Category: General Health

Get Quotes Fast for Air Ambulance Transportation Services

Air ambulance transportation is not a common service that everyone uses on a daily basis. This type of flight is not one that you can click on a travel website and get the cheapest fare available from city to city, or is it?

In non-emergency situations, patients and their family have time to prepare for special circumstances that may arise during medical treatment. If travel by air is necessary, but standard commercial flights are not available due to specific medical restrictions, the patient may require the specialized care from an air ambulance service. Customers can’t logon to well-known travel sites for price quotes and information, but options are available. By contacting air ambulance service companies, you will be able to quickly receive a price quote. Some air ambulance services will require potential clients to contact them by phone while others respond to email inquiries.

Many company websites for reputable air ambulance service will have a link to get an immediate quote. This option is great for families who want to privately compare prices and learn about each organization before bothering the air ambulance service with the details.

One of the best ways to get accurate quotes for air ambulance transport is by letting the companies fight for your business. Certain websites will allow customers to input the pertinent travel and medical information and let the companies send in their prices. From the comfort of your home, you can peruse the information at your leisure. Based on the price quotes from the air ambulance transport companies, you can then do a little more research on the organization to find the one that is right for you.

When comparing price quotes from air ambulance transportation service companies, make certain that you are comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges. Find out what is included in each price quote. Does the air ambulance fee cover any and all ground transportation to and from the aircraft? Are family members permitted to fly in the air ambulance with the patient? If so, is this fee part of the price quote?

Another important factor to consider during this process is the type of medical care the patient will receive during the flight. Learn what type of staff will be on board the aircraft. Are there additional fees for specialized services such as a respiratory therapist or NICU team?

Before settling on a specific company, find out what type of aircraft will be used. For trips over 500 miles, a jet is recommended for patient comfort and speed. Air ambulance companies will vary their price quote based on the type of aircraft, so this is a major factor when considering cost.

In today’s high-tech world, it can be easy to enter a bit of information into a form on a website and retrieve valuable information. Let the internet save you valuable time and effort by effortlessly getting price quotes from air ambulance transportation services with just a few simple keystrokes. As companies compete for your business, you are assured a reasonable rate. With the extreme cost of air ambulance travel, this can be a great benefit to customers. Take advantage of the opportunity to find a great value from a company that meets your needs.

Does My Credit Card Cover Air Ambulance Services During Travel?

Does My Credit Card Cover Air Ambulance Services During Travel?

Credit cards seem to fill the pockets and purses of nearly every traveler around the world. Premium credit cards frequently offer benefits and perks for travelers. These little extras lure consumers into using their specific credit card to make travel purchases. If you use credit cards when you travel, it is important to learn about the specifics for your particular card.

Does your credit card cover lost or stolen items away from home? Does the card cover air ambulance services in an emergency? Learning about such benefits will help you prepare for your next trip whether it is across the country or around the world.

Begin your quest for answers by digging out your paperwork from your credit cards. Start combing through the fine print to see what your premium credit card covers and what exclusions apply. After doing a little detective work, you will undoubtedly realize that you do have some coverage during your trip away from home. Credit card companies will typically pay for lost or stolen luggage or other personal goods during a trip, but this feature is only effective after a deductible has been applied. Of course, all credit card agreements are different, so check your card to be certain.

If a medical emergency should arise, the credit card coverage may pay to have you transported to the nearest medical facility. Your premium credit card may even pay to have someone fly to be with you. Yes, this is quite a nice benefit, but the card will not cover expenses to fly you home on an air ambulance to the hospital of your choice to be near family and friends. Also, it will not cover the added expenses of hotel rooms, food, and other expenses associated with the family member traveling and staying in the area so far from home.

Due to this vulnerable situation, many cardholders decide to purchase a membership to an air ambulance service that will cover any fees associated with getting the patient home. Such a company will charge a set fee, typically charged monthly or annually. For this fee, the covered person or family can choose to fly via air ambulance from any hospital far from home to the hospital of their choice. All of this is at no additional cost. Since such a flight home on a medically staffed air ambulance is expensive, this membership can save a great deal of money. One trip on an air ambulance can cost between $10 and $75,000.

Even a premium credit card won’t cover those expenses.

Before traveling away from home, it is crucial that you learn the ins and outs of your coverage from a credit card. Even premium credit cards with fabulous benefits may leave you open and vulnerable in a medical emergency. All credit card agreements vary, so read the fine print very carefully.

If you are not guaranteed coverage of a flight home on a medically staffed air ambulance to the hospital of your choice, then you are not adequately covered with your credit card. Additional coverage is necessary to protect yourself, your family, and your wallet.

Does an Air Ambulance Need RVSM?

If you are someone you know will be needing to use an air ambulance service, there are numerous factors to consider before making the trip. One factor to consider when flying in an air ambulance is the aircraft. If the patient must travel by air over a distance of 500 miles, then it is advisable to transport the patient in a jet. Before selecting any air ambulance service that uses jets to transport their patients, check to see if the aircrafts are equipped with RVSM.

What does RVSM mean? The letters RVSM are an abbreviation for Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum. RVSM is a modification to the jet aircraft that has been required by the FAA on all aircrafts that want to fly above 29,000 feet in the air. Despite the FAA regulation since January of 2005, many pilots have chosen not to make this modification to their jet aircraft. Without RVSM, pilots are forced to fly their aircraft at lower altitudes.

For personal flights, flying at lower altitudes is primarily a minor inconvenience, but when traveling for medical necessity by air ambulance, the situation changes. Patients flying on an air ambulance jet are in need of comfort, safety, and speed. The lack of RVSM requiring flight at lower altitudes compromises the patient’s comfort and the speed of the flight.

When a pilot is forced to fly at lower altitudes, the transit time is lengthened. When time is of the essence, patients cannot afford to waste time. Jets having RVSM are able to fly at higher altitudes and save precious time. In some instances, this can make the difference between life and death.

Another negative side to flying without RSVM includes more fuel stops. With each landing and takeoff for fuel, more time is spent circling the airport, taxiing, and fueling up the plane. Waiting for more fuel can spend time that some patients don’t have to spare. Selecting an air ambulance service that flies with RVSM can save time and offer patients and family peace of mind.

More turbulence is frequently experienced at lower altitudes when compared to flying with RVSM. Turbulence can compromise the safety of the patient. This can be avoided using RVSM technology on the air ambulance flight permitting the aircraft to fly above the turbulence. Choppy flights can also become uncomfortable and unpleasant for patients. Selecting an air ambulance service that has RVSM on their jets will ensure the highest possible comfort for the patient.

Anyone traveling by air ambulance is undoubtedly concerned with safety, speed, and comfort. RVSM may seem to be a luxury for some pilots, but quality air ambulance services know the value of RVSM for their clients. The RVSM technology modification to aircraft allows the patient the utmost comfort possible during the flight.

Flying at higher altitudes saves considerable time, by avoiding refueling, extra touchdowns of the aircraft, and issues with turbulence. Clearly, selecting an air ambulance jet with RVSM is important when traveling by air ambulance for long distances. RVSM offers safety and convenience for passengers creating peace of mind during a stressful time.

Do Air Ambulance Service Companies Carry Insurance?

In today’s society, it seems that everyone is concerned about insurance and liability. No, this article is not focusing on health insurance coverage for services involving the transportation of a patient with an air ambulance. We are focusing here on liability insurance and malpractice insurance coverage that should be in place for each air ambulance.

Just like every motorist who drives a car should possess liability insurance, each air ambulance should carry liability coverage. An air ambulance should carry at least a minimum of $20 million in aircraft liability coverage. Of course, patients would never hope to need to worry about such coverage, but knowing that the air ambulance service carries this coverage can be reassuring and provide confidence for the client. Companies who carry the appropriate amount of coverage indicate their reputation.

Just like any doctor’s office or medical transport service that travels by ground, medical malpractice insurance coverage is essential. Patients and their families long to avoid the worries about a malpractice situation, but in reality, the risk does exist. For this reason, each air ambulance should have a minimum of $1 million policy for medical malpractice coverage. Again, no one wants to use such coverage, but knowing that an air ambulance company carries such excellent insurance, will help to ensure that the air ambulance service is reputable.

As you would feel uncomfortable traveling with a motorist who didn’t carry the appropriate insurance coverage, you would want to reconsider traveling with an air ambulance service who discards the need for liability insurance. Likewise, all good doctors carry malpractice insurance. Air ambulance companies should do the same.

As you compare companies that provide air ambulance services, you may want to consider checking in on the coverage amounts for both liability aircraft insurance and medical malpractice insurance. Air ambulance companies are not required to give out pertinent insurance information, but reputable companies will be happy to answer any and all of your questions about their insurance coverage and minimums. Some companies will provide a standard copy of information regarding liability and medical malpractice insurance coverage with the other paperwork that is involved with the processing information to request air ambulance service.

All reputable air ambulance companies and organizations have the best interest of the patient at heart. These air ambulance services will undoubtedly be eager to discuss and explain any questions or concerns you have in regards to their levels of liability and medical malpractice insurance. If the air ambulance company is unwilling to discuss this with the patient or the family, then it may be advisable to look to another company that will help to ease your concerns.

It is Important to find an air ambulance service that makes you feel the most at ease. During this time of medical necessity, stress can be high. Knowing that the patient is being transported by an air ambulance service that is responsible and carries excellent insurance coverage can provide insight into the type of organization it is. A reputable company will do their utmost best to provide assurance to everyone involved to create an environment of peace of mind for their clients.