Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and Answers about Medical Flights.
- What is an air ambulance?
- Can family members accompany the patient?
- What does "bedside to bedside" medical transport mean?
- How much notice is needed for a domestic air ambulance flight?
- Will insurance cover air ambulance service?
What is an air ambulance?
An air ambulance is a private aircraft equipped with special medical equipment and a highly-trained medical team to assist a patient traveling from one hospital/facility to another.
Can family members accompany the patient? Is there an extra charge?
Often yes, depending on the size of the aircraft chosen, usually one to two family members may accompany the patient on the flight.
What does "bedside to bedside" medical transport mean?
Bedside to bedside medical transport means that from the moment the team arrives at the patient's bedside at the sending hospital or facility until the patient arrives at his/her hospital room at the receiving hospital or facility. It allows for the highest level of medical care because the medical team never loses contact with the patient. From the hospital to the ambulance to the plane all the way through to the receiving ambulance and new hospital, there should not a moment without care. When your loved one arrives at the receiving hospital, the transition is smooth and predictable because the medical staff there is up to date on his/her condition.
How much notice is needed for a domestic air ambulance flight?
With non-emergency flights, you can make reservations a month or more in advance. However, usually one or two days advance notice is all that is usually needed.
In an emergency situation, an air ambulance crew needs about 2 hours to be ready to take off. Additional time is also needed for the air ambulance to get from its base to your closest airport (if there is not an air ambulance residing there). Add that time to the initial 2 hours and that is the response time.
If it is an international flight, it might take a little longer to have all of the necessary pre-flight paperwork in order. Make sure to have the passports of all passengers traveling ready in the beginning. The sooner that information is handed to the pre-flight team, the sooner the air ambulance is able to lift off.
Will insurance cover air ambulance service?
All insurance policies are different. Insurance companies usually will pay to take a patient to the closest hospital that will treat them. In the majority of cases, insurance will not pay to relocate a patient if the patient can be treated in a closer facility. Unfortunately, this is usually the case even if the patient is not where he/she lives and/or where his/her family lives.
It is always good to fully investigate all of your insurance options. However in some cases insurance does pay, especially if the patient is being transported for specialized care. We suggest getting a copy of your full insurance policy. You may need to get your doctor to write a letter of medical necessity. It must contain the two words "medical necessity" to qualify for insurance purposes.
