Has anyone used an FMCAssist medical evacuation

[vacationlovers]

My wife & I just joined FMCA, and the FMCAssist benefit seems almost too good to be true, so I was wondering about other people's experiences with using it.  If anyone has had a medical evacuation, how smoothly did it go?  Has anyone wanted an evacuation, but been refused?

We currently have coverage with Global Guardian, which cost $280/year.  If I'm hospitalized while traveling, and I'm just not comfortable with the conditions at the hospital, I can say "Get me home to my local hospital" and get "bed to bed" transportation.

But upon reading the fine print for FMCAssist, I see that a doctor must order the evacuation to "prevent death or serious deterioration".

[dons2346]

I personally know of three people that have used the program with zero issues. I did a FMCAssist seminar at the Northwest Area rally and a woman stood up and extolled the program and how it worked. Don't remember all the details but she was flown in a Lear jet with a flight nurse to her destination

[wildebill308]

I have been there when some friends used it and it worked as stated.. But like all programs' read all the instructions and know what it will do and what you have to do. If I wasn't a member I would join just for that benefit as it is cheap compared to outher plans out there.

Bill

[vacationlovers]

Thank you Don & Bill for your replies.

I'm glad to hear that people have been able to  use the medical evacuation when they needed it.  I just wish I knew if they got evacuated because it was necessary to "prevent death or serious deterioration", or just because they would prefer to be in their local hospital back home, rather than in some other state or country.

[dons2346]

The three that I know of, one was because of a stroke and needed transfer for better care. Number two was transportation to return home due to terminal cancer that went south in a hurry. She passed a couple of weeks after transport. The third was to transport big dogs, grandkids and motothome home because the driver had a heart attack,. Assist paid for a family member to drive the coach with the kids and dogs were all family. Normally, passengers are not allowed in the transported vehicle.

In these cases, there were no complaints. In the wife of one felt she was in good hands because of the stress of making things happen was relieved.

[dluchini]

If you want to be taken home regardless of medical necessity - just because you would prefer to be in your local hospital back home, rather than in some other state or country, then you want SkyMed.

[vacationlovers]

Don, thanks for the additional info.

Dluchini, thanks for the suggestion.  I hadn't researched SkyMed before.  But I just read their fine print, and it says that transportation will be arranged if "the Attending Physician determines and approves the need for Emergency Medical Transport, then SkyMed’s Director of Member Services confirms the need".  That sounds like they might not do it just because it's what I want.

[dons2346]

Also check the age requirements. Some programs will shut you off once you reach a certain age. The Assist program has no age linitations

[dluchini]

Vacationlovers: "But I just read their fine print, and it says that transportation will be arranged if "the Attending Physician determines and approves the need for Emergency Medical Transport, then SkyMed’s Director of Member Services confirms the need".  That sounds like they might not do it just because it's what I want."

Are you sure you you aren't referring to the AirMed or MASA fine print? Because I have a copy of the SkyMed fine print and it definitely does not say that while the other two plans do. And I know from personal experience with a good friend of mine whose husband was taken from AZ to CO just because he wanted to be in a hospital near home where he could see his grandchildren. He was flown by private medical jet under medical supervision - bedside to bedside from one of the top hospitals in AZ (Tucson Medical Center) to the hospital of his choice near home. There was no medical necessity for him to be transported - all he had to do was tell SkyMed he wanted it. SkyMed made all the arrangements and paid all the costs. Transports like this are very expensive. I can understand why Assist and all the other assistance plans (including AirMed and MASA) don't do them. Health insurance doesn't cover these transports because of lack of medical necessity.

DonS is probably referring to MedJet's age restrictions. Neither SkyMed nor Assist have age limitations. My friend's husband is in his mid-80s.

If you can identify exactly where SkyMed fine print says what you say it says, I'd like to know the details so I can compare it with the fine print I have in front of me. I generally do my homework pretty thoroughly. I actually get copies of and read both what is said and what is not said in the fine print. So if I have made a mistake, I'd like to know.

[vacationlovers]

Hi Dluchini.  Thanks for the additional info.  Your friend's experience is great to hear.

Regarding the fine print I quoted... On this SkyMed webpage https://www.skymed.com/the-fine-print I downloaded the PDF in the paragraph "SkyMed Annual Memberships", and found those words in Section V, Paragraph 1 "Hospital-to-Hospital Air Transportation".

The statement I previously quoted doesn't necessarily mean that SkyMed would refuse to honor a request for relocation just for personal preference, but it does seem to give them an excuse if they did want to refuse.

Does your fine print have any words that specifically says they will honor your wishes regarding transport, even if there is no "medical necessity"?

Thanks,

Chris

[dluchini]

Chris, I think we are looking at different contexts. My remarks were in the context of my first post on this thread: “If you want to be taken home regardless of medical necessity - just because you would prefer to be in your local hospital back home, rather than in some other state or country, then you want SkyMed.” There are no determinations or approvals needed by SkyMed – just your choice - guaranteed - as stated in the fine print paragraph printed in blue that preceeds your quote.

The fine print you quoted is in the context of communications between your attending physician and SkyMed which are needed to make the medically unnecessary bed to bed transport to your local hospital happen without a glitch. In certifying to SkyMed that your condition is stabilized and you are “Fit to Fly” the attending physician specifies conditions needed such as type of ground transport between hospitals and airports; the type of flight (e.g. private medically equipped aircraft, commercial w/medical escort, or commercial); special in-flight escort/medical staff (e.g. respiratory technician); in-flight medical requirements; type of hospital admission upon return home (e.g. acute, rehab, nursing); etc. SkyMed agrees to the conditions; makes all the arrangements; and confirms to the attending how the requirements are met. Communications and arrangements are also made with the admitting hospital and physician to confirm availability of a bed and appropriate medical care.

FMCA members who are also SkyMed members enjoy the luxury of benefits and services unique to each plan. Instead of “either/or” the members get to choose the “best of both”.FMCA also benefits because these members remain in the Assist risk pool but represent zero or greatly reduced risk.

[derenzy]

I'm curious about pets. Will FMCA transport pets should we become incapacitated or killed?  We both have ROADID bracelets and could easily add FMCA to our pet transport contacts if they do that without the owner present.

[aztec7fan]

One other story is not really medical assistance, but FMCA being FMCA.  in the early 1980s, my father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  at the national convention in Soux Falls SD, he suffered a breakdown and was hospitalized.  3 FMCA families volunteered to drive his 1957 Fitzjohn bus back to Denver, bringing me and my teenage sister back home as well.  They drove all night, and expertly parked his bus in its spot in Denver and dropped us off at my moms home in Golden. 

Not sure you could get that kind of support from any other group.

[tom73]

Sorry I'm late to this party, but I am one of those that used the FMCAssist. My late wife was diagnosed with liver cancer in early January 2022. We were in the Las Vegas area and wanted her to get back to our home area so she could at least see our three kids. Long story short, it was a BED TO BED transfer by the air ambulance crew. They came right to her room in Vegas, had a waiting ground ambulance to go to the airport, a ground ambulance to go from the Duluth MN airport to the next hospital, and right to her room. The crew were some of the most professional you could ever want. I NEVER saw any kind of a bill from them! The only problem I had was trying to coordinate through the hospital (that's a whole 'nother story). Once I started coordinating with them myself everything went quite smooth

Tom

[tmcblane]

I read this paragraph in the literature "The Medical Evacuation or Repatriation must be ordered by a Physician, who certifies that the Medical Evacuation or Repatriation is necessary to prevent death or serious deterioration of the Insured Person's medical condition. The Medical Evacuation or Repatriation must be approved and arranged by Our Assistance Services Administrator."

So how in the course of an emergency are you suppose to have time to get approval? Anyone have an answer for that?? 

[rossboyer]

You first call 911 to handle your emergency. If that facility or wants to have transported somewhere else that is when you need to call FMCAssust. 
 

A friend passed in Florida there home is in Indiana. He had specified his body was to be to IU medical system. Prep for that is more expensive than normal embalming or cremation. FMCAssist took care of it, transported remains to IU in Indiana. When I U was done they cremated and delivered to his wife back home. Also, the paid for air flight for there son to Florida to drive and paid expenses to return motor home back to Indiana. 
 

FMCAssist is probably the best included benefit that would have cost you more than $120+ a year. 

[aztec7fan]

fyi, this May, we will be taking a trip in our MH with my in-laws and my adult children.  i checked with FMCA to see if FMCAssist would cover everyone, but it only covers the member and spouse.  i decided to sign up with Good Sams platnum emergency medical service which coveres everyone.

[palibs]

13 hours ago, aztec7fan said:

fyi, this May, we will be taking a trip in our MH with my in-laws and my adult children.  i checked with FMCA to see if FMCAssist would cover everyone, but it only covers the member and spouse.  i decided to sign up with Good Sams platnum emergency medical service which coveres everyone.

FMCAssist covers Immediate Family Members Traveling with you - Included in your FMCA membership

• Spouse or domestic partner
• Dependent children (including adopted children or stepchildren)
• Legal guardians or wards
• Siblings or siblings-in-law
• Parents or parents-in-law
• Grandparents or grandchildren
• Aunts or uncles
• Nieces and nephews