Air Ambulance Experiences

Has anyone ever used air ambulance insurance?

I'm particularly interested in experiences with the firm SkyMed. They claim to get you to the nearest hospital near your home after a serious accident or illness if you are more than 100 miles from home. USA including Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, The Caribbean, Bermuda or the Bahamas.

A friend is probably going to need an air ambulance from Hawaii to the mainland and is looking at a $13,000 charge!!!

Thanks,

Sterling

See this thread, which is the only one which mentions SkyMed - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58010

Hubby had a heart attack while we were on ST Thomas in 2000. Since we were still technically in the US, his Aetna insurance covered his evacuation by medical jet. $17,200 back to VA and not a penny paid by us.

Before our next Caribbean trip, we bought MedJet coverage for both of us and have had it ever since. Crossed fingers that we never have to use it. It seems to be the best policy I could find in that it doesn't have to medically necessary like most of the other policies I found.

Thanks very much, Patty.

I have purchased coverage through this company that was recommended by AAA: accessamerica.com

Fortunately, I have not needed to file any claims with them so I can't attest to their reliability. My primary concern regarding your friend is that most, if not all, carriers will not cover pre-existing conditions.

I hope your friend finds something to help defray their costs.

The Royal Resorts (Cancun and elsewhere in the Caribbean) highly recommend SkyMed and have info about the company and its services on their web site: www.royalresorts.com

I do not personally know anyone who has used SkyMed services, but while vacationing at VCI (one of our home resorts), I have heard several discussions through the years by other owners who had very favorable things to say about the company based upon the experience of people they knew.