INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (IEA) is a specialized transport facilitator and payment guarantor for worldwide transport and relocation coverage.  Founded in 2002 by a group of experienced and licensed industry professionals who saw a need to assist family survivors of deceased relatives while traveling away from home.  IEA has developed a network of qualified transport and service providers all over the world. IEA is incorporated under the name Emergency Management Services and is licensed, bonded and insured. Each and every staff member who facilitates transport and return arrangements is a licensed funeral and transport professional.  They have passed background and experience checks assuring the highest degree of honesty, integrity, credibility and quality of service.  IEA offers its Members PEACE OF MIND through its 24-hour international contact and database service.  In the unlikely event a Member's family is not fully satisfied with IEA's performance , we will refund your membership fee subject to written request and final review by IEA.

THE IEA PROFESSIONAL TEAMS ARE FULLY LICENDED FUNERAL DIRECTORS WITH YEARS OF TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE.  THEY FOLLOW THROUGH AND TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING, WHILE KEEPING ALL INVOLVED PARTIES INFORMED OF EVERY DETAIL...THIS IS THE KEY DIFFERENCE...

There are very few  transport companies who have licensed funeral consultants available who specialize in facilitating the complex transport and return of mortal or cremated remains.  IEA is one of them. There are even fewer “assistance companies” that are staffed 24-hours a day with the experience of IEA’s professional certified personnel. IEA is one of them. With the first phone call to our 24-hour call service, IEA will facilitate and manage all necessary transport and return arrangements and costs to your U.S. homeland when there is a “demise away from your U.S. home”, any time of the day or night. According to your individual plan, there are generally no additional charges for this service because it is completely covered in your Membership fee up to ten thousand dollars. Other “assistance companies” may take care of medical evacuation, financial or airline travel related emergencies, however they generally do not have a 24-hour certified experienced staff to facilitate and guarantee payment for all necessary transport arrangements of mortal remains. IEA has facilitated return home transport arrangements from Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica, Austria, Puerto Rico, Greece, United Kingdom, Japan,  Vietnam, Honduras, Bulgaria, British Virgin Islands, Africa, Scotland, Bahamas, Philippines, Spain, Canada, Germany, France, United States and more.  This can be complex, confusing and emotionally and financially costly. Other companies may simply refer you to the nearest mortuary for such arrangements, at which point you are on your own and not in control of the situation or costs whatsoever. In this case, it is not unusual for costs to exceed thousands of dollars. A simple enrollment application and single lifetime IEA  membership guarantees facilitating and payment for all of the necessary transport arrangements on your behalf through our established network of qualified service and transport providers in the event of a member's demise while more than 75 miles away from their home. The peace of mind knowing that you will not be forced to deal with this can be worth more than anything.

No, IEA is Membership based and provides an immediate and valuable 24 hour call and database center that will facilitate and pay for all necessary transport services through one of IEA’s qualified providers if death should occur while more than 75 miles away from your home. There are no insurance premiums or deductibles to pay, simply a one-time Membership fee COVERS YOU FOR A LIFETIME.  Any U.S. Citizen residing in the U.S. and over the age of 21 can generally become an IEA member.  IEA memberships are NOT transferable to another person.

NO, IEA is not a funeral home nor does it offer or provide (directly or indirectly) funeral or cremation services or transport service. IEA is the facilitator and manager and payment guarantor of such on your behalf.  We are membership based. Simply put, IEA is a facilitator, manager and payment guarantor of transport and return arrangements that may be needed in the unlikely event death occurs while away from home. An IEA Membership provides peace of mind and assists in protecting you from additional or unnecessary emotional and financial expense in the event it is needed.

Every city, county, state and country has different regulations for transport and return arrangements. Costs vary widely and can easily exceed thousands of dollars, even if the death occurs in your neighboring state. The emotional circumstances and “red tape” are complex, confusing and distressing for the remaining family members. IEA’s staff minimizes these concerns and takes care of everything.  ALWAYS CARRY YOUR ID CARD WITH YOU WHEN TRAVELING.

Even though this process can be extremely complex in some countries, generally we can facilitate these transport and return arrangements from anywhere in the world as long as there are U.S. diplomatic relationships or a U.S. embassy in place.  If there are language barriers, we have access to language translators for over 200 different languages around the world for document translation and communication. However, due to the nature of demise, unusual laws,  lack of local needed service providers, diplomatic relationships, embassy location, regulations and religious requirements and other exigent circumstances (Covid19 Pandemic regulations) of some countries outside the United States, we cannot guarantee 100% that we will be able to accomplish this in the event of those unusual circumstances.  Even so, we will make every effort to assist in facilitating the return in the unlikely event those exigent circumstances arise.  ALWAYS CARRY YOUR ID CARD WITH YOU WHEN TRAVELING AND CONTACT IEA FIRST.

Yes, however it depends upon the terms of your original application and enrollment.  Generally, the maximum amount  of transport arrangements covered by IEA is up to ten thousand dollars *unless otherwise indicated in your individual membership application.  However, IEA's  years of experience successfully facilitating transport return arrangements has kept costs in check where others cannot.  In the event there are other additional requests outside of the required minimum preparation and arrangements for transport return costs, the requesting party will be responsible.  Additional expense beyond minimum transport return arrangements may or may not be covered by separate insurance proceeds or other responsible parties.

Maybe, depending on the type of policy you have. Some insurance companies may reimburse you for these expenses after the arrangements have been completed and paid for by you. However, they generally cannot assist you with professional advise and facilitate all the necessary transport arrangements like IEA can.  Your “up front” transport costs could be exorbitant for the inexperienced and are generally required in cash at the time a service provider is contacted. Also, most insurance companies do not have qualified transport or service providers available to facilitate your immediate needs in these complex circumstances 24-hours, 7 days a week.

Generally, your home or residence is defined as the place that you own, rent or have resided in for 90 days or more in the United States.   You may have more than a single residence in the U.S. and if you pass away more than 75 miles from any of them in the U.S, you are covered.  You must be a U.S. citizen over the age of 21 and residing in the U.S. to become an IEA member.   IEA membership is NOT transferable to another to another residence outside of the U.S.  ALWAYS CARRY YOUR ID CARD WITH YOU WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN HOMES.  IEA memberships are NOT transferable to another person.

Yes, many people do.  However, as long as you are more than 75 miles from your home(s) wherever they may be in the U.S. you are covered. If you are residing/living outside of the U.S. for less than 90 days, you would be covered.  If more than 90 days you would not be covered. IEA membership is NOT transferable to a residence outside of the U.S.

Yes, as long as your move is within the U.S. However, you are responsible for notifying IEA in writing via email or letter if you move, change your name or contact information so we can revise such in our database.  We can also issue a revised ID card at no charge.  If you are living outside of the U.S. for more than 90 days, you would not be covered.  IEA membership is NOT transferable to a residence outside of the U.S.

Once IEA has received your membership application and payment from your enrollment agent, your name is entered into our database and membership becomes effective.  If you have enrolled through one of IEA's authorized representatives and made payment to them, your membership becomes active at that time unless cancelled within the "free look" period.  You generally have a 30 day "free look" with full refund if you change your mind within that time period.  However, you MUST contact the local representative who enrolled you to cancel within that "free look' time period.

You will receive a welcome letter and wallet size Membership ID card either from your IEA representative agent enrolling you or directly from IEA.  It will have IEA's toll free 24-hour number that you carry with you at all times.  You should retain your original IEA membership application form for proof of membership until you receive your ID card.  Your permanent ID card could take up to 6 weeks before you receive it, so retain a copy of your original application until you receive your ID card.  If you lose your ID card, you may contact your local enrollment agent or IEA for a replacement.  IEA memberships are NOT transferable to another person.

Because of IEA's years of experience and it's professional contacts, we have been able to negotiate and develop a large network of service and transport providers in many parts of the world.  An inexperienced individual generally would not know where to search for such providers and could not negotiate these service and transport fees on a moments notice. IEA assures that as long as IEA is notified first prior to engagin any other service or transport provider, IEA will qualify your residence and  coverage, then facilitate the transport return arrangements without any added costs up to the limit in accordance with your membership agreement.  You hope to never need the protection that IEA provides, however it is very inexpensive lifetime  peace of mind knowing you have it covered in the event of need.

 Your IEA Local Area Representative will discuss the cost of membership with you. Any U.S. Citizen residing in the U.S and over the age of 21 can generally become an IEA member. You may never need the assistance of IEA.  However, considering the Peace of Mind you receive for a lifetime, the cost is minimal.  Please discuss this with them, or contact us to see who the Authorized IEA  Representative is in your area.  IEA memberships are only enrolled through your authorized local agents at this time. 

NOTE:  All costs up to the maximum limit in necessary preparation for transport (including documents, required minimum preparation for transport and transportation) are facilitated by IEA and payment is guaranteed to IEA's selected qualified providers at the place of death as long as IEA is contacted first and such arrangements are contracted by IEA.  Either upon return or at the place of demise, any funeral, cemetery, visitation, memorial or arrangements other than those minimum required transport related arrangements and costs are separate and may be arranged by family members at the local or receiving funeral home or cemetery in accordance with their published service fees and paid for by those requesting such additional arrangements.

Proof of residence, active membership and location of passing verification will be required.  IEA MUST be the first point of contact prior to engaging any other local service provider at the place of demise, otherwise claims may be denied.  ALWAYS CARRY YOUR ID CARD WHEN TRAVELING AND CONTACT IEA FIRST.

You may apply by contacting an authorized IEA Seller Representative in your area or by calling IEA’s toll free phone number.  You may also complete the IEA Member application and return it to your Authorized IEA Seller Representative or to IEA via email or general mail or fax, along with your one time application fee. Payment can generally be made by cash, credit card or check. Click Here to Join.

Your local Authorized IEA Representative is a "Marketing Partner" and can enroll you.  Many of these "Marketing Partners" are individual agents, estate planning companies, financial planners, attorneys, travel clubs, fraternal organizations, churches, funeral homes or cemeteries providing special travel/transport/relocation protection benefits separate from any other plans that their clients may have.   A marketing Partnership Program authorizes these entities to enroll IEA members directly. To learn more about this program in order to become a Marketing Partner, please contact our office or email info@ieaco.com.