughout our long flight and when we landed in Miami, I let out a yell!!!  Our flight from Miami to Gainesville was short and a van was waiting for all of us to drive us home to Ocala, Florida. Once home, Walter took our luggage into the house and took Joe’s vitals again and we bid our final farewells. I owe so much to all of you for being there for both of us. 

This was a horrible experience for us both and I don’t know what would have become of us if it had not been for your caring, loving people!! God brought us together and you brought us home. I will forever be thanking you all. From my heart to ALL of yours God Bless you all for everything.

I had to tell this story.
 
My husband had an emergency quadruple bypass. After his recovery, we booked tickets and thought it might be the last time he went home to Australia to see his daughter and granddaughter, who was 4 years old, so I took our EA+ with us just in case.
 
We arrived to experience his last Anzac Sunrise service and we all left the house very excited. My granddaughter was holding my hand and merrily jumped in front of me accidentally treading on my toes and brought us both down to the ground. I was so concerned that I would fall on her I fell sideways. I couldn’t get up without the aid of two very kind strangers. 

In pain, I continued walking onto the service holding my husband’s arm. The sun was coming up and I felt not only chilly, but a little dizzy. Not wanting to cause any more fuss I said I would walk over to the nearby seat and wait for them. Aided, I sat and watched the sunrise. It was beautiful. After the service, the family came to get me but unfortunately, I couldn’t get up. The paramedics were called, and I was put into a wheelchair. 

This is where without Emergency Assistance Plus both my husband and I would have been marooned in Australia for some time. I had broken my pelvis in two places. EA+ came to the rescue and as soon as I could fly they had my husband and I on the next plane home. I could not sit for the duration of the flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles so we were upgraded so that I could lie down. The help we received was flawless and I would recommend EA+ to anyone. I had purchased EA+ in case my husband needed to be transported home, never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be me!!  Thank you, EA,+.

"As someone who likes to engage in mildly adventurous activities such as general aviation and motorcycle and scooter riding I have carried EA+ for a number of years hoping never to use it. 
 
Well, this year that all changed and I have truly gained great appreciation for this membership. Having registered for a cross-country scooter ride from Bar Harbor, Maine to Eureka, California prior to the COVID epidemic, restrictions had finally restored freedom enough that the event occurred this summer. 

About 150 miles into the ride sandy debris of the road from recent rainfall sent me and my scooter out of control at a mere 20 mph. I was amazed how much an impact from that low speed could hurt. Fellow riders quickly called 911 and a short ride to a nearby community hospital in Norway, Maine resulted in a number of x rays and the quick decision to transfer me to the level 1 Trauma center at Portland, Maine (the only level 1 center in Maine). As soon as my wife heard of the accident she contacted EA+ and was amazed at the degree to which they were ready to assist her.

Multiple broken ribs, a broken breastbone, injury to both lungs and other injures were all sustained without a scratch on my body due to protective clothing. It’s too bad the clothing didn’t prevent the impact. A several-day stay before the trauma doctors approved my transfer back to Florida and EA+ was quick to arrange air transport back home to Florida. Unfortunately, the trauma team determined that air transport was not possible due to the lung and chest injury. EA+ quickly arranged alternative transport via train with two escort nurses.

EA+ and nurses Frank and Jen did everything possible to assist me. EA+ has certainly proven its value to me! One of my trauma physicians even commented that he was not accustomed to dealing with such “Cadillac” quality coverage.
 
Once home, I received many well wishes from fellow riders. When telling them of my experience with EA+ a number of them immediately signed up for a membership, all hoping they will never have to use it.
 
As a retired RN Nurse Practitioner, AeroMedical Physician Assistant, Medical School professor and medical text author I think I’m a pretty good judge of quality care and this was an example to the highest quality of care. 
 
Many thanks to all of those involved in getting me home safely."

Kevin K., Florida

"God bless you! We are so very grateful for your organization’s generous kindness to my husband in bringing us home to FL from MI via air ambulance in July. You went far and above the terms of our membership and we are “eternally grateful” for your actions!

Just to have the Assistance Coordinator call us to check on my husband’s condition a few days before our fight was indicative of the care we experienced with all who work for you. The air ambulance team was also very helpful and kind – if I failed to mention someone who helped us, I apologize, just know that everyone at EA+ is top notch! 

When that call came in to let us know that EA+ had agreed to supply transportation via air ambulance, I was literally speechless and a floodgate of tears tore open! (Actually, I almost called back to make sure I hadn’t dreamed what I had just been told!!) In this day and age of “bottom line” businesses and everyone out to get by at the least amount of cost, you have renewed our faith that there are caring businesses with a heart!

I must tell you that my husband has been the “servant of servants” with his computer expertise for the past 20 years serving Christian ministries throughout this nation. It was as if all his efforts to help others came flooding back to him through your generosity! You truly are an instrument of God!"

Jenny E. 

"After several years of EA+ membership, we weren't traveling and let our EA+ lapse. Then, in 2019 we went on a lifetime dream trip to Alaska. It was a small photography group of 6. We traveled in a large van and spent time in Seward, including a day long boat trip on Resurrection Bay. We traveled on to Homer, where we had a flight on a small plane to Lake Clark. The water was the most beautiful color! We spent most of the day photographing brown bears from a pontoon boat. We flew back to Homer, and having such a great time, I thought about flying lessons when I returned home. 

Walking back up the dock, I tripped on a raised board. My leg broke immediately, due to osteoporosis medications, and I fell over, landing on my side. Local EMT's rushed me to the local hospital, where a CT scan revealed that my femur had completely broken and was no longer attached. My shoulder was smashed, my arm and ribs were broken.

I was flown by a helicopter to Anchorage where I had immediate surgery to place a rod in my leg. They offered to do the shoulder replacement surgery, but I was worried about another big surgery, and wanted to have it done at home. I stayed in the hospital for 15 days. 

I had arranged for a friend to come accompany me home, but she called 3 days before and had suffered a heart attack. I had to find another friend who could drop everything and come to get me home. It was a terrible end to an otherwise fabulous vacation. 

I realized while I laid in bed in Anchorage, that if I had EA+, I wouldn't have to do all my own work to find help getting home. It was a nightmare! I am back with EA+ now, and ready to try that Alaska trip again!"

Heather W. 

“While celebrating our anniversary in Jamaica, I fell – fracturing both my left leg and shoulder. I desperately needed surgery but the local hospital didn’t have the necessary supplies. My husband, Bill, called Emergency Assistance Plus, who immediately began monitoring my condition, then arranged and provided an air ambulance transportation to the nearest appropriate hospital capable of performing my necessary surgery. Once I was stable, EA+ also arranged and provided flights to get my husband and I back home to Arizona – along with a nurse escort to provide medically necessary assistance during the flight.

Bill called our nurse, Tracy, “An angel, because she just took care of everything”. Once safely back in Arizona, EA+ even arranged to transport the me directly from the airport to a local rehab facility near our home.

If you travel, and we all do, be it a big vacation abroad or even if it’s to visit children and grandchildren in a different state, the cost of getting home if you get injured or ill is expensive. This is one less worry for us.”

Melanie C., Arizona

"Our family vacation quickly became a tragedy when the car we were riding in was broadsided as we traveled from the airport to our hotel. Having barely arrived in Orlando, we soon found ourselves at the local hospital. Thankfully, my two children were unharmed in the accident, but tragically my husband had been killed. I suffered from facial cuts and bruises and required surgery on my arm.

My sister-in-law contacted the EA+ assistance coordinators, who helped us return my husband's body to our home in California. They continued to monitor my medical condition until I was released from the hospital.

After I returned to our home in California, the EA+ assistance coordinators continued to monitor the situation, making arrangements between funeral homes to coordinate the transportation of my husband's body. Never did I think that our EA+ coverage would help us out so much."

Amy T., California

“I had planned to travel throughout South America, learning the language and the culture. While I was visiting the Galapagos I had a bicycle accident and broke my leg. The care there is very limited, so I needed to return to the US in order to have surgery.

EA+ put all my worries to rest. They worked directly with the clinic to ensure I was receiving the proper dosage of medication (good for me since my Spanish was rusty!). Once I was medically cleared to travel by the EA+ medical team, they even arranged for a flight home and a Nurse Escort to assist me on the flight. EA+ made everything so easy and I can’t thank you enough."

Lorraine M, Colorado

"When a blood clot was found in my brain while we were vacationing in Michigan, I had to undergo an emergency surgery immediately. After the surgery, my wife contacted EA+ for help in returning us home to Texas. Once the EA+ medical team determined that I was healthy enough to fly home, EA+ assistance coordinators made travel arrangements for us. Although the EA+ assistance coordinators made sure to make arrangements for our car to be returned to Texas, we had our son drive it back. We made it back home safely, thanks to the EA+ assistance coordinators that made everything so easy on us."

Andrew M., Texas

"Our annual road trip to enjoy springtime in the Appalachians was cut short when my husband was hospitalized for a stomach virus and dehydration. Due to the long journey, the treating physician did not recommend that my husband and I drive our van home. Instead, I called EA+ for help. The EA+ assistance coordinators immediately went into action, making flight arrangements for us to return to Massachusetts once my husband was deemed medically fit to travel. While our EA+ services also provided for coordination of vehicle return, we decided that a family friend would drive the van home."

Beverly J., Massachusetts

After several weeks of leisurely driving on a 4,500 mile RV trip from North Carolina to Alaska, I experienced intense chest pains and was admitted to the hospital nearby overnight for observation. The next morning the cardiologist told me I needed to fly home immediately for treatment – driving home could prove fatal. I handed my EA+ card to the doctor who called on my behalf. The EA+ assistance coordinators obtained medical reports regarding my medical condition and upon review, the EA+ medical team deemed me medically fit to travel. So, EA+ immediately arranged flights for me and my wife, Nora, to Atlanta for surgery. They also arranged for our RV to be driven home by a professional driver.

My wife estimates that EA+ saved us upwards of $10,000 for the tickets and safe return of the RV. Plus we saved the hassle of making the arrangements, which EA+ took care of. We had many people in our RV park who have EA+ and many asked if it is as good as they say. We told them how great it was and how happy we bought it before we left on this vacation. Really tickled we have it.

Paul and Nora, North Carolina

My husband and I were on vacation in London, England. We had just finished a wonderful tour of a museum when my husband collapsed inside an express grocery store. He was unable to feel his arms and legs so the clerk called the emergency medical service and he was transported to the local trauma center. He was diagnosed with 2 strokes and multiple broken bones from the fall. Later, he was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital where he stayed for 39 days.

Fortunately, I had purchased EA+ a couple years earlier so I called them. There was constant communication between the EA+ assistance coordinator and myself. When my husband was finally ready to return home, EA+ was there to help us. They provided a nurse escort who met us at the hospital, they arranged for an ambulance to take us from the hospital to Heathrow airport, and, as it was deemed medically necessary, they arranged for Paul and the nurse escort to be seated in business class with reclining seats while I sat in coach for the 9 hour trip to North Carolina. When we arrived in Charlotte, EA+ was there with an ambulance for the 2 1/4 hour trip from the airport to the rehabilitation hospital 20 minutes from our home in Asheville.

Needless to say, many of our friends who were planning foreign trips bought EA+ after we told them our story. Thank you, EA+. I had so much to do while in London, getting Paul into the hospital near home, and standing by Paul for 12 + hours each day, feeding, and tending to him, it was such a relief knowing I didn't have to arrange for transportation and repatriation also.”

Valerie T., North Carolina

After spending a month in Arizona during the winter, my husband and I were driving home to Minnesota. We were staying overnight in a small town in Oklahoma when my husband became seriously ill and collapsed in our hotel room. We called 911 and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lung and left leg and was hospitalized for 10 days.

We called EA+ and they were wonderful. Their staff was in touch with me every day to see how my husband was doing and how I was doing. When it was time for my husband to be released, the EA+ staff conferred with the physicians to confirm my husband was medically cleared for travel, and arranged and paid for reservations on a commercial flight for us to return to Minnesota. Not only that, but they also arranged and paid for our granddaughter to fly from her home to the location of the van in Oklahoma so that she could drive it to our home in Minnesota. She was even reimbursed for gas, tolls and her incidental expenses during the drive. During all this time, the daily contact by the EA+ staff was wonderful as we were in a strange city and were overwhelmed. We are so thankful for everything they did for us.

We renewed EA+ the following year and it gives us great piece of mind to know it’s there when we travel. We also discovered we can use it even if we’re just out of our immediate area, not necessarily on a long trip. We wouldn’t be without it.”

Roger and Jean J., Minnesota

“My husband, Parker, and I flew to our 2nd home in South Carolina and as I walked down our front stairs, I missed a step and fell. The result was a fractured pelvis and 3 fractured ribs. I was in the hospital for 2 days, then transferred to rehab for 18 days. There was absolutely no way that Parker could get me home to Maine without help.

We notified EA+ early in my hospitalization and they were wonderful. They worked with my doctors to devise a plan. As it was deemed medically necessary by the EA+ medical team, arrangements were made to fly us home to Maine accompanied by a nurse escort who supplied oxygen. All appropriate clearances, tickets and wheelchair transfers through the airports were arranged by EA+. The nurse escort took my vital signs before leaving my home, assuring that I was safe and comfortable.

I cannot know how much it would have cost for us to get everything on our own, but I do know that a private plane would have cost $10,000 or more! We could not have had better arrangements or care.”

Sue R., Maine

My wife became seriously ill during at stay at our condo in Tennessee. I called 911 and she was transported to a nearby medical center and admitted. After 12 days of treatment, it was determined my wife needed specialized care not available at the current facility. I contacted EA+ and they worked with my wife’s doctors to finalize arrangements for transfer by air ambulance to a hospital in Knoxville.

I would like to commend the team at EA+ and the staff that made the air ambulance trip with my wife. They were all very professional. The entire staff at the hospital in Knoxville could not believe the way EA+ did everything that was promised. Your staff could not have been any better to me and my wife.

I have told many people about this amazing program. I am proud to endorse EA+.

David H., Tennessee

“We had enjoyed a lovely vacation in Italy visiting Lake Como, Tuscany and finally the Amalfie Coast. While in Positano, my wife became ill and needed medical assistance. I called EA+ and they helped us locate a hospital in Sorrento where my wife received inpatient care for two days.

Because of her condition, we knew we would be unable to continue our trip. With the help of the EA+ physicians, arrangements were made for us to fly to Paris and then board a direct flight to our home in North Carolina once my wife was deemed medically stable for travel. As it was deemed medically necessary due to her condition, EA+ arranged to have my wife in business class seating with me as her non-medical escort to join her for the entire journey home.

We cannot express our thanks and appreciation for all that was done to make such a frightening situation tolerable, calming and comforting. Thank you all.”

Jerry and Peg B., North Carolina

My husband and I were on a cruise when he developed pneumonia. He spent 24 hours in the ship’s infirmary and was then evacuated to a hospital in Mexico. We contacted EA+ to help us. I received several calls during the two days my husband was hospitalized. They kept us up to date on arrangements for transportation home and coordinated with the doctors at the hospital and my husband’s doctor back home.

It was determined that my husband needed specialized care that the hospital in Mexico was not medically capable of providing. EA+ made arrangements for a medical evacuation to a hospital in Florida, as it was the closest facility medically capable of treating my husband at the time, which also happened to be near our home! We were accompanied on the trip by the appropriate medical personnel. When we arrived at the hospital, they also helped us with admittance to the ICU and to confer with the hospital staff about his condition.

We certainly encourage everyone to become an EA+ member. Hopefully, it will never be needed, but the peace of mind is worth more than words can convey.

Norma Jean S., Texas

“While traveling in Poland, my wife became seriously ill and needed emergency medical care. Fortunately, we had signed up to be EA+ members. I had seen one of their offers a couple of years ago, but given the low cost, I thought it could not offer the services advertised. But, this time, because travel plans would take us to developing countries, I decided to join.

Space does not permit me to give the details of EA+'s response to my wife’s medical situation. Let me just say that their response was exceptional. I shall continue to be a member of EA+ for as long as I am able to travel never growing tired of telling my friends of their outstanding service.”

Joseph C., Colorado