Air Evac sent me my bill for the flight when I fell moving the tree stand last month, it was a little shy of $42,000.00. I will say it was worth every penny! I have talked with my insurance (BCBS) and will have to wait and see how much they pay on it. I did not have a supplemental med flight policy, because I was never gonna need it

It's funny how my brain was dealing with the indescribable pain I was in while I was laying there. When I heard the chopper on approach I started singing an old Army cadence we sang in basic training.
I hear the choppers hovering
There hovering overhead
They've come to get the wounded
They've come to get the dead

My wife's bill was $61,000. BCBS paid $11,000, leaving us to pay the $50,000. Of course, they are nice and will work out a payment plan for you.

That’s exactly why my family are members of airevac network.

You need to check with blue cross. If it is an in network air evac, they are not allowed under the contract to bill you the amount blue cross doesn’t pay. There was actually an article about this on al.com this week.

Can you get supplement ins for cases like this ?

$50k........for a ride in a helicopter. Leave me where I lay. Good heavens

I need to start a helicopter evac service.

Yes.

What I was thinking

Everyone needs to get the plan offered by the helicopter services. It's about 64 bucks a year and covers anything that your insurance doesn't pay in case they transport any member of your immediate family.

I knew it was expensive but no idea it was that much. I'm thankful I have a policy through work that covers any cost above what BCBS doesnt pay for a ride in a bird or ambulance for under $5 a pay period. I know that bill was expensive but I'm sure your family appreciates the fact you're still with them.

Any recommendations on companies/offerings to do some research.

My gut reaction is no way in hell does it cost them $42k to fly someone to hospital.
But I don’t know. Them whirly birds ain’t cheap.

You got off easy. My Dad was airlifted a few months back from Andalusia to Birmingham...$77,000. Total for the flight, 4 day stay, and surgery was just shy of $500,000!

It doesn't, but they charge the honest people for their ride and all the rides by people that don't pay.

When our daughter had her stay in Children's a couple years ago, the we initially had her in the DCH ER in Tuscaloosa, and they told us she needed to go to Children's. They told us a helicopter was on its way. I flat out asked them "Does she NEED the helicopter ride because she doesn't have an hour and is in immediate danger? Because if so, load her up and let's go." The Doctor said "Well, no, she's not in any real danger...we just prefer to fly patients any time we send them to Birmingham." I told him if there was no danger, we would take an ambulance instead of a $40-50k unnecessary helicopter ride.

After that episode, you will never convince me that doctor didn't get some sort of kick-back on those flights...maybe not all of them, but I'm convinced some do and you'll never change my mind about it.

I know a guy that flipped a tractor off a bridge and had a 10min flight for 48k he said after insurance and fighting he was out of pocket for 3500 I believe

Air ambulance is expensive. One of the Medicare Advantage plans I sell in FL surprised me by having a 20% copay for air ambulance. That is a deal. Heck $8400 is better than $42k any day.

I would be interested in any detailed information/links that anyone has on supplemental policies that cover these type events. I see plenty out there for specific flight companies, but what happens if you are incapacitated and can’t tell them which helicopter company to use? In the event they choose some random flight company, I would want a policy that covers those type events.

I also got to ride in one them helicopter. I am a member of air-vac and the bill they sent me was $49k. My insurance covered $19k. But being a member, I never received a bill for the remaining $30k. When I called they said that I wouldnt have to worry about the rest and thanks for being a member.