100+ Member Experiences

Bob & Ruth Raasveld

From San Diego, California

Member Swallows Deadly Hydrogen Peroxide, Evacuated from Mexico to CA

My wife and I were playing cards at a friends in San Carlos in Sonora, Mexico, when my friend asked me about an air vacation card he had mentioned earlier. I reached into my wallet and pulled the SkyMed TAKES YOU HOME card out that I always carried.

I told him that if I never used it in the 5 years I had it, which was to expire in one more year, that the investment would still be worth the money to have the peace of mind, and that we were blessed with five years of good health. Little did I know that within the next 24 hours my wife was going to accidentally ingest a single swallow of a deadly form of hydrogen peroxide.

The next night she was being transported by ambulance 75 miles to Sima Hospital where she remained unconscious for four nights in critical condition. On the third morning my daughter, son-in-law and son were working with SkyMed to make arrangements to transport my wife in her unconscious but stable condition with a breathing tube from Sima Hospital in Hermosillo, Mexico, to Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California. Needless to say, this was a very traumatic period and SkyMed did a terrific job in coordinating this operation and did a spectacular job of taking the strain off all of us.

The Lear jet arrived as scheduled at Hermosillo airport with the pilot, co-pilot and two male nurses. The transition of bringing my wife by ambulance from the hospital to the plane went without a hitch. As a passenger on the plane making the trip to San Diego, I was able to observe the professionalism of the crew and male nurses in making this a very comfortable experience for me, knowing that the nurses were giving my wife their complete attention while handling a patient that had tubes connected to her everywhere, monitoring devices, and a breathing tube requiring on-board oxygen. It was easy for me to see that the medical team was highly trained. When we arrived in San Diego the same professionalism was demonstrated in taking her off the plane and turning her over to the ambulance crew at the San Diego airport. During the flight the pilot and co-pilot were able to fly the plane in a very smooth manner.

My family and I want to thank SkyMed, especially Jim Edwards, Director of Member Services, and your entire staff for exceeding our expectations.

One further note: If anyone reading this would think that our family is compensated for writing this letter to

Jim, I want to set the record straight… No one in our family has had any contact with anyone at SkyMed since this transport except for professional and concerned follow-ups.

Bob Raasveld and Family

P.S. My wife is out of the hospital after 10 days and is having an excellent recovery without any permanent injuries.

Bob & Ruth Raasveld, SkyMed Champions

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Global Emergency Travel Services

24/7/365 world-wide response network for members travelling worldwide. Multilingual operations center that includes emergency medical evacuation to the closet appropriate facility, medical escort commercial flights, repatriation of mortal remains, return of dependent children and travel assistance services. Included in all ULTIMATE Memberships.

Home or Away Services 100 miles from home

SkyMed will pay the cost of ground ambulance services to transport Member to the closest appropriate hospital. This service requires no pre-approval and is limited to two ground services in any twelve (12) months. Included in all ULTIMATE Memberships.

SkyMed Plus

SkyMed Plus provides commercial ticketing for Members return to the origin of the air evacuation. SkyMed Plus also includes pet return, 24 hour-a-day multi-lingual help line, translation services, emergency messaging, insurance verification, travel locator service and more to enhance our SkyMed TAKES YOU HOME membership services. Included in all ULTIMATE Memberships.

Primary Driver Disability

The Primary Driver Disability Option (PDDO) increases the protection of our traditional vehicle return service. SkyMed’s PDDO will reimburse up to $2,000 for either bonded drivers or friend/ family member to return stranded vehicles. Included in all ULTIMATE Memberships.

Organ Recipient Transportation

When it is more feasible to bring the member recipient to the donor organ, SkyMed will provide air transportation for the recipient and one family member. (A nine month restriction applies to new member eligibility in Organ Transport and this service.) Individuals on transplant recipient lists at the time of application are ineligible for SkyMed Membership.

Organ Transport

Should a member require a kidney, heart, lung, liver, or pancreas transplant, SkyMed will transport the donor organ to them. Individuals on transplant recipient lists at the time of application are ineligible for SkyMed Membership.

Incidental Expense Allowence

SkyMed will pay up to $200 for incidental expenses associated with a member’s medical flight. These could include lodging, transportation, meals.

Return Transportation After Recovery

After a member has been hospitalized with a SERIOUS OR CRITICAL ILLNESS OR INJURY SkyMed will transport the member via commercial flight to his/her residence after recovery. The member has sixty (60) days from the hospital release date to implement this service.

Companion Transportation

SkyMed will arrange for a member’s spouse/companion to accompany them in flight on a private air ambulance (space permitting). Or, SkyMed will pay for a commercial flight.

Physical Remains Return

If a Member expires at home or away, SkyMed will pay ‘Airway Bill’ transport costs to move Member remains and provide round trip transportation for Member’s spouse or companion to accompany. In the event ground transportation of remains is required SkyMed will reimburse up to $500.

Minor Children / Grandchildren Return

If because of a critical illness or injury, a member’s minor children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren are left stranded, SkyMed will pay for a regularly scheduled airline flight and transportation for one adult escort if required. Grand and greatgrandchildren under the age of 18 are eligible for all member services when travelling with grandparents.

Transportation for Recuperation Nearer Home

After a member has been hospitalized with a SERIOUS OR CRITICAL ILLNESS OR INJURY SkyMed will transport the member to a rehab facility near the members transport preference .

Visitor Transportation

If a member is hospitalized with a serious illness or injury, SkyMed will pay for a round trip commercial air ticket for a family member or companion to visit. This service will be provided AS SOON AS our Member is hospitalized.

Helicopter Transport

SkyMed will cover the cost of all medically necessary helicopter transports or hospital-to hospital transports. Medically necessary helicopter transports because of an accident or serious illness require no pre-approval from SkyMed. Included in all ULTIMATE Memberships.

Vehicle RV, Auto, Motorcycle and Vessel Return

SkyMed will pay professional drivers for over-land, safe return of operable vehicles (autos, RVs, tow vehicles, trucks) that have been left unattended because of a member’s serious illness or injury. For vessel return SkyMed will provide up to $500 per day for a maximum of 10 days to return a vessel to its home marina. For motorcycle return SkyMed will professionally crate and transport both road worthy and damaged vehicles to your home or a repair shop near your home.

Commercial Carrier Medical Escort Flights

If a member’s condition does not require a private air ambulance, yet the member is not able or permitted to travel alone by commercial carrier, SkyMed will arrange, and pay for medical escort

Ground Ambulance Service

SkyMed will pay the cost of ground ambulance services to transport Member to the closest appropriate hospital. This service requires no pre-approval and is limited to two ground services in any twelve (12) months. Included in all ULTIMATE Memberships.

Hospital-to-Hospital Emergency Air Transport

By Choice of the Member means EVEN if you can be treated in the emergency facility you are in, SkyMed will Take You Home if you choose. SkyMed will arrange and pay for medically equipped air ambulance transportation by fixed-wing aircraft, to the hospital nearest your US or Canadian home when a serious illness or injury occurs. Ground ambulance to and from each hospital is included
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