Membership programs for emergency medical air transportation are appearing across Colorado, and they’re being sold in our communities based on fear and marketed with incorrect information. A membership program is simply not the answer when planning ahead for an emergency that may require critical care air transportation. 

You may have recently seen large for-profit air medical transportation companies in public areas attempting to sell membership programs for air medical transportation in the event of an emergency. 

Misinformation distributed by these nationwide companies is causing widespread fear among consumers. This is an aggressive revenue-growing strategy, creating the perception that purchasing a costly membership for air medical transport is the only safe and cost-effective option when faced with an emergency requiring an emergency air ambulance flight. 

Aside from being costly, there is major distortion in the information being presented. Membership programs are designed to steer patients toward specific programs, even though those programs may be based in communities far away and may not be the best program to respond due to limited services offered, distance from the patient and from the most appropriate hospital for care.

These for-profit organizations are aiming to sell as many memberships as possible, often to people who will never need them. As a result, community members will end up spending dollars on a program that they will never use.

Memberships are being sold through targeting a person’s fear, to individuals who may not have all the information they need to make a good decision for their individual situation. These aggressive and misleading marketing tactics by for-profit air medical transportation companies are a disservice to the people of Colorado. 

Rooted in a deep tradition of caring for all individuals regardless of their ability to pay, Flight For Life Colorado, a 47-year-old non-profit, will not bill any patient for anything other than what is legally required. We remain committed to ensuring costs are as low as possible. 

Most patients pay nothing for their air medical transport. Of the small amount that do pay something, the average patient bill is only what is legally required. This small payment amount is substantially lower than the ongoing cost to maintain a membership with a flight company who may or may not be available at the time of need. We are also actively working to continue to lower this amount where legally possible.

We know that community members are facing more pressure than ever to protect themselves proactively in the event of an emergency. Please know that Flight For Life Colorado remains rooted in its promise to care for our communities. 

We ask you to pause and consider all the options when approached to purchase a membership for emergency air transport. We are committed to ensuring the lowest possible costs and that each patient receives the highest quality of care without being financially burdened simply for taking an emergency air medical flight in their time of need. We’re committed to the people of Colorado and beyond and will never compromise our reputation to compete with other for-profit organizations whose main goal is to make large financial gains. 

Kathleen Mayer, MS, RN

Program Director, Flight for Life Colorado