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Air ambulance transportation can be extremely expensive.  The cost of one trip in an air ambulance can take a chunk out of the wallet and savings.  In some instances, an air ambulance transport can cost over $100,000.  With such extreme fees, it seems that people can’t afford to be critically ill or injured.  Will insurance cover such high rates for air ambulance transport?

In many cases, insurance companies will cover air ambulance transport when it is deemed medically necessary.  The insurance company may not cover every aspect of the transport, but the patient will not be left fully responsible for the charges.  It is important to learn exactly what your insurance will cover and under what circumstances.

The key term here is “medically necessary”.  If the doctor feels the patient must be transported by air to another health care facility to receive proper treatment, then the insurance company will typically go along with the charges and pay for the air ambulance transport of the patient.  On the other hand, if someone is hurt or ill while out of the country and simply wants to fly home for treatment, the insurance company may not look upon this situation very favorably.

In such a case, the patient may be left vulnerable to all incurred charges for the air ambulance service.  To protect yourself from this situation, it is possible to purchase air ambulance coverage while traveling.  Such insurance is often reasonably priced in annual or monthly installments on an individual, family, or group basis.  This type of coverage will protect you, your family, and your wallet.

Typically, the air ambulance service coverage is not only reasonably priced, but available to nearly everyone.  Consumers are often concerned about exemptions and denials for pre-existing conditions, but frequently there are no such exclusions in this type of coverage.

When a patient requires air ambulance services, it is standard procedure for the air ambulance company to secure payment prior to the flight whenever possible.  If it is not possible to prove that insurance coverage for air ambulance service can be secured, the patient or a family member must pay the charge up front in the form of a credit card, wire transfer, money order, or other verifiable payment.  For many families, coming up with this large sum of money would not only be difficult, but nearly impossible.

Keeping this in mind, it is important for you to learn what coverage you have for air ambulance services.  If you are unsatisfied with the current coverage the insurance plan offers, it may be time to consider other options to protect your finances in the event of an emergency.  During a medical emergency, stress is high for the entire family.

Although no one wants to use air ambulance transport, it is important to concern yourself now with this issue.  Contact the insurance company today to verify the ins and outs of coverage for air ambulance transport before you really need this service.  Your health and your wallet may depend on this information in the future.

We all hope that we never experience a trauma or medical emergency that requires treatment.  No one ever thinks they will be force to deal with a severe or critical medical condition that requires extensive medical treatment and care.  Although we never want to be in such a circumstance, it is important to be informed about such issues.  When patients require medical attention during transport, the typical method of travel involves an ambulance, but in specific cases, standard medical transportation is not enough.  An air ambulance may be just what the doctor ordered.

What medical conditions and critical situations call for the use of an air ambulance?  Each case is different based on the specific medical needs of the patient.  There is no exact rule of thumb, but some basic guidelines do exist to determine which patients require the use of an air ambulance.

If the patient’s doctor feels that the patient should not travel by air with conventional airlines due to their specific medical needs, the doctor will order travel by an air ambulance.  Numerous companies and organizations exist to safely transport patients in this way.  Each company has their own specific requirements for staff on board the flight.  Special medical circumstances may call for specific medical teams to fly aboard the air ambulance with the patient.

Here are some examples of medical conditions that may indicate a need to travel by air ambulance:

*Patients suffering from respiratory conditions that require ventilators

*trauma patients

*patients with neurological conditions that require intra cranial monitoring

*IABP patients that require balloon pumps

*patients with multiple IV drips

*transplant patients

*obstetric patients requiring intensive care

*NICU patients

The patients that require continuous medical monitoring and the use of specialized medical equipment are excellent candidates for travel by air ambulance.  There is no plausible way for a patient with severe medical conditions to travel by conventional methods while achieving comfort and appropriate medical care.

When time is of the essence, standard flights would not be speedy enough to safely transport a patient to their destination.  Also, it is impossible to spontaneously board a conventional flight with an entire medical staff and equipment.  For this reason, doctors and patients choose to travel by air ambulance.

Air ambulance services are most commonly thought of as the helicopters that fly accident victims from the scene of a car crash to the nearest hospital that is capable of providing proper treatment for the severe injuries sustained in the crash.  On the contrary, air ambulance services include so much more than just this sector of service.

An air ambulance may be a chopper, but it also can include planes such as turboprops and jets.

The type of aircraft used should be determined by the patients needs, as well as, by the distance traveled.  For example, a patient should typically be transported by a jet when they require air ambulance transportation for distances greater than 500 miles.  This is due to the time traveled, necessary stops to refuel small planes, the patient’s comfort and stress level.

Traveling by air ambulance may not be an experience that you want to add to your to-do list, but it may be medically necessary in the future.  Patients who require constant medical attention, the use of specific medical equipment, or have numerous IV drips may require the use of such services.  Should the doctor feel that this specialized service is beneficial, you will be glad that the air ambulance services are available.

Medical patients requiring transportation over a range of 500 miles or more wouldn’t dream of traveling by ambulance.  Air travel in such scenarios often makes much more sense, but traveling via conventional aircraft and commercial airlines may not always be the most comfortable and safe option for patients.  For this reason, patients requiring air ambulance services for long-distance travel will typically fly in a specifically equipped  jet.

If you or someone you know ever need to travel by air ambulance in a jet, know that the patient will be receiving the highest quality service possible.  The staff on the air ambulance jet is highly trained.  The flight crew are not only experienced pilots and very familiar with flight safety, but they are also informed and educated about the specific needs and circumstances related to flying medical missions.  The goal of the flight crew on an air ambulance is to provide the highest safety standards possible while ensuring the patient’s comfort from the point of origin to the destination in the speediest time possible.

One jet that is commonly used for air ambulance transport is the LEAR 35A.  This specific type of aircraft uniquely outperforms many other jets when it comes to transportation by air ambulance.  The reason the LEAR 35A is great for such travel is the fact that the aircraft is one of the most efficient models for travel for long transport.  The LEAR 35A has a high safety record.  This type of aircraft is less noisy than others in the industry making it very useful.

Most air ambulances have executive-style interior allowing for maximum comfort during the flight.  A comfortable interior on the air ambulance allows the patient to rest in a medical environment during the transport.  The door to the LEAR 35A jet is larger than most other cabin doors.  This is yet another feature that makes the patient more comfortable.  Loading and unloading on this type of aircraft
Is easier on the patient.

Such air ambulance jets are frequently able to land at smaller airports.  Access to more airports allows the patient to land closer to the hospital for convenience, comfort, and most importantly safety.  When time is of the essence, every second counts.

The air ambulance jet contains standard equipment for use during the flight from the point of origin to the destination.  Each piece of equipment is thoroughly checked to ensure reliability before every single flight.  Laptops and printers are available on air ambulance flights for use during the trip.  The medical staff can keep accurate data information and print it out for use by other medical personnel upon the patient’s arrival to the destination.

Other standard safety equipment on an air ambulance flight includes equipment to perform cardiac and respiratory lab tests, defibulators, ventilators, and equipment to monitor the patient’s vitals and stats during the trip.

Travel by jet can provide a safe, practical, and speedy method of transportation for patients requiring critical care over a long distance.  An air ambulance is equipped with high-quality medical equipment
And trained staff in order to provide the highest safety standards and the best comfort possible to patients.

If you or someone you love will be needing air ambulance transportation in the foreseeable future, then it is time to start doing a little homework.  It is important to start compiling a list of air ambulance services that will be able to meet the needs.  After comprising a list of potential air ambulance transport companies, it is time to compare costs.  Just like any other business or service, prices will vary.

There are many variables that can affect the cost of air ambulance transport.  You can receive quotes from contacting the air ambulance service company yourself or by contacting a broker.  Do be aware that the broker will find the lowest cost possible, then add an additional fee for his or her services to the cost.  Whenever possible, it is wise to deal directly with the air ambulance service company.

The type of aircraft needed for the transport will directly affect the cost of the air ambulance service.  It is important to know the distance of the flight before deciding on a specific type of aircraft.  Cost alone should not determine the aircraft used for transport of the patient.

Another factor that influences the cost of the air ambulance service is the number and type of medical staff needed for the flight.  If the patient requires two trained people on board, the cost may be dramatically less than a patient requiring an entire specialized medical team.

Frequently, the cost of the air ambulance transport will include the fee for ground transportation to and from the aircraft.  This is commonly referred to as bedside to bedside service.  Also, the cost often includes the cost of any additional passengers where applicable.

Many  private insurance companies will cover the cost of air ambulance transportation if it is deemed to be medically necessary.  It is wise to check with your insurance provider before calling to make arrangements for the air ambulance transportation, if possible.  If it is unable to prove coverage for the service before the time of the flight, secured payment is usually required.  For most companies, acceptable forms of payment include major credit cards, wire transfers, certified checks, or money orders for the amount of the flight.

The actual cost of the air ambulance transport can range widely.  Typically, the fees run between $10,000 and $100,000.

Due to the extreme expense of the air ambulance transport, it is advisable to compare costs whenever possible.  If the patient has insurance coverage, learn the facts about what air ambulance transportation costs are covered and under what conditions.  Dealing directly with the air ambulance service company can be a method for saving money by doing a little research on your own.

A broker can locate air ambulance service, but will charge additional fees.  Be specific about details such as needed medical staff and type of aircraft when asking for quotes.  Also, learn what specifics are included in the cost when making the decision to select one air ambulance service company over another.  With a little research, patients and their family can get the best service at a great value.

An air ambulance is an aircraft specifically used for the treatment of a patient who has been seriously injured or is critically ill.  An air ambulance is primarily used in emergency situations where transport of the patient by standard land ambulance would not be timely or safe.  Another instance where an air ambulance may be used is when a patient must be transported from one location to another and standard, conventional air travel is not feasible.

An air ambulance is looked at as an operating room in the air, or a flying critical care unit.  Each air ambulance is specially staffed with an experienced flight crew that is highly trained to fly medical missions.  On board the air ambulance aircraft you will find trained pilots and flight crew, as well as, medical staff that can safely care for critically ill or injured patients.  The medical staff may be a nurse trained and experienced in CCU care, a qualified doctor capable of treating severe trauma injuries, or a specialized team of doctors and nurses that meet the specific needs of the patient.

Each air ambulance carries with it specialized medical tools and equipment that can handle nearly any emergency that may arise.  Some examples of standard equipment found on an air ambulance includes ventilators, ECG equipment, CPR equipment, stretcher, medication, and other important tools that enable the crew to care for the patient.

The medical equipment is properly cleaned and tested before each and every flight.  The standards patients expect from their doctor, ER or ICU are carried out inside and onboard the air ambulance.

The plane may vary dramatically depending on its designated mission.  Some air ambulances are helicopters.  Such aircraft are typically used to transport patients from the scene of an accident to a local hospital in the nearest big city that is equipped to handle the injuries.  Choppers are air ambulances that can be used to retrieve patients from remote areas where conventional ambulances are unable to reach.

In other instances, small prop planes or jets are the preferred aircraft for longer trips.  Jets are the best aircraft for trips over distances of 500 miles, because such planes allow for less fuel stops and speedier travel times.  Like an ambulance on the ground, the goal of an air ambulance is to get the patient to the destination as safely and speedily as possible.  Jets are capable of flying at higher altitudes which allow for the greatest comfort and speed.

Patients who may need the use of an air ambulance require constant medical monitoring.  Some patients may include cardiac patients, respiratory patients, NICU situations, patients with multiple IV drips, or critical trauma patients.

Any patient with any illness or injury that the doctor deems unsafe to fly by conventional means will be able to get a doctor’s permission to fly in an air ambulance to the desired destination unless very specific medical reasons exist to avoid such methods of transportation.  Frequently, travel by air ambulance is deemed safe and can truly save lives.

Air ambulance services help to safely and conveniently transport patients long distances in a medical environment.  The air ambulance aircraft becomes a flying critical care unit.  VIP air ambulance offers excellent care for their patients.

VIP air ambulance has many years of experience in the business.  The company uses this experience to help their customers easily maneuver the process of scheduling and planning the flight.  A dedicated operator is available to answer any questions and address concerns each and every day of the year.  This around the clock service allows for convenience and confidence.  Patients and their families need reassurance during this stressful time.  Simply discussing their concerns with another caring person can really ease worries and reduce stress.

VIP air ambulance can safely transport patients over long distances from state to state or even worldwide.  VIP air ambulance has representation for over 100 aircraft around the globe.  A company that has this flying power must be able to provide high standards to the patients.  Not all air ambulance services travel worldwide.  VIP air ambulance offers this service for patient convenience.

The medical staff is experienced and focuses on the patient.  VIP air ambulance offers bed to bed care with continuous medical monitoring.  The superior medical staff has the necessary equipment to safely handle any emergency situation that may arise while in transit.  All patients are assessed prior to takeoff to discern what type of medical specialists will best suit the patients needs.  This proficient medical assessment will ensure that the flight crew will be appropriately trained and experienced in the areas of the patient’s most critical needs.

Customer service is a priority with VIP air ambulance.  In addition to the operator that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, VIP also offers valuable information via the internet.  As patients and their families compare air ambulance companies, it will be convenient to take advantage of VIP’s instant online quotes.  There is no calling back and forth to receive quotes for service.  Customers can be assured to receive consistent management from the quote to the invoice.

VIP air ambulance offers a price guarantee.  Check into the details of the best price guarantee from VIP air ambulance service.

It is not often that a company will offer such a great offer.  This is just another indication of the VIP air ambulance dedication to excellence.

The VIP air ambulance company strives to make the patient the priority by taking air ambulance standards to a new level.  With a large fleet that is available worldwide, VIP air ambulance can be made available to nearly everyone.  The superior medical staff focuses on the patient to create the safest, most comfortable flight available.  Bedside to bedside medical monitoring offers peace of mind to the customer.

The flight crew is experienced and educated about the specifics that go along with flying medical missions.  VIP air ambulance offers a flying critical care unit that meets or exceeds industry standards.  The customer service is yet another asset that provides excellence.  VIP air ambulance offers top-notch transportation services that are patient-oriented.

We have all come to know the familiar sound of the helicopter overhead that is flying quickly from the scene of a tragic car crash to the nearest trauma center at a nearby hospital.  We may have even known someone who has needed to utilize such air ambulance service.  Do you know the history behind these marvelous methods of medical transportation?

Think back nearly a century ago.  During World War I, air ambulances were first introduced.  Between 1914 and 1918, a variety of military organization tested the use of flying ambulances to treat patients.  Over time, this beginning has spawned into the air ambulances of today.

What later became the Royal Doctor Flying Service started in the year 1928.  This milestone event was the first air ambulance service ever to exist.  This service began in the Australian Outback.  This non-profit organization was intended to provide service to people living in the remote areas of the Outback.  The Royal Doctor Flying Service provided emergency medical care, as well as, primary care for individuals who found it difficult to reach general healthcare facilities or hospitals due to the distance.

In 1934, Marie Marvingt started an air ambulance service.  This was the first civil air ambulance service in Africa.  The air ambulance service was established in Morocco.  Again, the remote areas and terrain played a role in the decision to begin this service in the specific location.

Marie Marvingt used her pioneering spirit and record-breaking personality to help others when she began the air ambulance unit.  She was the first woman to fly combat missions as a bomber pilot.  She also was a qualified nurse.  Specializing in aviation medicine she was the perfect candidate to begin the air ambulance service in Morocco.  In fact, she worked to establish air ambulance services worldwide.

It was in 1936 that a military air ambulance service assisted wounded.  The injured were evacuated from the Spanish Civil War.  The wounded received treatment in Nazi Germany.

The Saskatchewan government established the first civil air ambulance in North America in 1946.  Regina, Canada was home to this landmark service.  Still today the air ambulance service is in operation.

Only one year later in 1947, Schaefer Air Service began.  This was the first air ambulance service in the U.S.  Founded in Los Angeles, California by J. Walter Schaefer.  The Schaefer air ambulance service also became the first to be FAA certified in the United States.

It wasn’t until November 1 of 1970, that the first German Air ambulance helicopter began service at the hospital of Harlaching, Munich.  This unit was called Christoph 1.  As the idea spread over Germany, the air ambulance service continued to grow rapidly.  By 1975, Christoph 10 began service.  Currently, around 80 helicopters are being used as air ambulances in Germany.  Each unit is named after Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.

Denver, Colorado was home to the first hospital-based air ambulance medical helicopter in the United States.  In 1977, Flight for Life began.  Soon, the helicopter air ambulances expanded to use other types of aircraft.

In 1977, Ontario, Canada a flight paramedic program began with a single rotor-wing aircraft.  Today, this program has become the largest and most sophisticated air ambulance program in North America.  The fleet is dispatched to over 17,000 missions annually.

Lee County, Florida began a public service air ambulance transport in 1978.  They began using a Bell47 then progressed to a BO 105.  Currently, they use a BO 105 and an EC-145.

Today, the air ambulance industry has grown and expanded to become worldwide.  Aircraft vary from helicopters to jets.  The medical advances and technology has also grown to include high-tech tools and equipment that can effectively monitor and prolong life during medical emergencies in the air.

Are you an EMT in search of a great educational experience?  If so, pack your bags and bring some warm clothes, because you are headed off to Alaska.  With a little planning, you can ride along inside an air ambulance as an observer.  Imagine this opportunity.

As an observer on the air ambulance, you will not be expected to perform any medical duties or life-saving techniques, but you may be asked to assist by carrying medical equipment and restocking the aircraft between flights.  So, you are wondering how you can sign up for this opportunity of a lifetime?

To make arrangements to ride along as an observer in an air ambulance, you first must contact Warbelows in Fairbanks, Alaska.  Warbelows is the oldest and most experienced critical care air ambulance service.  As a community outreach program, Warbelows has decided to make this ride along opportunity available to you.  Where else can you observe such exciting and educational medical care while touring Alaska?

Yes, you can bring along your camera.  The majestic view of Alaska from the air is unparalleled.  If you are interested in taking photos inside the air ambulance, do please keep patient privacy in mind.

Warbelows services interior Alaska.  Thirty villages look to Warbelows for medical assistance.  Also, the air ambulance offers transport between Anchorage and Seattle hospitals.  With this coverage area, you are sure to gain flight experience during the appointed shift.

The air ambulance aircraft is a Cheyenne II XL twin jet-prop aircraft.  The aircraft is pressurized.  This quiet air ambulance is capable of flying high altitudes to soar above the weather.  With a cruising speed of 300 miles per hour, this flying critical care machine can get to patients speedily.  The crew strives for a thirty minute launch time and quick arrival to ensure the highest quality in patient care.

The flight crew is caring and ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The crew is trained in critical care.  Training meetings occur twice a month to further train and educate the medical staff to meet certification requirements.

During any downtime between flights, you can use your time to learn and ask questions.  Observers are given educational information to check out and study between flying missions.  Regardless of the hours actually spent in the air during a shift, you will walk away from this opportunity with an experience that you will remember for a lifetime.  Upon your arrival home you can share the ins and outs of your observational experience with your colleagues.

Any medical staff with an interest in emergency care, critical care, or air ambulance service will be delighted by Warbelow’s community outreach opportunity to ride along in an air ambulance as an observer.  This experience is not only exciting, but educational.

Contact Warbelow today to schedule your appointed shift to ride along as an observer.  Grab your uniform and your camera.  You will soon be experiencing the ride of a lifetime in an air ambulance.  This is an experience that you can hold onto for a lifetime.

Whether you have pre-existing medical conditions or are as healthy as a horse, you never know what might happen.  When you are close to home, you know just where to head in an emergency.  If a medical emergency should arise, you would travel to your trusted local hospital to receive superior medical treatment near friends and family,  but what happens when you are away from home?

Whether you are traveling a few states away or halfway around the globe, you can rest assured knowing that you can be transported to the hospital of your choice quickly and conveniently without experiencing outrageous costs.  MedjetAssist is a company that offers excellent service for travelers at reasonable rates.  A family can secure air ambulance transportation coverage while traveling over 150 miles from home for an annual fee of only $350.  An individual pays only $225 for a year’s worth of coverage.  What a small cost for peace of mind.

What makes MedjetAssist so different from other medical evacuation services?  Like other medical evacuation services, MedjetAssist sends an air ambulance and medical staff to pick you up from the hospital to transport you to another medical facility.  The difference lies in the details.  MedjetAssist allows the patient to determine the hospital of their choice as the final destination.  Most medical evacuation services require the transit to be deemed medically necessary.  With MedjetAssist, it does not matter what the reason.  MedjetAssist will be there to pick you up.

Upon hospitalization, the nature of the injury or illness does not matter.  Most other medical evacuation services have specific conditions that apply for patients to be transported by air ambulance.  MedjetAssist is different.

MedjetAssist has a global network of staff that can coordinate air ambulance transportation upon request from members.  The fee for such transportation is extremely expensive for someone who does not have coverage.  Medical transportation via air ambulance can cost between $10,000 to $75,000.  As a member of MedjetAssist, you will not be charged this enormous fee.  It is easy to see why this coverage is a good investment.

MedjetAssist also offers short-term coverage.  This type of coverage is perfect for someone planning a trip several miles away from home.  Maybe you are a homebody most of the time, but you have decided to spend a month away from home in a foreign country.  You’ve already made the plans and purchased the tickets.  Do you need to pay for an entire years worth of service?  With MedjetAssist, short-term coverage is available.  This type of coverage starts at a mere $85.  Considering the cost of just one trip in an air ambulance, this service could really save a bundle of money.

Ask your travel agent about MedjetAssist service when planning your next trip away from home.  It is comforting to know that you are protected regardless of where you travel around the world.  The minimal investment will save a bundle if you should ever need to be transported by air ambulance and evacuated to your local home hospital.  MedjetAssist offers excellent coverage at an affordable price.

The Mayo Clinic is well known for their top-notch medical standards and quality.  People from all over the world enlist the services of the Mayo Clinic when medical situations arise that need specialized care.  Like the Mayo Clinic, Mayo MedAir puts the patient and safety first.  Any patient that requires air ambulance transport will be properly monitored, comfortable, and safe during the flight.

Mayo MedAir is a member of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services.  Although no federal standards exist in the industry, air ambulance companies certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services are known to meet or exceed minimum standards.  Such standards include competency and safety requirements.  Standards in education, administration, communication, and maintenance are also considered.  Mayo MedAir is the only CAMTS certified air ambulance company in the state of Minnesota, and one of few companies around the globe to make this level of commitment.

Mayo MedAir flights are known for their safety record.  Each air ambulance has two pilots on board.  The pilots are required to have numerous hours of experienced flight time.  Several hours of flight time in high-traffic areas are a requirement for Mayo MedAir pilots.  Unlike some other air ambulance companies, Mayo MedAir does not send out a single pilot on a medical mission.  The pilots at Mayo MedAir are dedicated to medical missions.  They are not pulled away from other positions to man a flight in an emergency.

The medical staff that accompanies the patient are a team of no fewer than two members.  Each medical team is highly trained to tackle any condition the patient may have or an emergency that arises during transport.  In specialized cases, the Mayo MedAir medical team may consist of more members that can directly deal with the specific medical needs of the patient.  This fact is especially important in cases involving the need for NICU services or a respiratory therapist, for instance.  Each member of the team works at the Mayo Clinic and is specially trained for critical care.

The medical team has a medical director above them that oversees their work.  This position is filled by a Mayo Clinic physician trained in emergency care.  The medical director is responsible for the actions of the medical team during the flight and transport, so the quality standards and safety record remains high.  The care of the patient becomes top priority.

Safety of the patient is of utmost importance to Mayo MedAir.  For this reason, each air ambulance carries standard equipment that allows the patient to receive proper treatment during transit.  In addition to specialized medical tools and equipment, the air ambulance has the technology to stay in contact with physicians on the ground during the entire flight.  Whether communication is via phone, email, or text message, the medical team and hospital are aware of all circumstances during transit.

It is clear to see that Mayo MedAir is committed to patient safety.  This air ambulance service is dedicated to quality service.  Every aspect of safety and patient care has been considered.