Does Medicare Cover an Air Ambulance? 

If you are injured or suddenly ill and need to be airlifted out of an accident or remote location, the last thing you want to worry about is the cost of your transportation to medical care. Understanding how Medicare may help cover these costs will ease your mind if you or a loved one is in need of an air ambulance. 

Air ambulances are specialized medical transport services that use airplanes or helicopters to get sick or injured people to hospitals or medical centers when ground transportation isn’t available or possible. They have lifesaving equipment and supplies on board and are staffed with trained medical professionals just like ambulances that travel on the roads. 

According to Medicare statistics, there is approximately one air ambulance transport for every 350 people per year in the United States. This number is low when compared to ground ambulance transport for one out of every 14 people per year. 

Some of the most common reasons for needing an air ambulance are:

• Severe trauma or head injury occurring in a remote area
• For transplant patients or organ donations
• Serious traffic accidents 
• Necessary urgent care for elderly patients
• To be transferred to another facility with specialized equipment or staff
• Patients who live in rural areas who have a medical emergency
• The need for immediate and fast transport that isn’t available by ground

You might not be concerned about needing air ambulance transportation unless you live in a rural area, so having Medicare coverage for these types of services can bring you peace of mind. 

When does Medicare cover an air ambulance? 

Original Medicare Part B(medical insurance) covers transportation with an air ambulance (in a helicopter or an airplane) if it is medically necessary and ordered by a physician. This includes emergencies or situations when ground transportation (either by private car or ambulance) can’t provide the proper care you need. 

Medicare Part B also covers ambulance transport on the ground if your health would be in danger otherwise, and if you need medically necessary care from a hospital, critical access hospital, a rural emergency hospital, or a skilled nursing facility. 

Medicare Part B may also cover limited non-emergency ambulance transport if it’s medically necessary, and it’s been ordered in writing by a health care provider who certifies that the transportation is medically necessary. Original Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of the final, Medicare-approved cost for air ambulance transportation. You pay the remaining 20 percent after paying your Part B deductible for the year. 

It’s important to note that Medicare only covers ambulance services if they take you to the nearest medical facility that can treat you, and your physician or the hospital must get advanced approval from Medicare before transporting you. 

Does Medicare Advantage (MA) cover an air ambulance?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must also cover air ambulance transportation under the same guidelines and restrictions as Original Medicare Part B. However, depending on the type of MA plan you have, you may have extended benefits that allow you to use air ambulance transport more frequently. You may also have different coinsurance charges or an out-of-pocket spending cap. You should contact your Medicare Advantage plan provider for further information if you aren’t sure about the coverage details. 

How much does an air ambulance transport cost without Medicare insurance?

If you don’t have Medicare coverage for an air ambulance, your out-of-pocket cost will depend on many factors, including the cost of jet fuel on that day, the type of aircraft, the distance you’re flown, and the type of onboard medical care you need. On average in the United States, a short flight (around 55 miles) can cost between $2,000 and $50,000. A longer flight can cost up to $200,000 or more.