100+ Member Experiences

old couple

Del & Luann Larson

from Moorehead, Minnesota

group 1262

Member Flown Home to Avoid Further Health Complications

In March of 2014 my wife and I were on our way back to Minnesota from our winter vacation in Tucson and stopped in Mesa due to an electrical problem. The next evening my wife Luann wasn’t feeling well and went to bed early,

only to be awakened around midnight with chest pains. Luann has Muscular Dystrophy and had previously had a stroke in January, so I called 911 and they transported her to Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa. The ER monitor showed no signs of a heart attack so they admitted her and began looking for blood clots. The next morning she was in even more pain from a blood clot found in her lung.

She was given blood thinner medication which helped tremendously and doctors encouraged her to move around as much as possible to prevent another clot. Later, when Luann was finally released, the doctor said that considering her condition she would not be able to endure the drive home and that it would be better for her to fly home. I called SkyMed and they immediately began making arrangements to fly us home to Minnesota and to have our RV returned.

How did you find out about SkyMed and why did you choose SkyMed?  When I retired in 2008 our attorney suggested we look into getting an emergency medical assistance program for my wife. We went with a different company until the second year when we attended a SkyMed seminar in Tucson and saw how much more SkyMed had to offer than the other company for basically the same amount of money. One of the main reasons we switched to SkyMed was the benefit of returning our motorhome to Minnesota if we encountered a problem. The 100-mile waiver was also very important as we do a lot of traveling within that radius since only our home hospital has the facilities to give Luann the level of care she requires.

What would you tell your friends about your experience with SkyMed?  I have shared with many family members and friends how SkyMed rescued us in our time of need and took away my worries of how I was going to get my wife home safely. After the call to SkyMed I was able to relax and focus on Luann’s health and recovery. SkyMed’s services not only impressed me, but also the doctor and social workers at the hospital. SkyMed also paid to fly our son down to Mesa so he could drive our RV home and after sending in the receipts for the motorhome return there were no questions or rejections. They reimbursed the expenses up to $100 a day which was another huge relief. Luann is doing remarkably better these days and we are still very grateful for the excellent care we received from SkyMed.

Del & Luann Larson, 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.
Services from ‘Home or Away’ within 100 miles

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

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

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.
Patient and Doctor Looking at each other smiling

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

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 Allowance

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.
Patient on wheel chair and Doctors

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

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

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

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

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

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.
SkyMed Services 1

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.
vehiclereturn

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.
Patient on wheel chair

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

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.
SkyMed Services

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