Imagine being able to utilize air ambulance services, not just to the “nearest appropriate medical facility” but to a facility near your own home. Wouldn’t that be something that would make you really comfortable? Most insurance companies do not offer you such privileges but there is hope, especially when community members are able to come together to increase their bargaining capacity. When a community sits across the table to do business with air ambulance coverage providers, the sheer number of community members increases the bargaining capacity. For the service providers this translates into huge business and for you cheaper and more efficient air ambulance coverage.
Looking at Air Ambulance Industry Statistics
We have already mentioned earlier that more than 550,000 patients make use of air ambulance services each year in the United States. These patients have to shell out anywhere between $12,000 and $25,000 for their air ambulance transport (considering the national average of 52 miles per flight). If the requirement for air ambulance is to fly overseas the amount can go well into six figures.
We have already seen that most insurance companies shy away from covering the charges entirely. Also, most of them simply do not cover overseas air ambulance travel.
Air Ambulance Membership Programs and Community Associations
There are several air ambulance membership programs available throughout the United States today. These programs allow medical care seekers to fly via air ambulance services during emergencies to the hospital of their choice. The cost of such membership is not usually high. Also, if a community association ties up with such a service provider, the cost of membership goes down even further. In the wake of rising air ambulance costs throughout the country, such an arrangement is the best option to avoid getting tangled in high air ambulance costs.
It must also be noted that choosing or refusing air ambulance services is not in the hands of the patients during emergencies. It is a call taken by the medical professionals on the scene.
