Life - Flight type of insurance.....what do you do?

wannavolunteerFT wrote:
so I have looked at these different companies and they indicate they will arrange transportation including emergency air transportation, but without reading an entire contract, I can't tell if they will pay for an ambulance or air transport in an emergency. Say I call 911 for an illness, will they pay? I ask this as I was with my parents in Baton Rouge a few years ago, and my dad became sick. We called 911, and he was transported to hospital by ambulance. After a few days he was dismissed and we continued a revised version of our trip in MH. No air transport, no transfer of hospitals, no sending anyone home or to visit, just a simple 3 mile ambulance ride to hospital due to extremely high fever.

If a participating partner of the AirMedCare Network does not transport you, you will be responsible for payment of the bill. Our membership program only covers flights by this network.

so I have looked at these different companies and they indicate they will arrange transportation including emergency air transportation, but without reading an entire contract, I can't tell if they will pay for an ambulance or air transport in an emergency. Say I call 911 for an illness, will they pay? I ask this as I was with my parents in Baton Rouge a few years ago, and my dad became sick. We called 911, and he was transported to hospital by ambulance. After a few days he was dismissed and we continued a revised version of our trip in MH. No air transport, no transfer of hospitals, no sending anyone home or to visit, just a simple 3 mile ambulance ride to hospital due to extremely high fever.

We have been members of MASA for about 10 years and have never used their service. MASA not only covers all ambulance service but also any air transportation (plane or helicopter). Plus, it covers us anywhere in the world. We go to Cozumel every year and don't have to notify them of our plans since the Caribbean is under their main coverage area. If we were to travel farther afield, then just a phone call before we go would do it.

We took my parents to a MASA luncheon meeting approx. three years ago and they signed up. So far my father has used an ambulance service twice, and my mother three times (twice this past month!). They have never seen a bill.

MASA is generally funded by big corporations that buy the coverage for their executives that fly all over the world, plus families that pay by the year. MASA allows a certain number of retired people to join every year for a one-time cost as life-time members ($3,200.00 for us 10 years ago and $3,800.00 3 years ago for my parents). They will also fly the deceased home at no charge, get our coach home if we can't drive it, and will even fly a family member out to accompany a spouse if needed. We have been very happy with our decision to become members.

Generally, MASA holds luncheon meetings during the winter in high snow-bird cities. Check the local papers for these meetings, sign up and check them out! I bet if you were to go on-line and look them up, you might be able to find local luncheon meetings.

amandasgramma wrote:
We received an ad for Air Med Care.......a membership program that covers the cost of being airlifted should there be an accident or in case of illness. In looking at their "coverage areas", I'm not impressed. We'd not spend much time in most any of the locations.....

Do any of you have this type of coverage.....are there companies out there that I haven't found that cover 100% of the USA for the travelers??? I admit, I haven't asked our insurance agent if our car insurance will cover this.

thanks in advance for any answers!

Check with Good Sam Club. It is reasonable. Haven't needed it yet.
With my medical issues, it is well worth it.

Check out MASA as well

http://masaus.com/

I have had several friends have to use theirs and had no hassles.

Check into sky med. I am a solo ft'er, I have a 5 yr plan with them. Never needed the service (knock on wood)

The Coach-Net plan that I just re-upped now INCLUDES such coverage, too. Glad to see it returning to FMCA - initial reason I joined years ago - after they dropped it I had to go looking for other options. Good Sam also offers such a plan, about $100/year - still less costly to have it thru Coach-Net IMHO. Look beyond just covering the cost of moving YOU - most plans like this cover the cost of returning your RV to your home (or place of choice if FT...). ST

If you are a member of FMCA or able to join FMCA, then you should know that the FMCA Assist goes into effect October 1, 2014. You can find out about it here: FMCA Assist. FMCA dues are currently set at $50/yr

DH and I were on the west coast when he got sick and had to be moved from a small town hospital to a big city hospital 70 miles inland. The coast was socked in by a fog bank so they transported him 15 miles inland by ambulance then transferred him to a helicopter for the rest of the trip. Our health insurance covered the $20,000 helicopter bill without question but refused to pay the $200 ambulance bill until some questions were answered. Turns out the transition point between the ambulance and the helicopter was at a casino parking lot but the helicopter bill only provided the mileage and didn't identify the start or end point. So the insurance company was questioning why he would need an ambulance ride from a hospital to a casino :B I resisted the urge to tell them "Hey, where else would you go if you were feeling lucky?" and instead explained the situation to them after which they also paid the ambulance bill minus a $50 deductible. So, yes, I'd advise you check with your health insurance carrier.

pjzocc wrote:
Check with your major medical carrier. It may be covered in some cases. When I crashed my motorcycle last year near Pittsburgh, I was airlifted to PittPresby. The helo bill was $13k+. BC/BS covered the whole shibang. (was holding my breath for a couple months though!)

I had similar pre-obamacare. Helicopter bill was $21,000 and Blue Cross paid $300. About a 50 mile ride in a WW1 mosquito copter like they used in Mash.

My coverage is better now.