One of the most expensive emergency medical services received isn’t provided by a doctor at all. In an emergency, there’s no “shopping around” for this medical service. Once it’s billed you could be on the hook for thousands.
Care Flight is the most used air ambulance service in Reno and Lake Tahoe. REMSA, the company that provides 100% of the ground ambulance service in Reno, owns Care Flight. As anyone who has taken Care Flight can tell you when it’s needed it’s not an optional service. Timing is critical in a lifesaving situation. First responders consider the first hour after an accident to be the “golden hour”. If the first hour passes without appropriate care the survival rate decreases. Care Flight provides a life-saving service, without question.
The Real Cost
The real question is how much. The average air ambulance trip is 52 miles and costs between $12,000 to $25,000 per flight.
These costs are not disclosed before the Care Flight trip. They’re usually not even a consideration to the patients. Living and dying is much more important. However, once the emergency is over, these costs could take years to pay off.
The Solution
EMS Membership Programs through REMSA
REMSA offers separate membership packages for ground transportation and air transportation. Joining one of these programs is relatively affordable and can save you thousands. Visit here for more information: https://www.remsahealth.com/membership/
