OVERVIEW:

It was 1985 and a group of West Plains, Missouri, businessmen met to discuss the plight of their rural community and its lack of access to adequate trauma care in the event of a life- or limb-threatening medical emergency. Air Evac Lifeteam’s founders’ solution was to establish a helicopter air ambulance service. But this program would be different; rather than the traditional hospital-based air ambulance program, the helicopter would be placed in the community where the people live and work. This concept made good sense, but there was one problem; without financial support on an ongoing basis, such a program would not be economically viable. Developed according to a membership-based model operated by Rega, a Swiss air ambulance company, Air Evac Lifeteam established its membership program. In its first year, Air Evac Lifeteam membership totaled 5,000; today, that number totals more than 635,000 members.

Value of Membership

Without its members, Air Evac Lifeteam would not be in a position to place its aircraft, pilots and medical crews in rural American communities, standing by 24 hours a day to respond to the emergency call. Additionally, Air Evac Lifeteam’s membership program is doing considerably more for its members and others that find themselves in the throws of medical emergencies. On August 30, 2005, just one day following the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, Air Evac Lifeteam responded. Air Evac Lifeteam sent 8 helicopters and more than 65 employees to the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts and, in five days, provided medical transport to more than 100 patients. A similar effort was mounted for Hurricane Rita. These humanitarian efforts that reached outside of the current service area of Air Evac Lifeteam were made possible, in large part, to membership support.

Benefits of Membership

Membership in Air Evac Lifeteam is a subscription-based program. Membership provides prepaid protection against all of Air Evac Lifeteam's transport costs that exceed any insurance or medical benefits you may have.

Although you do not have to be a member to use the air ambulance service, membership offers several benefits:

• As a member, Air Evac Lifeteam will work on your behalf with your insurance company to secure payment for its flight. For all Air Evac Lifeteam transport costs that exceed any insurance or medical benefits you may have, the company will waive all costs not covered by your insurance or benefits.
• Memberships are valid in all Air Evac Lifeteam service areas so members are covered while traveling. More than 75 mutually supporting bases are located across 12 states within the United States.
• Becoming an Air Evac Lifeteam member is a good way to support the health care needs of your community. The company's membership base helps it operate in rural areas where having a quick response time to critical medical situations can save lives. If not for its members, Air Evac Lifeteam would be challenged to provide its livesaving service in many of its outlying communities.

Air Evac Lifeteam Membership Fees

	1- year	3- year	5- year
Single member	$50	$135	$225
Two-member household	$55	$150	$250
Household of thee or more	$60	$165	$275

If interested in learning more about membership benefits, call toll free 800-793-0010 or go to our online enrollment.