Under what situation would anyone need an emergency medical air evacuation flight
When an unexpected critical illness or injury occurs, while you are hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles from home, your safest alternative is to be transported home in a medically equipped and staffed air ambulance, to the care of your personal health care providers.
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Does SkyMed offer helicopter service?
Yes. SkyMed offers an optional service which covers the cost of helicopter service to the closest medical facility, from the scene of a vehicle accident, or hospital to hospital.
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What is the difference between SkyMed and the numerous "assistance companies" which historically have been the only option for the traveling public?
SkyMed transports its members home to their hospital and their personal medical care providers. Assistance companies may transport their members to the closest appropriate hospital which they determine is adequate for their member’s medical incapacity. More than likely, the member has already been admitted to the closest, adequate medical facility when their call for help is made, therefore no further transport is made. This is a key SkyMed Difference. SkyMed Survivor Testimonials validate the latter fact.
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What geographic area does SkyMed cover?
Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Belize and the USA, including Alaska and Hawaii.
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Is there a waiting period for pre-existing medical conditions?
If the member is taking prescription drugs or has any pre-existing medical condition, that specific condition is covered after 90 days of membership. Car accidents and other non-related illnesses to the pre-existing condition(s) are covered from day one.
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What constitutes a Family Membership?
1) Two people who cohabitate at the same address. They must use the same transport preference destination.
2) Children up to the age of 18 and those up to the age of 24 attending an accredited university or community college are considered part of a family membership, even if the children attending the secondary educational institution reside in a community away from the family home.
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Must the transport preference destination be the same as the mailing
address?
No. However, make certain the transport preference location is listed on the application form
along with the mailing adress.
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What about the transport preference of physical remains, can it be
different than the transport preference for medical repatriation?
Yes, the member should list the physical remains transport preference if
it is different from that for a medical flight.
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Can the Member change their transport preference? If so, how?
Yes. It must be in writing, to SkyMed International Inc. 4435 Saddlebag
Trail, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85251-3418 or by fax to 480-946-3484 or by
e-mail to info@skymed.com.
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What is the Helicopter Option?
The benefit is from the scene of a vehicle accident to a local hospital.
Traditionally, SkyMed makes all arrangements for medical air repatriation
flights, however, this is not possible when a member is helicoptered from a
vehicle accident. SkyMed guarantees full payment of the flight to the
hospital. In some cases, the member may have alternative but inadequate
coverage, then the Helicopter Option will guarantee the member's flight is
completely paid. Costs can be up to $8,000.00.
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What is meant by the Hospital to Hospital service?
SkyMed will arrange transport and pay for all costs including ground ambulance
services to the departure airport and from the aircraft destination to the receiving
hospital. This benefit is in addition to the medical equipped air ambulance
flight. SkyMed's service is bedside to bedside. Costs can vary up to $25,000.00 per flight. Approximately 25 percent of
SkyMed repatriation flights are on commercial aircraft as patients are ambulatory.
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Are pre-existing medical conditions excluded from the SkyMed service schedule?
No, they are not. If the applicant is taking prescription drugs or has a
pre-existing medical condition, the pre-existing exclusion is only for 90
days, without requalification on membership renewal. Should a member suffer
a critical injury or illness unrelated to the pre-existing condition, this service is in place from day one.
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Does SkyMed own it own aircraft?
No, it is impractical when serving its membership across the North
American hemisphere. SkyMed has over 14 years developed
professional working relationships with the finest air ambulance carriers
serving the membership area. The aircraft must meet FAA qualifications. A medical crew, certified for flight with the repatriated member's health
condition, will be on board.
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What is a commercial carrier medical escort flight?
If the member's attending physician determines the need for a qualified
nurse to attend the member in flight, SkyMed pays that cost.
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Is there a 'must be in hospital" number of days before a member will be
rapatriated to their own health care providers?
A member who has suffered a critical illness or injury, more than 100 air
miles from home, and has been admitted to a hospital or 24 hour clinic will
be repatriated home. Same day repatriations are rare but have occured. The
patient must be stabilized for air travel.
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What is escort transportation?
In the event medical requirements for the flight are such that the
member's spouse or companion is unable to travel on the medically equipped
jet, SkyMed will pay for a commercial flight to accomodate the
spouse/companion.
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When children or grandchildren are taken home, how is it done?
Their transportation to the parent's home is arranged for and paid for by
SkyMed.
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What is visitor transportation?
There are occasions when a critically injured or ill member has
been hospitalized, then can't be stabilized for travel home. In those rare
cases, SkyMed will pay the cost of round trip travel for a family member or
friend to the location of the distressed member.
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What is meant by return transportation after recovery?
Some members who are holidaying and suffer a critical illness or injury
may wish to remain in the area of a local hospital rather than returning
home. Up to thirty days from their hospital release, the member and their
spouse or companion will be returned home on a commercial flight and their
vehicle which is now stranded, will be returned at SkyMed's expense.
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What is the incidental expense allowance?
Should a member have incidental expenses in relation to a medical air
repatriation, SkyMed will pay up to $200.00 to cover those costs, in full or
in part.
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What is meant by organ retrieval and recipient transportation?
SkyMed will provide transportation for the donated organ to the member
recipient's hospital OR for the member to the hospital site of the donated
organ. It must be noted, members on transplant recipient lists at the time
of membership application are ineligible for this service.
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What happens should a member die while traveling?
SkyMed will pay for the cost of returning the member's physical remains
to their place of transport preference by commercial carrier. SkyMed will
pay for the cost of the spouse/companion of the deceased member to return
home, as well as return any stranded vehicle.
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What about claim forms? Co-payments? Deductibles?
There are none.
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Is the manner of a member's transportation limited?
Not at all. A member could be traveling by automobile, by commercial
aircraft or even on a cruise ship. Once the critically ill or injured member
has been stabilized for repatriation at a hospital or 24 hour clinic,
SkyMed's unparalled service is put to immediate work on behalf of the
member.
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What about Canadians who travel between provinces or more than 100 air miles
from their home in Canada?
SkyMed's service is available to Canadians within all Canadian provinces
and territories. With the shrinking of intraprovincial reciprocal medical
services, it behooves Canadians to be aware of how important SkyMed can be
to their traveling peace of mind. Read carefully the Canadian Government's Travel Health Advisory.
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Doesn't my HMO/Medicare cover the services SkyMed provides?
Unfortunately not. Once an HMO member is stabilized for travel, they MUST
return to their home coverage juridication for care and treatment. Or,
personally face the cost of covering all medical service provided. U.S.
federal court precedence has prevailed in favor of HMOs when challenged.
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What are the SkyMed membership periods?
SkyMed offers short-term, annual and multi-year memberships up to five years. Annual and multi-year plans are renewable beyond those periods of membership.
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What if a trip is of a shorter term, a few days, week or two?
Our trademarked SkyMed "TAKES YOU HOME" medical air repatriation is
available in shorter, cost effective time frames from a few days to 21 days.
Any period longer than 21 days, it is financially prudent to take advantage
of SkyMed year round service.
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Does SkyMed provide comments from transported members?
Absolutely. Click here to see a respresentative sample of the testimonials of our SkyMed Survivors.
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Who is SkyMed International Inc?
SkyMed International Inc., founded in 1989, provides emergency medical air evacuation membership and travel related services to our members when they travel more than 100 miles from home.
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What and who determines if I am going to be transported?
When a SkyMed member suffers a critical illness or injury, so determined by the member’s attending physician, in concert with SkyMed’s Client Services Director, SkyMed will schedule the required air repatriation flight once the member has been stabilized for medical air transport.
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What happens if I can't be stabilized for transportation to a hospital nearer home?
SkyMed will arrange and pay for a flight so that a family member or companion can be at your beside to comfort you or SkyMed will pay for your air ticket and that of a companion to accompany you home after your hospitalization.
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What type of aircraft is used?
Approximately 75% are on medically equipped jets; the balance are on regularly scheduled commercial carriers. Severity of a patient's condition determines the method of transportation.
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What about ground ambulance charges, who pays for this?
SkyMed arranges and pays for an ambulance from the hospital to the departure airport and from the destination airport to your home. SkyMed uses the most reputable ambulance services available.
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What happens to a stranded vehicle?
SkyMed uses professional drivers to return stranded vehicles including
RVs, and a tow vehicle. Some members prefer a friend or relative to
transport their stranded vehicle. In the latter case, SkyMed will pay for a
commercial flight to an airport nearest the vehicle along with fuel costs to
return said vehicle.
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How do I become a SkyMed member?
You may apply by toll free phone, by email on this Web site, or by completing the member application, and returning it to SkyMed, along with a first year only application fee and the annual membership fee (as shown on the application form). Multi-year memberships result in significant savings. Do it Now!
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What is the cost of an air ambulance flight?
Cost being primarily determined by distance, members' flights for the period of Jan. 1, 1994, to December 31, 2002, ranged between $3,500 to $25,000. Related services have taken the cost to $30,000.
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In the event of a member's death while away from home, how does SkyMed help?
SkyMed pays for the air transportation of remains, returns the spouse or companion by commercial
carrier, and returns any stranded vehicle in accordance with the aforementioned policy
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Who is eligible for SkyMed membership?
The program is designed for American and Canadian citizens while traveling in the North American hemisphere.
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