What if your ageing family member collapses at home and the nearest hospital is an hour away by road? An air ambulance can be lifesaving during such emergencies, cutting down the time it takes to reach the hospital for immediate medical attention. Emergency ambulance coverage is one of the important factors you must consider while buying senior citizen insurance. While some health insurance plans offer coverage for ambulance charges, there may be limits and restrictions. It’s important to understand whether emergency air ambulance is also covered by the policy, especially when your parents live in a remote location. Understanding what’s included in the insurance plan can save you hours and massive medical bills.
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Emergency & Air Ambulance Coverage for Senior Citizens
Seniors often have chronic health conditions that can result in medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, or sudden falls. They may live alone in remote places or far from good hospitals.
Emergency ambulance, including ground and air ambulance, ensures that the patients reach hospitals quickly. In urban areas, ground ambulances can be useful, while air ambulances, like planes or helicopters lift patients from remote or difficult-to-reach locations.
These can be life-saving, ensuring that timely medical attention is provided. It gives you peace of mind knowing that your parents won’t be stranded when they need attention the most.
Here’s what you can expect:
Costs for hospital transfer by road emergency ambulance during emergencies.
Ambulance costs for emergency medical air transport by helicopter or plane.
Some plans cover the medical team and equipment used in ambulances or air ambulances.
Usually, plans have a distance limit for ambulance services, which can vary.
Some plans also cover other urgent medical support, like ICU transport.
It is important to read the policy carefully to know exactly what is covered under emergency and ambulance services.
Not all health insurance plans cover ambulance or air ambulance services. But many popular plans, especially those designed for senior citizens, include these features.
These usually provide ground ambulance coverage and sometimes air ambulance as well.
Plans with broader coverage often include ambulance services.
May offer ambulance coverage for emergency hospitalisation.
Some add ambulance benefits if the base plan does not cover them.
Ambulance rate is one of the medical costs that many fail to factor in while choosing health insurance policies. Multiple factors affect the cost of ambulance service:
✓Type of ambulance service ✓Distance of the hospital from the patient's location ✓Services required in the ambulance
The general cost of an ambulance, based on the type of ambulance, is given below:
Types of Ambulance | Price |
Normal ambulance | 560-720 |
ICU ambulance | 2200-2900 |
oxygen ambulance | 610-800 |
Cardiac ambulance | 2000-5000 |
Train ambulance | 3100-6250 |
Air ambulance | 45000-900000 |
Here are simple steps to use ambulance services through your insurance:
As a first step, you should immediately call the service.
Notify your insurance company as soon as possible about the emergency and ambulance use.
Some policies require prior approval for air ambulance, except in life-threatening situations.
Collect bills, medical reports, and ambulance receipts.
After completing these steps, file your claim.
Always carry your health insurance card and emergency contact numbers for quick access.
Before buying or renewing your health insurance, check these points about ambulance coverage:
Rapid medical transport via emergency or air ambulance saves lives but is costly. Ambulance coverage facilitates instant treatment without worrying about transport expenses. Understand what it covers, the limit of the coverage, and how to get the service.
Check the insurance policy and include ambulance coverage if you don't have it. Having proper coverage brings assurance and peace of mind to senior citizens.