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An Air Ambulance is aircraft which is equipped with medical equipment & life support systems like ventilators, defibrillators, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and few other emergency ICU utilities on board. The air ambulance can be a helicopter or a mid-size jet or turbo-prop aircraft. Sometimes commercial jets are also used for air ambulance purpose. After the pandemic, to reduce spread of the Covid-19 virus, isolation pods are also used in the air ambulance by few providers. Isolation pods were earlier used during the Ebola epidemic specially to contain the infection while the patient was receiving treatment while being transferred to suitable hospital facility.

The air ambulance companies have tie up with hospitals which provide treatment for critical care procedures. Normally the air ambulance companies have arrangements with health care providers, hospitals, airports, and land ambulances for smoother transit of highly crucial patients.

In recent pandemic times, many patients especially diabetic or hypertensive or with severe lungs infection or fibrosis had to use the services of an air ambulance to fly to Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, or Hyderabad for seeking treatment in super specialty hospitals. Certain times air ambulance is required to airlift a patient to nearby foreign countries like Singapore or Dubai too. Severe lung infections require emergency treatment by team of doctors, paramedics and perfusionists. These types of treatments may not be available in hospitals of smaller towns & cities. Also, a routine transportation via road or rail, from these towns to the city where the treatment is available would be a slow & time taking process. That much time may not be available to the patient.

Usually, a trained doctor and support team travels along with patient from home destination to the desired hospital destination. Some air ambulances may permit 1 or 2 family members of the patient to travel along.

The cost of an air ambulance is charged on hourly basis. Usually, the cost would begin from the time of starting the journey from the base airport where the ambulance is stationed. The cost range starts from Rs. 50,000 per hour to Rs. 3 lac per hour depending on the size of aircraft, the equipment available onboard, the team of doctors which accompany the patient and the distance to be covered.

These costs are covered under health insurance by few insurance companies in selected products. As the costs of hiring an air ambulance are very high for any person, suitable medical insurance should be taken to ensure that during an emergency insurance company supports.

The following insurance companies provide coverage for air ambulance:

The 2nd Covid-19 wave has overwhelmed the entire health care system in most of the towns & cities. The medical infrastructure was stressed and there was non-availability of beds & oxygen in many hospitals. Families will do whatever it takes to save the patient. In these unprecedented times, it is always advisable to have an appropriate and adequate health insurance cover through a qualified PoSP.

We at AND APP provide detailed product features training to our PoSP to ensure they recommend the correct insurance solution to the client.

Author is Prabhat Vijh- Director & Principal Officer: iAND Insurance Broker Private Limited