At least one family member may accompany the patient at no extra charge.īooking an air ambulance flight through a broker can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the final cost due to commissions paid to the broker. The flight typically takes place on a helicopter, a propeller plane, or a jet that is equipped with a flight stretcher and advanced life-support equipment, including oxygen, a ventilator, monitors, a defibrillator, IV equipment and other medical supplies. The total can be less than $2,000 for a short flight to almost $50,000 for a longer domestic flight to $200,000 or more for an international flight.Īn air medical transportation service, when necessary, includes a pre-flight medical evaluation and consultation with the patient’s physician to determine the equipment and care needed during the flight. While for patients without health insurance, the cost of air trips or ambulance service typically depends on: the current cost of jet fuel, the type of aircraft used, the distance flown and the type of medical staff required. For patients with health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a copay of less than $50 to $500 or more, or coinsurance of 10 % to 50% or more for a total that could reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Have it in mind that air medical transportation are mostly covered by health insurance in certain types of emergencies or if a doctor certifies that air transport is medically necessary, and if a patient is going to the nearest appropriate facility.īut, if the transport is done for mere convenience, such as to relocate nearer to family, it might not be covered. These high costs can be attributed to maintenance of expensive equipment as well as the need to have specialized medical personnel around-the-clock. Meanwhile, the cost for the average air medical trip run in the tens-of-thousands of dollars. There are also concerns that such high growth in this industry may be an indicator of medically unnecessary use. Possible reasons for the growth of this industry include an aging population, a decline in the number of emergency departments in existing hospitals, and changes in the delivery of health care in rural settings. Air transportation or ambulance services have risen significantly over the years. use air transport or air ambulance services every year. Reports have it that over 550,000 patients in the U.S.
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