Take a look through our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for extensive information about SkyMed TAKES YOU HOME services. If you don’t find an answer to your question here, don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-800-475-9633 or contact us by email at any time.
What are the 32 countries in the SkyMed Universe?
Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Barthélemy, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, United States, US Virgin Islands.
What area does SkyMed cover?
Coverage is provided to members traveling throughout Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda and the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii).
Does SkyMed service cover its members when they are traveling on vacation?
Yes, for vacation travel and for business travel.
Does it matter how I am traveling? Do we have SkyMed service on a cruise?
SkyMed provides its services whenever you are traveling 100 miles or more from home with the basic membership. The SkyMed Ultimate plan provides certain services while you are at home. It doesn’t matter whether you are on a cruise, leisure or business flying, traveling by car or by RV, SkyMed will be there for you whenever you travel.
What is the difference between SkyMed and the numerous "assistance companies"?
SkyMed transports its member home to their hospital and their personal medical care providers; this is the key SkyMed difference. Assistance companies may transport their members to the closest appropriate hospital which they determine is adequate for their member’s medical care. More than likely the member has already been transported to the closest adequate medical facility when their call for help is made, and therefore no further transport is made by the assistance company. Members of most HMOs and PPOs once stabilized for travel must return home to validate further medical cost containment.
What does my membership provide?
The basic SkyMed membership provides for hospital-to-hospital transport of yourself and a companion in the event of a critical illness or injury. Your RV or vehicle is also returned to your home. Or if you stay in the admitting hospital, following discharge you have 30 days to decide if you still need SkyMed’s help in returning home and if so, we provide commercial transport home and a professional driver to return your RV or vehicle.
What happens if I need an air ambulance and I do not have SkyMed?
Unfortunately, it is CASH BEFORE BOARDING, and if time is of the essence many people cannot organize the thousands of dollars in a timely manner when a major medical emergency happens. SkyMed will assist non-members in arranging for transport, and will do so at a cost savings to the non-member of about 20% on the flight cost which remains their burden.
Does health insurance pay for emergency medical air transportation?
Most plans provide little or no coverage; in fact, only a very small percentage cover this service and many of those only pay for transportation in restricted medical situations. If you are a member of a health maintenance organization (HMO) and out of your HMO’s area of service and experience a serious medical condition, your HMO will pay to have you stabilized but they may not transport you home. SkyMed can become the safety net for you and take you home.
Do you provide medical insurance?
SkyMed services do not include any hospital or medical bills incurred by our members. However all professional medical services on board an emergency air ambulance are covered.
Will SkyMed pay for hotels, meals and rental car for a family member flown in to be with me?
SkyMed provides only the roundtrip airfare to/from the closest commercial airport.
Are my grandchildren covered by my Membership?
When members are traveling with grandchildren, under 18 years of age, and the member suffers a critical injury or illness, arrangements are made to return the grandchildren to their parent’s home. Should the grandchild become critically injured or ill, they are entitled to the same services as their grandparents. This applies when the grandchildren are traveling with the grandparents and not accompanied by their parents. Arrangements are made and paid for by SkyMed.
What is the incidental expense allowance?
Should a member have incidental expenses in relation to a medical air ambulance transport (such as taxi, meals, hotel), SkyMed will reimburse up to $200 towards these costs.
What if I become a member and then change my mind? Do you offer refunds?
A new member has 30 days from the Membership Effective Date to read all membership information and decide if they wish to keep their membership. If not, a full refund will be given upon request.
How do I apply for SkyMed membership?
And how quickly does it become effective? You can enroll through a SkyMed representative by phone, or online at www.skymed.com. Allow 72 hours for membership approval.
Is there a waiting period for pre-existing conditions?
All memberships are subject to underwriting and pre-existing conditions are fully covered after only 90 days. Everything else is covered from the date of enrollment.
Are all options automatically included in my membership?
No. Your Basic annual membership includes only the traditional SkyMed services. Additional options are available to increase a member’s coverage, and can be added at any time. Not all members desire all options, so there are choices available.
If I am in an accident, how would anyone know I am a SkyMed member?
Make sure that all family members are aware that you have SkyMed, as they will be notified first. You should also place your SkyMed card right behind your driver’s license and insurance card, as that is the first place medical personnel will check should you be unable to communicate with them.
Will membership rates increase without notice?
Renewals are always based on the rates current at the time of renewal. If rates are increased, present members are given the option of extending their membership at the current rate for a maximum of three years.
How does a member notify SkyMed when they need assistance?
On the back of the membership card are listed all of SkyMed’s contact phone numbers. SkyMed’s call services are available 24/7/365, weekends, evenings, and holidays. There is no need to hesitate calling once a member is hospitalized, even if the member is not certain of the severity of their hospitalization. When calling SkyMed’s call center, you will be asked if this is a medical emergency. If you need assistance immediately, please answer “yes” and you will be transferred to a SkyMed Member Services employee immediately.
Does SkyMed have a grievance procedure in case a member believes they have not benefited as they should have from their membership?
An aggrieved member must put their grievance in writing and submit it to: SkyMed Grievance Coordinator 13840 Northsight Blvd., Suite 109 Scottsdale, AZ 85260
If a member resides year round in Mexico, will SkyMed
transport me to the USA should I have a critical illness or injury?
Yes. Once stabilized and a guaranteed bed is secured, SkyMed
will return year round residents to the medical transport preference as
indicated on their application. The members must in this situation have a basic
membership with the North American Transport Option feature (NATO)
What is the North American Transport
Option (NATO) plan?
The NATO plan provides membership service for those living
outside of the U.S. more than six months in your 12-month membership year. With
this plan SkyMed waives the minimum 100 mile travel requirement.
Are there delays in repatriating
members from Mexico?
There is always the possibility of a delay due to a hospital
bed not being available at the destination hospital. In addition, in Mexico the
airports close at dusk and reopen at dawn. If the call is received too late in
the day to fly into an airport, then the member will not be air evacuated until
the next morning.
How is an RV or vehicle return handled from Mexico?
The member would need to designate someone to drive their RV
or vehicle home for them. SkyMed will provide airfare for up to two people to
the nearest airport where the stranded RV is located and pay for all fuel, oil,
toll fees and a maximum of $100 per day towards expenses to return the RV to
the member's transport preference. The designated driver must have a notarized
statement from the owner stating they are authorized to drive the vehicle
across the international border. With critically enhanced international
security, SkyMed has provided this service since September 11, 2001 in lieu of
a professional driver.
When an RV is to be returned, will SkyMed make sure the RV is prepared for the transport?
No, the RV needs to be road-ready. The refrigerator must be turned off and emptied, everything readied for transport, and any towed vehicles must be hooked up and ready to go. Any repairs to the RV or vehicles are the member’s responsibility.
What happens if a member wants a family member drive to stranded vehicle home?
A member has the choice of having their RV or stranded vehicle returned by a driver they designate. SkyMed will provide airfare for that person to the airport nearest to where the RV is located. SkyMed will pay for fuel, oil, toll fees and a maximum of $100 day towards expenses.
How is an RV or vehicle return handled from Mexico?
The member would need to designate someone to drive their RV or vehicle home for them. SkyMed will provide airfare for up to two people to the nearest airport where the stranded RV is located and pay for all fuel, oil, toll fees and a maximum of $100 per day towards expenses to return the RV to the member’s transport preference. The designated driver must have a notarized statement from the owner stating they are authorized to drive the vehicle across the international border. With critically enhanced international security, SkyMed has provided this service since September 11, 2001 in lieu of a professional driver.
I no longer drive my RV- does that make SkyMed unnecessary?
Your SkyMed membership provides multiple services whenever a member travels 100 air miles or more from home (or with the SkyMed Ultimate, even when you are at home). The method of transport does not matter – it could be by car, plane, cruise, or by rail – you have SkyMed peace of mind traveling with you.