100+ Member Experiences

old couple

Edward Cazayoux

from Lafayette, Louisiana

group 1262

Badly Broken Shoulder From Fall In Innsbruck, Austria

I had traveled to Spain to meet with family members and to walk for a week on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. After the Camino, I went to the south of Spain to visit Granada and Seville. At one point I traveled by bus which broke

down and when a rescue bus arrived, I stepped into a tall grassy area after disembarking the broken down bus. By the time I got to Granada I noticed my right shin was inflamed and was bothering me. The next morning my leg was so much worse that I went to the local hospital but the problem was misdiagnosed. Upon arriving in Seville the following day my leg had worsened considerably so I checked into a hotel and then took a taxi to the emergency room where I was admitted.

My wife notified Global ETS that I had been admitted to Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena in Seville, Spain, with a serious leg infection that was later diagnosed as Necrotizing Fasciitis, a “flesh-eating disease” that spreads quickly and is oftentimes fatal. For the next five weeks I was treated with IV antibiotics and underwent multiple skin graft surgeries. Two of my sons stayed with me, one each during the first two weeks in the hospital and emailed updates to everyone regarding my condition, including Jim Edwards at Global ETS. My sister Marilyn flew to Spain to be with me as I would need an escort home. Three weeks later I was released from the hospital and Global ETS paid for two first class tickets home for Marilyn and me with ground ambulances before and after the flight. According to Marilyn, “Eddie did well on the long return flight home, especially in first class where he was much more comfortable. Our flight arrived safely around 6:00 p.m. When the airplane door opened there was an Acadian ambulance with a stretcher and a Sheriff’s deputy waiting to take us off the plane first. We went through the terminal and exited to find the entire family waiting with welcome banners for both of us — the excitement was overwhelming!!”

How did you find out about Global ETS?  I found them through an Internet search which offered just what I was looking for.

What would you tell your friends about your experience with Global ETS?  It was wonderful because Global ETS arranged and paid to fly us first class from Madrid to Dallas. This allowed me to lie down and that helped tremendously. I’m out of the hospital now but still very weak and have open wounds requiring daily hyperbaric therapy. I have a long road of recovery ahead but I’m home and gaining back the weight I had lost. Initially my family was upset that I didn’t get full travel insurance, but we were all so very thankful I had Global ETS. Thank you SkyMed/Global ETS for the ease in making all of this happen!

Edward Cazayoux, 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.
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