

For fairly stable patients, a specially trained medical escort, usually a paramedic or nurse, can accompany the patient on a commercial flight for a fraction of the cost of an air ambulance.Many air ambulance services offer discounts to patients who are flexible most commonly, if one patient is flying from one city to another, and another is flying back to the city of origin, both patients can be offered discounts of 30% or more.Or, a service such as provides price quotes from various companies for free. Arranging 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.Some companies do not include ground ambulance transport from the current facility to the aircraft and from the landing location to the new facility.Typically, at least one family member may accompany the patient at no extra charge. 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.If planned in advance, an air ambulance service should include a pre-flight medical evaluation and consultation with the patient's physician to determine the equipment and care needed during the flight.Related articles: Emergency Room Visit, Ambulance, Health Insurance For a flight from Arizona to Australia, Air Ambulance 1 charges about $155,000 on a light jet, if staffed by paramedics (about $160,000 if staffed by a doctor and nurse) or about $177,000 on a mid-sized jet (about $182,000 if staffed by a doctor and nurse). National Air Ambulance charges about $37,400 for a flight from New York to California staffed by a nurse and paramedic. Air Ambulance 1 charges about $25,000 for a flight on a light jet, staffed by paramedics, from Kansas City to Los Angeles. For example, Air Ambulance 1 charges about $2,500 for a 55-mile flight on a twin-engine propeller plane, staffed by paramedics, from Saint Joseph, MO, to Kansas City, MO. 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. For patients without health insurance, the cost of air 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. For example, BlueCross Blue Shield of Alabama covers air transport on many of its policies, including transportation to a hospital near home for patients injured or hospitalized more than 200 miles from home. If transport is being done for convenience, such as to relocate nearer to family, it might not be covered. Air ambulance service typically is 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.

They are commonly used for medical evacuations, or medevac. Without Health Insurance: $2,000-$200,000Īn air ambulance is a specially equipped and staffed helicopter or airplane that performs emergency or scheduled transports. Cost of an Air Ambulance - 2022 Healthcare CostsĬostHelper > Health & Personal Care > Medical Specialties & Departments > Air Ambulance
