Who Pays for it?

[Sparker]

I was in a traffic class to get rid of a speeding ticket and the teacher was talking about insurance and what-not. One of the students in the class said that neither the auto insurance (regardless of liability limits) or health insurance covered the cost of Helicopter Transport in the case of an accident. I think the guy is full of crap but I was just curious if anybody knows for sure. I bet it just depends what coverage you have...

[helo08]

My understanding was that if the doctor deems it neccesary or someone calls it in it is paid for by the insurance company. Also if they are called out and they are not used it is not billed to the patient. That's just my understanding though.

[JDHelicopterPilot]

It may depend on the insurance company you have also. However, many cover it or have that option for you.

[Gomer Pylot]

Insurance covers it, if you have insurance. The insurance company may try to get out of it, and delay payment, but it's covered by the policy just like a ground ambulance is covered.

[delorean]

Much like everything else, insurance or medicare/medicaid pays X amount of dollars for it and you may be responsible for the rest.

 

A flight will cost billed out as $10,000 to $20,000 now depending on the air service. Reimbursement rates on trauma scene calls will be much higher than interfacility transfers. Having the referring and accepting MDs sig. deeming the flight necessary will get more money.

 

Like any other procedure, the insurance company will read the nurses' charts and look for key words. These key words trigger pay outs. Certain drugs, IVs, treatments, etc all have dollar amounts attached to them. Hospitals and ambulance services have classes for their staff on how to chart to make sure they get the most amount of money reimbursed while limiting their liability the best they can.

 

So if someone was flown for a headache and the accepting MD did not sign the chart, you bet the insurance company is going to try to get out of it and stick the pt. with 100% of the bill.

[AngelFire_91]

Like any other procedure, the insurance company will read the nurses' charts and look for key words. These key words trigger pay outs. Certain drugs, IVs, treatments, etc all have dollar amounts attached to them. Hospitals and ambulance services have classes for their staff on how to chart to make sure they get the most amount of money reimbursed while limiting their liability the best they can.

I don't know but I'm just courious, wouldn't this be in violation of HIPAA, not to mention any other type of Doctor confidentiality?

When I worked in the ER, everytime we gave an IV or drug all we did was write the item number on the billing sheet, or some of them had stickers on them that we just peeled off and then stuck to the sheet that had nothing more then a bar code. Then they went to the billing people who would create a bill using those numbers and submit it to the insurance company. All Ambulance rides and Helicopter stuff was billed from those companies, so I'm not sure how their billing worked. I've heard that insurance will cover a Helo ride, if it was warented.

[Gomer Pylot]

The med crews are all concerned with HIPAA. They do the charting legally, just as hospitals and EMS services do.

 

If air ambulances weren't paid by insurance, there would be no air ambulance services in existence. They make all their profits off insurance reimbursements. Nobody does it for free, not independent companies nor hospital programs.

[500E]

Air ambulance in UK is free like doc & hospital.

Most if not all UK air ambulances are run by voluntary donations

[Gomer Pylot]

Yes, but that won't happen in the US anytime soon. Socialism!!!!

[helopilot2be]

Yes, but that won't happen in the US anytime soon. Socialism!!!!

 

In Maryland the helicopter ride from a trauma scene is free. In most of the state the Maryland State Police are the only game in town. In some parts of the State US Park Police will assist us if MSP is busy.

These are free rides paid for through special fees attached to our vehicle license plate fees. Only about $11 per year, of the tag fee, if I remember correctly.

 

Chris

[Mkey]

Thats interesting I wonder who does end up paying then?

[Gomer Pylot]

Well, if you're talking about Maryland, all the drivers pay equally, as it says. It would be very easy for every state to do the same thing, by charging a few dollars more for vehicle registrations, and using that money to buy and maintain a fleet of helicopters. Or the US government could do it. All it takes is the will, but the will isn't there. People are crying about paying taxes, but the fact is that civilization does not work without taxes, not anywhere in the world. If we want roads, police, and all the rest of the things we take for granted, we have to pay for them.

[FauxZ]

I know in AZ the answer is "It depends." DPS' primary mission is as an air ambulance, but if a private company is closer, they are dispatched. So if you're "lucky" enough to have them call in DPS, it's free. If you get a private company, it goes to your insurance.

[jimbo2181]

I know in AZ the answer is "It depends." DPS' primary mission is as an air ambulance, but if a private company is closer, they are dispatched. So if you're "lucky" enough to have them call in DPS, it's free. If you get a private company, it goes to your insurance.

 

You guys forgot the best payer of them all. Us! Medicare/Medicaid by far have the best pay outs. So much so our doc called legislature to try and get Medicare for his family. I think it was more of a joke to tell them how ridiculous it is but still fun none the less.

 

If you are lucky the programs in your area may have membership programs. For a whole 50 dollars per year you and any close family member in the same house hold will have absolutely no out of pocket expense if you are flown. So check around.

 

Also you are forgetting the big deal with state or federally run programs. They don't make money. We live in a Capitalist country so why would we all pay more to have service run by the government when a private company can make money doing it and do it better?