100+ Member Experiences

old couple

Duane & Marian Cheney

from Bellevue, Nebraska

group 1262

Heart Trouble On The Way Home, Bellevue, NE

Duane and I were driving down the highway in our 36’ Winnebago motorhome and towing our pickup on our way home from Wellton, Arizona to Bellevue, Nebraska. By the time we got to Alamogordo New Mexico it was around 7:00 p.m.

Duane wasn’t feeling well and complained of being weak, dizzy and light-headed — and he was the one driving!  I thought he could have been having a heart attack and told him we needed to get him to the ER as soon as possible. We parked the motorhome at Etherington RV Park and drove our pickup to the hospital where they admitted Duane.

Tests revealed something was wrong with his heart and doctors said more tests would be needed. The only problem was their facility didn’t have the necessary equipment or staff and Duane would need to be taken to Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces. I called SkyMed and explained the details to Jim Edwards and he assured us we would be covered and to call him later with an update.

We were taken to Las Cruces by ground ambulance and an hour later we arrived at the hospital where the staff was waiting for us. Duane was admitted immediately, tests were run and a heart catheterization was scheduled for Monday morning. Final test results revealed a virus had affected the lower part of Duane’s heart which should have had 70% blood flow but was only at 40%. This confirmed he did not have a heart attack but Duane remained in the hospital for four days and I learned how to sleep in a hospital recliner.

We called Jim Edwards and updated him on what had happened since Friday night. SkyMed immediately arranged and paid for the air fare and shuttle fare costs to fly our son, Craig, to New Mexico to be with us. When Duane was stable enough to be released from the hospital, Craig chauffeured us home in our RV to Bellevue, Nebraska.

How did you find out about SkyMed and why did you choose SkyMed?  We heard about SkyMed at the Winnebago Grand National Rally in Forest City, Iowa in 2011. We had already made plans to travel that summer and decided we needed to have SkyMed’s services in place. We realized how important it was for us to be covered if we encountered a medical emergency and we wanted to take that liability off of our children.

What would you tell your friends about your experience with SkyMed?  We tell everyone that we’re 110% satisfied with SkyMed’s outstanding services. We also tell them they need to consider joining too because you just never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.

Duane & Marian Cheney, 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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