EA+ vs. Good Sam Travel Assist: Which is the Better Travel Assistance for You?

Key takeaways

• EA+ provides emergency medical transportation services and is best for unlimited annual plans, as well as no age or medical condition restrictions.
• Good Sam also offers emergency medical transportation and specializes in RV and vehicle roadside assistance.
• The best fit depends on your needs—flexible broad protections with EA+ or specific road-based support with Good Sam.

If you’ve done any research into travel assistance, you’ve likely come across two names during your search: Emergency Assistance Plus® (EA+®) and Good Sam TravelAssist.

Both are respected brand names in the travel assistance space and offer a range of services for travelers looking for some extra protection and peace of mind on their trips. But while each company is technically in the same category, there are some significant differences. EA+ is better for annual plans that support all types of travelers by helping manage air evacuation costs, while Good Sam caters to road trippers and RV travel. 

In this post, we’re going to break down some of the main differences between Emergency Assistance Plus and Good Sam TravelAssist, assessing their features, pricing, and overall reviews, so you can choose the right fit for your travel style.

Service	Core focus	Membership pricing	Assistance support	Key differentiator
Emergency Assistance Plus® (EA+®)	Global emergency travel assistance for all travelers	Essential individual: $249 • Essential family: $309 • Premier individual: $319 • Premier family: $379	Medical: Emergency monitoring • Advance medical payments • Prescription replacement • Physician/ER/specialist coordination Transport: Air evacuation • Transportation home • Nurse escort/air ambulance • Companion/child/pet/vehicle return	Pre-existing conditions supported • Lost baggage assistance • Lost document & prescription support
Good Sam	Road travelers, RV/vehicle owners, family & pet support	Individual: $89.99 • Couple: $99.99 • Family: $109.99 • Family + Pets: $179.99	Medical: Basic emergency messaging • Translation services • 24-hour nurse hotline (Premier) Transport: Transport to nearest care & home • Vehicle/RV/boat return • Companion/family/pet return	Focused on RV/road travel • Extensive family/dependent support (Premier) • Strong pre-trip assistance for visa/passport info & language translation

Emergency Assistance Plus

Best for: Global emergency travel assistance for all travelers

Emergency Assistance Plus was founded in 1996 and boasts an accredited A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. EA+ has protected over 2 million travelers by providing emergency medical transportation, security, and travel assistance. 

The services are provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in coordination with a network of air ambulance transport companies, dedicated Global Response Center representatives, and in-house medical teams.

Services offered 

EA+ provides a wide range of services to help travelers in times of need, from medical evacuation to logistical support. Some of the membership’s most valuable offerings include:

• Medical evacuation: EA+ provides emergency evacuation via ground or air ambulance if deemed medically necessary. EA+ starts assessing your condition from the first call to determine whether you need to be moved to a different hospital for treatment. This service is available 24/7/365.
• Transportation home for companion: If you’re unable to return home for a medical reason, EA+ arranges transportation home for your companions, including unattended children and pets. 
• Transportation home: EA+ provides an air ambulance, if necessary, including up to two nurse escorts if you need medical monitoring or assistance during the trip home. 
• Ticket to join hospitalized member: A loved one can join you at your bedside with an included round-trip flight if you’re hospitalized away from home. 
•  Return of remains: If you pass away while traveling, EA+ will arrange for the return of your remains to your home destination.
• Medical assistance: Those traveling with prescription medication or a medical condition can expect medical monitoring and support, as well as a transfer of related documents to insurance companies. 
•  Logistical support: In addition to medical and transportation support, EA+ can help with document replacement, translation support, flight arrangements, and cash advances.

Read more about EA+’s medical and travel assistance services for a complete rundown of the protections that come with a membership. 

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Restrictions 

EA+ is a flexible membership that doesn’t require age or pre-existing condition restrictions, protecting almost all travelers. This is important because many travel assistance programs have restrictions that limit who is eligible and when services can be activated.

Individuals can only use Emergency Assistance Plus services after purchasing a membership, not retroactively. Members are also transferred to the nearest adequate medical facility instead of their hospital of choice, which may be a limitation for those who want an immediate transfer to their home facility. 

Pricing 

When looking at Global Rescue vs. Good Sam, EA+ has a higher price tag on the surface, but is more robust overall, with a broader set of services. EA+ offers global protections, while Good Sam is a U.S.-focused service, so your membership supports you wherever you are in the world.

Current EA+ annual plans include:

• Essential individual: $249
• Essential family: $309
• Premier individual: $319
• Premier family: $379

Emergency Assistance Plus also partners with over 100 companies to provide discounts. 

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Pros and Cons 

Pros: 

• No restrictions based on your age or medical history
• One annual membership includes any trips you take throughout your membership period.
• You can activate your service no matter how far you are from home, except for Washington state residents, who must be at least 100 miles from home to use EA+

Cons: 

• EA+ transfers members to the nearest adequate medical facility, not a hospital of choice
• Only annual plans are available

Reviews 

EA+ regularly receives praise for its convenient and streamlined services. It has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and dozens of positive reviews from real customers.

A testimonial from member Frances T., Florida, a traveler injured during a cruise, expresses the relief that EA+ provided with timely, professional services: 

“EA+ worked around the clock to get me into a facility, and I remained bedridden with a broken hip at the hospital in Tortola. We got the word from EA+ that on January 8th, I would be moved to Martin Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Florida! Oh, the relief we felt! I was picked up by a Learjet with two pilots, an ER nurse, and a paramedic, and I was monitored the entire way back to the States. The two pilots, the ER nurse, and the paramedic all accompanied me to the hospital.”

With over 33.7 million cruisers taking to the seas this year, it gives travelers peace of mind that EA+ can seamlessly support them in the event of onboard emergencies. 

Good Sam

Best for: Road travelers, RV/vehicle owners, family & pet support

Good Sam TravelAssist is part of the Good Sam family, which is well-known among RV enthusiasts and travelers. It’s designed to offer specialized assistance to those who travel by road, particularly RV owners. However, it also supports general travelers with emergency protection.

Good Sam TravelAssist is a key offering from Good Sam, which has a longstanding reputation in the RV community. However, it’s less than ideal for global travelers, as Good Sam TravelAssist, which is mainly U.S.-based, isn’t truly international like EA+. 

Services offered

While Good Sam has fewer plan features than EA+, it offers several services that travelers may appreciate, including:

• Emergency Medical Evacuation: GoodSam brings members to the nearest medical facility and provides a ground ambulance service of up to $200 toward emergency transportation while away from home. However, Good Sam TravelAssist does not have any medical or non-medical escort services at all for the return home trip.
• Vehicle Return Services: This program ensures that your RV, boat, or motorcycle gets home safely if you can’t drive it yourself. The service is essential for those who spend a lot of time on the road and need to ensure that their vehicles are taken care of during an emergency.
• Medical Support and Referrals: Good Sam TravelAssist can manage your medical records and contact your family, as well as refer members to dentists, doctors, emergency rooms, and attorneys as necessary. 
• Medical Specialist Support: If Good Sam can’t assist you via phone, they will dispatch a medical professional to assess your condition in person. 
• Logistical Support: The travel assistance program can help replace medical devices and medications, as well as provide support with lost passports and visas.

The most common injury associated with RV accidents is head trauma, followed by fractures, cuts, and spinal cord injuries, and Good Sam’s protections are specifically designed to help members in these scenarios. 

Restrictions 

Like EA+, GoodSam TravelAssist does not have pre-existing condition exclusions or age limitations. However, many other services aren’t as robust as those offered by EA+. 

There’s a combined single limit of $200,000 per member, per event, in contrast to EA+ members, who don’t have a dollar limit on services. Furthermore, Good Sam only includes the first medical evacuation, can’t return members home, and doesn’t include nurse escorts. 

Pricing 

Good Sam TravelAssist also offers a straightforward membership structure. However, the focus is on road travelers, particularly RV owners. The plan options are designed to include a range of needs, from basic travel assistance to more robust vehicle return services.

Annual membership rates include: 

• Individual: $89.99
• Couple: $99.99
• Family: $109.99
• Family + Pets: $179.99

GoodSam occasionally offers first-year discounts, such as 50% off annual plans. Similar to EA+, Good Sam TravelAssist offers a few options to upgrade your plan with enhanced services via their Premier option. These include paid natural disaster evacuations, a 24-hour nurse hotline, and standard hotel accommodations for you, your family, and your pets.

Pros and Cons 

Pros: 

• Full-service vehicle relocation services
• Medical evacuation for travelers more than 100 miles from home
• Repatriation of remains
• Support with sending traveling companions and dependents home with select plans

Cons:

• Core evacuation services only kick in after you’re 100 miles from home
• Nurse and medical escorts only available when GoodSam deems medically necessary 
• Robust protection may require add-on services at an additional cost
• No hospital-of-choice service available

Reviews 

GoodSam is a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ grade, with several positive reviews. One member shares how the team helped support her family as well as take care of her RV during a time of need:

“My husband and I were on a cross-country trip in our RV when he became ill in Ohio. He was hospitalized for congestive heart failure, and the doctors recommended that we fly home. I made one phone call to TravelAssist, and they took care of everything. They called every day while he was hospitalized. They arranged for our airfare home and arranged to have our RV driven from Ohio to California. I cannot praise you enough for making a difficult situation so much easier. After we returned home, I kept waiting for a bill for the flights and RV return but cannot believe everything was covered by the program.”

How to choose between EA+ and Good Sam

Is emergency assistance plus worth it, or should you opt for GoodSam TravelAssist? As a rule of thumb, choose EA+ for flexibility, value, and fewer restrictions. Choose Good Sam for domestic and road travel. Make sure to review each plan carefully so you don’t miss any must-have travel assistance features you may need during travel. 

Keep in mind that both programs are travel assistance, not travel insurance. They focus on arranging services, like emergency medical transportation, while travel insurance reimburses delays, trip cancellations, and lost baggage. Therefore, consider opting into an additional travel insurance plan for broader support. 

Keep your peace of mind during trips with EA+

When it comes to deciding between Emergency Assistance Plus vs. Good Sam, EA+ is often the better choice. The company offers a wider range of services for members, with no age or medical limitations, making it perfect for those seeking elderly travel assistance. Furthermore, glowing EA+ reviews demonstrate that the company is well-trusted and responds quickly in an emergency. 

If you’re ready to protect your travel year-round, sign up for EA+ today. Plans ensure that you can make it home safely in a medical emergency, no matter where you are in the world.

FAQ

How does EA+ work? 

EA+ is a travel assistance program that provides its members with emergency medical transportation and logistical support in the case of an injury or accident. Travelers use the service by reaching out to their dedicated Global Response Center, which helps members in need, as well as their travel companions, with seeking medical care and returning home safely. 

What does Good SamTravelAssist include? 

Good Sam Travel Assist is best known for supporting car or RV travelers, helping travelers return their vehicles home after an unexpected event. TravelAssist also helps with emergency medical transport to the nearest acceptable hospital. 

How does RV return work with travel assistance? 

The RV return process depends on the specific emergency protection plan you opt into. However, most programs arrange for your RV or vehicle to be returned home or back to a rental facility if you’re hospitalized and can’t drive it yourself.