Air Ambulance FAQ

The questions families, hospitals and case managers ask us most often. If yours is not here, call +52 55 8526 3130 in Mexico or +1 832 417 8569 and ask it.

How much does an air ambulance cost?

There is no fixed rate. Price is driven by distance, the aircraft the patient needs, the equipment and crew on board, and whether the flight crosses borders. As a market reference, a typical domestic fixed-wing transport runs roughly US$25,000 to US$50,000, Mexico to the United States US$30,000 to US$75,000, and transatlantic US$80,000 to US$150,000. Your case is quoted on its own and the quote is free.

Does insurance cover air ambulance transport?

Often, partly or in full, but it depends on the policy, the reason for the transport and whether the case is domestic or international. We prepare the clinical justification the insurer needs to authorize, and bill the insurer directly once authorization is issued. If the policy covers only part of the cost, you are told the difference in writing before the aircraft moves.

What is the difference between an air ambulance and a medical escort?

An air ambulance is an aircraft configured as an intensive care unit that departs when the case requires it. A medical escort is a clinician accompanying a stable patient on a scheduled commercial flight. The escort costs a fraction of the air ambulance but depends on commercial routes and airline approval. The patient's condition decides which applies.

How quickly can a transport be arranged?

A well-prepared domestic case can be airborne within hours of authorization. International transports take longer because of flight permits and the receiving hospital's admission process. The step that delays transports most is usually the insurance authorization, not the aircraft.

Can a family member fly with the patient?

Usually yes, one passenger, subject to aircraft weight and the space the medical equipment requires. Mention it at quote stage so the seat is planned in.

What medical equipment is on board?

For an intensive care transport: ventilator, multiparameter monitor, infusion pumps, suction, defibrillator, oxygen calculated for the route with reserve, and the medication the specific case requires.

Who decides whether the patient is fit to fly?

A flight physician reviews the chart, recent studies, vital signs and current support before the case is accepted. Altitude changes gas volumes and oxygenation, so a patient who is stable on the ground is not automatically stable in the air.

Is the transport bed to bed?

Yes. Ground ambulances at origin and destination are part of the transport. If a quote prices the flight only and charges the ground legs separately, that is not the final cost.

Can you evacuate a patient from a cruise ship or a resort in Mexico?

Yes. Evacuations from cruise ships, resorts and remote locations across Mexico and the Caribbean are routine, coordinated with the local medical staff and the nearest suitable receiving hospital.

Do you transport patients on a ventilator or on ECMO?

Ventilated patients and patients on vasoactive support are routine. Balloon pump and ECMO transports are accepted case by case because they require specific equipment and a specialised team.

What documents are needed for an international transport?

Passport or travel document for the patient and any accompanying family member, visa where applicable, the clinical summary from the treating hospital, and the receiving hospital's acceptance.

How do I know an air ambulance provider is legitimate?

Ask which certificate the aircraft flies under and who operates it, whether the medical crew is employed or subcontracted, what equipment will be on board for that condition, and whether the quote is bed to bed.