INSIDE

When you absolutely,
positively have to leave the Point

As of the beginning of 2007 Airlift Northwest is again offering families insurance to cover the cost of an air evacuation in a medical emergency.

Airlift spokesperson Mardie Rhodes said they had decided to reintroduce AirCare following a change in state law that allowed the “flying intensive care” provider to offer the membership program as transportation insurance without having to follow the more cumbersome regulations of healthcare insurance.

“Now for $79 a year AirCare will insure that Airlift Northwest transports you or anyone in your household for what your insurance would pay,” Rhodes said, as long as it is determined to be a medically indicated transport. Uninsured patients are also eligible for the program, and some insured under Medicare may find it would benefit their family, she said.

Fire chief Bill Skinner said while patients can decline an airlift there are many circumstances when local emergency personnel would recommend air transport to either St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham or Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

“We generally base our decision on the assessment of the patient’s condition and needs,” Skinner said, adding that in cardiac cases, “we would try to convince the patient to go with Airlift.” He said previous air transport to Bellingham in cardiac cases have cost from $8,000 to $10,000. “In the case of an electrocution, severe burn or head injury we would recommend airlifting directly to Harborview,” he said.

Applications for the AirCare program are available at the fire station or online at www.airliftnw.org.