100+ Member Experiences

Roger & Renee Erdelac

from Polk City, Florida

Newmar Member Diagnosed with Blood Clot & AFib Flown from MT to FL & RV Returned

My wife, Renee, and I were getting our RV ready to go on our yearly five-month adventure and our trip this year was to follow Lewis & Clarks Northwest Passage. I had been having knee trouble before we left and by the time we made it to Great Falls, Montana my knee suddenly

went out, throwing me to the ground. I rested my leg that day. The following day I woke up to find my leg severely swollen, very hot, and hard as a rock. I went to the ER and they found I was in AFib and an MRI with contrast confirmed there was a continuous blood clot from my ankle to my groin while also confirming a spot on my lung.

I was admitted to the hospital and a biopsy of my lung confirmed the spot was also a blood clot. After five days of treatment in the hospital I was ready for release. I asked the doctor if I could drive home and he said with a blood clot of that size the risk of complications of a 2600-mile drive in a Class A 40-foot motorhome towing a car would be excessive. I asked Renee to check with SkyMed and let them know what was happening and find out how they could help us. SkyMed called within hours of my release from the hospital to tell us they had arranged for a bonded professional driver to drive our motorhome with car in tow back to Florida and that they would pay the fuel cost. They had also arranged and paid to fly us and our dog home and all went as planned without a hitch.

How did you find out about SkyMed and why did you choose SkyMed?  We attended a Newmar rally in Winter Haven, Florida in April of 2017 and heard Catherine Griffith give a SkyMed presentation. We liked what we heard and decided to sign up and we’re so glad we did.

What would you tell your friends about your experience with SkyMed?  We tell everyone how SkyMed gave us excellent first-class service and we highly recommend them, especially for the wife’s peace of mind. Renee had a lot on her plate because we were some 2,600 miles from home and, if it hadn’t been for SkyMed, all of this would have been total chaos. But after one call to SkyMed they flew in a professional driver who drove our new 2017 Newmar Ventana, with our car in tow, all the way from Great Falls, Montana to our home in Polk City, Florida. The driver was first class too because he followed my instructions for the tow car and both arrived with no dings or scratches. SkyMed made it so easy by putting EVERYTHING together for us. If you don’t have a SkyMed Takes You Home plan in place, you should!

Roger & Renee Erdelac, SkyMed Champions

This is an exclusive member emergency line.
Would you like to continue?
24 SEVEN Emergency hotline.
Please click on the phone number above to call.

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
Play Video
Play Video
Play Video