Participation Fees - Refunds and Deposits
1) Brigade participants are required to submit with their application a non-refundable deposit of $100 dollars. Brigades require a significant amount of planning and set-up by our in-country staff; the $100 deposit is crucial in not only ensuring that students are truly committed to participating, but also for our on-site preparation in the months leading up to a brigade. By the time any balance of the brigade participation fee is due, we have already invested time and money preparing for all students who have made a deposit, and as such, the $100 deposit is absolutely non-refundable.
2) The cost of participation in a MEDLIFE medical brigade is $669.50 for one week and $978.50 for two weeks plus personal airfare to the brigade location. This fee covers virtually all meals, transportation and lodging during the brigade. If participants choose to eat or lodge away from scheduled locations (eg go to a different restaurant than previously arranged) then this is at their own expense. Participants are also required to purchase traveler’s insurance to cover themselves while they travel internationally and in case they need healthcare services while abroad.
3) We understand that there are certain circumstances which may lead to a student not being able to participate in a brigade as they had planned. Refunds for such an event will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the MEDLIFE Executive Board. Please understand that we cannot guarantee a refund of the participation fee, but will work to resolve all such situations in a fair and equitable manner.
However, MEDLIFE cannot be responsible for non-participation for reasons due to passport/visa issues, immunizations, flight availability or cancellation, etc, and as such, refund for these reasons is not possible. In those situations where advance notice is provided, which has been defined as greater than 6 weeks before the start of brigade, the brigade fee minus the $100 deposit will be refunded to the applicant. In those situations where less than 6 weeks from notice is provided, refund of 50% of the original brigade participation fee is possible (minus the $100 deposit which is non-refundable), with notice of less than 2 weeks before the brigade start date only 25% of the original brigade fee will be refunded (minus the $100 deposit which is non-refundable). The reason for these calculations are based on administrative fees to organize a medical brigade and payments that are made prior to a brigade in reservation of restaurants, lodging and transportation.
*Cancellation requests and requests for refund must be submitted via email to refunds@medlifeweb.org. In the case of a cancellation the day on which cancellation notice is received at this email address is the date MEDLIFE will use to calculate a participant’s refund.
