May 2008

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President's Letter	Travel Tips	City Pairs
Member Comments	Feature Destination	Medjet
Travel Necessities	Contact Us

Roy Berger
President/CEO

Sometimes no matter what the message you want to convey, somebody says it better. That's the case this month with a letter received in mid-April from MedjetAssist members Jerry and Nancy Smith of Orange, Ca. and reprinted with permission in its entirety:

Last June, while planning an extensive trip to China, some friends told us about MedjetAssist and suggested that we sign up in case we had medical problems while in China. Since the cost was so reasonable we elected to enroll in the one year plan. Fortunately, we did not have to use your service while in China.

However, several months later, in March, my wife and I were on a short vacation trip to Napa to visit friends and enjoy the wine and golf of the region which is about 500 miles from our home in Orange. On our first day, Nancy fell from a moving golf cart and had to be transported by ambulance to the local hospital. After x-rays and a CT scan she was diagnosed with a severe hip fracture and we were told that neither the hospital nor the surgeons were equipped to deal with such a severe injury. The Orthopedic surgeon would not release Nancy to be transported by ambulance to our home hospital since he did not want her to be 8 hours without access to medical care. They were talking about moving her to a nearby hospital, when we recalled the MedjetAssist membership.

With no information with me, I called the Medjet office and asked if my membership was still in force and if this situation was covered. The agent asked only one question: Are you more than 150 miles from home?” When I said yes she told me that everything would be covered to transport her to our local hospital and our own doctors for surgery.

Nancy remained in Napa for several days to be stabilized. During that time, the MedjetAssist staff was unbelievable in their communication and support. They helped us coordinate between the two hospitals and the two surgeons and kept me informed hourly about the progress and what I should be doing to be sure that the transfer took place smoothly and comfortably for Nancy. Your people would even call at the shift change and let me know who would be taking over our case for the next shift.

Nancy was taken by ambulance to the Napa airport, and flown by jet to Orange County Airport. Along with her were a paramedic and a nurse. They were both very comforting and made Nancy feel as safe and comfortable as possible during the flight. She was then transferred by ambulance to UCI Medical Center in Orange.

Throughout this experience I kept waiting for someone to find a loophole in the coverage, or to tell me about a deductible or co-pay. There were none. The service was exactly as described with no questions and did not cost us one cent. Had we done this on our own, the cost would have been $12,500.

I cannot begin to tell you how pleased we both were with the service and how glad we are that we had signed on. Nancy is now at home recovering among family and friends rather than 500 miles away in a strange place.

I have been telling our story to all of our friends, family and business associates. We will never be without your service and I believe that anyone who travels should have this coverage.

Thank you MedjetAssist.

Sincerely - Jerry & Nancy Smith

Letters like this make everything we do worthwhile. Thanks again to the Smith's and all our members for being a part of MedjetAssist.

Till next month- safe travels.

Roy Berger
President/CEO
MedjetAssist

www.medjet.com

Website & Travel Tips

Johnny Jet Travel Tip of the Month

Johnny Jet is an expert on travel topics such as traveling in style on a tight budget. He also covers breaking news in the ever changing travel industry. Johnny writes a weekly newsletter, maintains an acclaimed travel website and a blog through which we shares tips and breaking news.

Staying Connected

People always ask me how I stay connected with friends, family and colleagues when I'm overseas. Well, I use my BlackBerry with an international plan but it’s expensive to make calls so I just use it to email and PIN.

I got it unlocked so that I can swap out the SIM card to get on a local network but that’s usually too much work given the fact that I don’t make a lot of calls on my BlackBerry. Instead, I rely on Skype. It’s really changing the world – especially for travelers. Skype’s rates can’t be beat. In addition, Skype is simple to use.

To get started, you'll need a computer with high-speed Internet and a headset, which you can buy at any electronics store. Just let the clerk know that you want to use it for Skype and they'll show you several options. I advise a small headset so it won’t take up precious room in your suitcase (and it shouldn’t cost more than about $15). Then, just log on to Skype.com, download the free software, create a Skype username and password and follow the simple instructions.

You should add $10 (the minimum required) to your Skype credit, so you can start dialing international phone numbers. Calls to other Skype users are free, but you can call any number in the world – including cell phones -- at ridiculously cheap rates. It’s usually about two cents a minute to call anywhere in the world and it's free for domestic calls.

At those rates, there's no excuse not to stay connected with friends, family, business associates or anyone you meet on the road.

Happy Travels

Johnny Jet

Rudy Maxa’s World: D.C.Top Six List

Rudy Maxa is a contributing editor with National Geographic Traveler magazine and one of America's premier consumer travel broadcasters on public radio and television. Rudy Maxa’s 2008 public television travel series, “Rudy Maxa’s World,” debuts in early May on many PBS-TV stations in the U.S. Check your local listings. The 13-part series is underwritten, in part, by Medjet and features destinations in Thailand, Japan, Argentina, India as well as St. Petersburg, Russia, and Estonia. Details can be found at : www.rudymaxasworld.com.

Best New Museum: The Newseum (Pennsylvania Ave. & Sixth Street, N.W.; newseum.org) is a pantheon dedicated to all-things news. Check out today’s front pages from all over the world. Feel like Wolf Blitzer in your own “Situation Room” by visiting the “Great Hall of News” where words and video pour in from around the world around the clock. Be a television correspondent and do a stand-up that you can later download onto your computer. Admission: $20 for adults, less for kids.

Best Sushi: For masterful sushi, the legendary Sushiko is a favorite of visiting celebrities and long-time DC residents. Forget sake--insiders know to ask for the special Burgundy wine list with its well-priced pinot noirs you won’t find anywhere else outside of France. Try the old Sushiko (near Georgetown at 2309 Wisconsin Ave., tel. 202-333-4187) or the just-opened sister restaurant in Bethesda (5455 Wisconsin Ave, tel. 301-961-1644). Reservations a must.

Most Fun Museum for Kids: The Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum is always a tried-and-true hit, but the International Spy Museum (800 F St., NW; tel. 866-779-6873; spymuseum.org) lets everyone play James Bond. New addition to the menu: Operation Spy, a one-hour, simulated covert operation that requires hands-on decisions by visitors age 12 and above. Very clever. Admission to the museum + Operation Spy: $25. Museum only: $18 for adults, less for kids. Allow two hours.

Most Luxurious Hotels: The capital city is filled with great hotels. At the top of the heap: The Four Seasons (a Georgetown landmark to luxury and great service); two Ritz-Carltons (both modern with the Georgetown location the most architecturally interesting as it's carved out of a former incinerator--but don’t let that put you off); The Hay-Adams (best view of the White House, intimate and splendid); the newly renovated Park Hyatt (VERY sleek with a cool bar); the Fairmont (bustling with club floors for first-class pampering); Mandarin-Oriental (awkward location but the Asian vibe and Potomac view makes it worth it); and the St. Regis (old-world luxury that’s just emerged from a top-to-bottom renovation).

Best Park for a Romantic Walk: Montrose Park (R & 31^st Sts. N.W.) is a splendid, multi-tiered park open to the public for free. But for the real winner, step next door to Dumbarton Oaks, a formal park with several levels filled with ponds and flowers in bloom nine months a year. Take a book and find a bench, if you’d like.

Best Place for a Run: The C&O Canal starts in Georgetown and stretches nearly 185 miles. A lovely, wide path that accommodates strollers, joggers, and bikers runs alongside the canal. Just do it. Information: 301-739-4200.

Restaurants Worth a Detour: In addition to Sushiko, there’s Citronelle for elegant French dining; Café Milano for impeccable Italian food and a late-night scene; Central, Michel Richard’s new bistro (but unless the kitchen has wised up, avoid the heavily battered soft-shell crab); DC Coast for great, American dishes; The Palm for steaks and the power-lunch scene; Jaleo for interesting tapas; and my new favorite, Proof, for sophisticated, Modern American cooking a great wine list.

Traveling Healthy & Safe With John Gobbels, MedjetAssist VP/COO
Deep Vein Thrombosis

This month we’ll take a look at Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT, which is a condition in which clots form in the deep veins of the legs. Travelers have called DVT Economy Class Syndrome, but research suggests that someone in any seating class has the potential to develop DVTs. The research also indicates that any situation where our activity is limited, such as a long car ride or train ride, may also contribute to clot formation.

The exact cause of DVT is not completely understood, but it appears to be related in part to long periods of sitting that results in poor circulation to the lower extremities. This is due to compression of the popliteal vein that is located behind the leg and is compressed by the edge of the seat. Some research also indicates that Hemoconcentration (a decrease in the fluid content of the blood, with increased concentration of formed elements) may also be a risk factor for DVT development.

The symptoms include pain with a sudden swelling in the lower extremities and enlargement of the superficial veins. The skin may also appear warm to the touch around the area of the DVT and may appear reddish-blue in color.

While a DVT in itself is not life threatening, a potential complication that can result from a DVT is a Pulmonary Embolism or PE. A PE occurs when a portion of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs causing a disruption of blood flow to that area. Signs of a pulmonary embolism include instant sweating, sudden pallor, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing.

The main objectives of treatment are to dissolve the clot and prevent others from forming. Anticoagulative medications such as Heparin and Coumadin are routinely utilized for this process. Prevention is the goal during long-distance travel and some suggestions are listed below:

·      Avoid constrictive clothing

·      Avoid alcohol and caffeine

·      Change position frequently while seated

·      Stay well hydrated during and after travel (Decreases Hemoconcentration)

·      Move around during travel and do isometric calf exercises by flexing and rotating the ankles and wiggling the toes for a few minutes every half hour

While we can’t stop taking those long journeys, there are things we can do to prevent this potentially life threatening condition.

For more information on how you can prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis please visit these sites:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000156.htm

https://www.preventdvt.org/default.aspx

Stay Safe and Travel Smart - John

Will's Website Tip



Check it Out

With the latest trend in grounded planes, crowded air-space, Chapter 11 filings and potential mergers, the chances that you will experience a flight delay or cancellation this summer is, well, pretty significant. I was recently stuck on the runway at LGA for an hour because of “crowded air-space.” I was not surprised because I fly out of that airport a lot and it is not uncommon for this to happen. I did however have someone in Birmingham that was picking me up at the airport and I needed to let them know my flight was going to be late.

Fortunately Birmingham is one of the easiest airports to get in and out of and it has a great cell-phone waiting lot. But who wants to sit in a car for an hour. A heads up would have been nice. And for the traveler, if you know your flight is late or cancelled before you get to the airport you can make better provisions like holding your room for another day or looking at alternate flights.

My point is, knowing BEFORE you get to the airport is key. That is where my website tip comes in, www.flightstats.com. FlightStats collects information from a large number of sources (government, airline, airport and others) and presents an intuitive display of data. Registered users can explore details collected from each data source.

In short, FlightStats:

Tracks flight status

Combines runway and gate times

Has global coverage

Provides excellent codeshare mapping

Links US airport delay information to the affected flight

Stores information historically and calculates on time performance ratings

As you can see this site is a great source. And if you are in a situation where you can’t access the Internet on your computer or your hotel’s business center, FlightStats has a mobile device address that gives you some basic tools like Flight Status, Next Available Flight, Airport Chatter, Airport Information, Airline Information, Security Wait Times, Weather Center and Current Airport Delays.

So the next time you are on the road or picking someone up at the airport, you can check the status of the flight from your Web-enabled PDA or cell phone. Accessing this information is simple. Direct your browser to http://mobile.flightstats.com and save the address as a favorite. You can also send proactive flight alerts to your email or to your mobile device. Simply find the flight your want to track using the Flight Status application and click on the Alert Icons to set-up flight alerts.

Want More Travel Tips?

Something old something new, the Medjet blog has tips and suggestions for everything from subway directions to the Medjet motorcycle protection program. Looking for something specific? You can even run a keyword search in the lower right hand corner. Check it all out by clicking on the button below.

TRANSPORT CITY PAIRS

Here is a sampling of some of the city pairs that saw MedjetAssist medical transport activity over the past thirty days:

PICK-UP	DESTINATION
Houston, TX	Chicago, IL
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	Kearny, Nebraska
Destin, FL	Jackson, MS
Tomsk, Siberia	Helsinki, Finland
Exuma, Bahamas	Miami, FL
San Miguel, Mexico	Williamsburg, VA
Tegucigalpa, Honduras	Columbus, OH
Aswan, Egypt	Jerusalem, Israel
San Miguel, Mexico	Yuma, AZ
Grand Junction, CO	New York City, NY
Rio Gallegos, Argentina	New York City, NY
El Calafate, Argentina	San Francisco, CA
Jerusalem, Israel	Salinas, CA
Entebbe, Uganda	Taylorsville, NC
Miami, FL	Gastonia, NC
Lucerne, Switzerland	Richmond, VA

MEMBER COMMENTS

Member Comment

I wanted to email you and let you know what a wonderful company you have created. Last year, my mother became extremely ill and was hospitalized in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My parents had taken out a policy with your company but never used it until last year. The plane came and picked my parents up at the hospital and took her straight to her local hospital in Michigan. I cannot compliment you enough on what a "class act" MedjetAssist is. They arrived safely and without any problems to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. The flight crew was professional and wonderful to my parents. Without MedjetAssist, I am not sure what would have happened. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's a good feeling to know that home is not too far away with Medjet. - Leslie

Member Tip

If you are going to Walt Disney World and you are trying to find discounted park tickets, it pays to wait until you arrive in Orlando. The Wal-Mart at 4444 W. Vine in Kissimmee, one town over from Orlando, has a ticket center within the store that sells discounted multi-day Disney World tickets. They do not carry every ticket type, and you have to buy the tickets in person -- they will not mail them. I would recommend calling ahead at (407) 397-0090 or (800) 669-0913 or emailing them at wmvc0817@wal-mart.com to confirm prices, hours and availability. - Michael

Transport Stories

Click on the button below and watch as the webisodes take you through three transports ranging from skiing accidents to cape buffalo attacks. Follow the Medjet team of specialists as they fly to the scene and return injured members to their hospital of choice. Hear from the members and get their viewpoint of incredible journeys from desperate phone call to recovery.

FEATURE DESTINATION - By International Expeditions

India – A Kaleidoscope of Experiences

From the Khajuraho Temples and Taj Mahal to the bustling cities and countryside, India's cultural and natural wonders are a kaleidoscope of colors, cultures, sights and sounds — a feast for the senses that will leave you thirsty for more!

Nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and three national parks are some of the wonders in International Expeditions’ 18-day itinerary in India. Sunrise at the Taj Mahal, tiger spotting by elephant back, stargazing at jungle skies and cooking demonstrations are just a few of many unforgettable moments. From the coastal town of Mumbai to the opulent palaces of Jaipur, you’ll experience India’s stunning blend of contemporary and the historic.

On this unique journey, guests will discover an abundant diversity of wildlife in Kanha and Bandhavgarh — India’s signature wildlife areas — including leopards, tigers, hyenas, bears, barasingha and an astounding variety of colorful birds. Guests will also learn how International Expeditions’ ongoing contributions have helped the Tiger Trust, which raises awareness for tiger conservation and protection.

Join International Expeditions on this superb itinerary, crafted to explore the India’s diversity of wildlife and culture. Prices for the 18-day expeditions start from just $5,598 for remaining 2008 departures and $5,998 for 2009, and include all accommodations, meals, local transportation, guides and transfers for group flights. International and in-country airfare is not included, though flights can be arranged through International Expeditions. Ask your preferred travel agent for more information on booking this trip, or contact International Expeditions at 800-633-4734 or online at www.ietravel.com/india.

MEDJETASSIST

Product and Service Profile

Product Profile

MedjetAssist Plus Adds Neiman Marcus Personal Shopper to its List of Plus Member Benefits

Now is the time to make the most of your Medjet membership by upgrading it to the MedjetAssist Plus program. Our new Plus program has more unique advantages than ever like our new Neiman Marcus Personal Shopper benefit. Neiman Marcus personal shoppers provide one on one sales assistance to help you find the merchandise perfect for you whether you're shopping for a gift for a loved one or yourself. Personal shoppers are available by appointment during store hours. And now, if you are a Plus member, this service can be yours for free. Click on the Plus icon on the upper right to find out more about what Plus offers and how you can have your own Neiman Marcus Personal Shopper.

Benefit Focus

Travel Related Information Services

MedjetAssist offers a host of travel related information services ranging from Visa requirements to cultural and weather information. A full listing of these services is bulleted below. For more information on these services visit the benefits section of our website or call us at 1-800-527-7478 and speak with a Membership Services representative.

Travel, Health & Security Precautions for International Destinations
Visa, Passport & Immunization Requirements
Travel Security Briefs for Specific Destinations
Cultural & Weather Information for International Destinations
Embassy & Consular Referrals

Corporate/Group Enrollment

We all know how important it is to protect an organization's most prized assets; its people! Interested in learning more about how simple it is to protect your team with MedjetAssist? Ask your travel agent for more information on MedjetAssist corporate and group programs. Or, take a moment to complete the brief form on our website so we may contact you. Make sure your staff can travel with confidence. Make sure your staff travels with MedjetAssist!

Show & Tell

Send us your travel tips and comments and you might see your recommendations in next month’s newsletter. Send your ideas and suggestions to marketing@medjetassist.com with the headline NEWSLETTER SUGGESTION.

TRAVEL WITH SAFETY AND STYLE

Be the envy of your traveling companions and pick up great MedjetAssist travel necessities. While you’re at it, buy something unique for your friends and family so that they can be savvy travelers as well.

MedjetAssist Deluxe Luggage Tag

This supple rich brown luggage tag boasts beautiful white stitching, a silver clasp and an embossed MedjetAssist logo. Not only does this luggage tag look stylish but it is functional too with a slide out holder that houses and protects your business card, ID tag or your complimentary MedjetAssist luggage tag. So look smart and, best of all, find you bag easier with the new MedjetAssist deluxe luggage tag. Available for only $15.00 by calling 1-800- 5-ASSIST.

MedjetAssist All-in-One Travel Bag
Designed with a separate, zippered laptop compartment, our Travel Bag is fashioned of heavyweight fabric and is embroidered with the MedjetAssist logo. Available to our members at just $37.50, including shipping. Call us toll free at 1-800-5-ASSIST for details or to place an order.

Authorized Medical Kit

MedjetAssist Associate Medical Director, Dr. Christopher Rosko, has approved this medical kit to cover the basic medical needs of our members when they travel. It includes basic first-aid supplies and common medications for routine, simple illnesses. Available to MedjetAssist members at $35.00 each. Call 1-800-5-ASSIST for details or to place an order.

Click here for the Medical Kit contents.

MedjetAssist Passport Holder

Details such as white stitching and an embossed MedjetAssist logo accentuate this stylish passport holder. Style meets function on the inside with compartments for everything from your passport to your MedjetAssist card. Also included is an insert that contains important information regarding MedjetAssist services, helpful phone numbers for the international traveler and an area for you to write in your own important numbers. Available to our members at just $20.00, including shipping and a gift box. Call 1-800-5-ASSIST for details or to place an order.

1-800-5-ASSIST (1-800-527-7478) • www.medjet.com

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For more smart travel tips check out the Medjet Blog at http://blog.medjet.com