Air Ambulances Save Lives, but COSTS CAN BE SKY-HIGH 1 “Understanding Air Ambulance Insurance,” National Association of Insurance Commissioners, http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_understanding_air_ambulance_insurance.htm, accessed April 6, 2016. 2 “Fact Sheet and FAQs,” The Association of Air Medical Services, aams.org, accessed April 6, 2016. MTG-2998 (4/16) STOP LOSS PROTECTION Stop Loss insurance can help self-funded groups protect their finances from the expense of large or catastrophic claims. Smart Stop Loss carriers proactively work with third party administrators to ensure discounting is in place to help mitigate costs and protect the underlying plan’s financial interests. Visit hmig.com/slcostcontainment to learn more about how HM Stop Loss helps clients contain costs. Claims for air ambulance services and the catastrophic medical conditions that require their use can be significant. Quick transport to the right facility helps to ensure that appropriate medical treatment is provided. However, air ambulance services can be misused as a convenience in non-emergency situations, escalating claim costs unnecessarily. More than use air ambulances each year 1 550,000 PATIENTS Average cost per ambulance flight Average flight distance 52 MILES 1 $12,000 to $25,000 1 WHY ARE COSTS SO HIGH? • Initial aircraft cost of up to $6 million • Highly trained medical personnel & pilots • Specialized medical equipment • Round-the-clock availability • Maintenance services 1 WHAT NECESSITATES AIR AMBULANCE USE? Traumatic injuries, burns, pregnancy complications, heart attacks, strokes, respiratory diseases, etc., as well as transferring patients needing the high-level care associated with a critical illness (generally from a regional facility to a Level 1 Trauma Center or a specialty hospital) HOSPITAL-TO-HOSPITAL TRANSPORTATION 54% ON-SCENE RESPONSE 33% ORGAN PROCUREMENT/ TRANSPORT 2 13% BE PROACTIVE : USE THE PLAN DOCUMENT TO HELP CONTAIN COSTS • Specify under which circumstances air ambulance services will be covered • Stipulate that air ambulance services will be covered only when: • Approve use only to the nearest in-network (if applicable) facility with the appropriate specialty, unless approved otherwise in advance • Require pre-approval for non-urgent air flight to prevent the plan for paying for services unnecessarily - used to transport a patient with an urgent medical need, or - another mode of transportation would or is likely to cause the patient harm

Air Ambulances Save Lives, But Costs Can Be Sky … Ambulances Save Lives, but COSTS CAN BE SKY˜HIGH 1 “Understanding Air Ambulance Insurance,” National Association of Insurance

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Page 1: Air Ambulances Save Lives, But Costs Can Be Sky … Ambulances Save Lives, but COSTS CAN BE SKY˜HIGH 1 “Understanding Air Ambulance Insurance,” National Association of Insurance

Air Ambulances Save Lives, but COSTS CAN BE SKY-HIGH

1 “Understanding Air Ambulance Insurance,” National Association of Insurance Commissioners, http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_understanding_air_ambulance_insurance.htm, accessed April 6, 2016. 2 “Fact Sheet and FAQs,” The Association of Air Medical Services, aams.org, accessed April 6, 2016.MTG-2998 (4/16)

STOP LOSS PROTECTIONStop Loss insurance can help self-funded groups protect their �nances from the expense of large or catastrophic claims. Smart Stop Loss carriers proactively work with third party administrators to ensure discounting is in place to help mitigate costs and protect the underlying plan’s �nancial interests.

Visit hmig.com/slcostcontainment to learn more about how HM Stop Loss helps clients contain costs.

Claims for air ambulance services and the catastrophic medical conditions that require their use can be signi�cant. Quick transport to the right facility helps to ensure that appropriate medical treatment is provided. However, air ambulance

services can be misused as a convenience in non-emergency situations, escalating claim costs unnecessarily.

More than

use air ambulances each year 1550,000 PATIENTS

Average cost per ambulance �ightAverage �ight distance

52 MILES 1

$12,000 to $25,000 1

WHY ARE COSTS SO HIGH?• Initial aircraft cost of up to $6 million

• Highly trained medical personnel & pilots

• Specialized medical equipment

• Round-the-clock availability

• Maintenance services1

WHAT NECESSITATES AIR AMBULANCE USE?Traumatic injuries, burns, pregnancy complications, heart attacks, strokes, respiratory diseases, etc., as well as transferring patients needing the high-level care associated with a critical illness (generally from a regional facility to a Level 1 Trauma Center or a specialty hospital)

HOSPITAL-TO-HOSPITAL TRANSPORTATION

54%ON-SCENE RESPONSE

33%ORGAN PROCUREMENT/

TRANSPORT 2

13%

BE PROACTIVE:USE THE PLAN DOCUMENT TO HELP CONTAIN COSTS

• Specify under which circumstances air ambulance services will be covered

• Stipulate that air ambulance services will be covered only when:

• Approve use only to the nearest in-network (if applicable) facility with the appropriate specialty, unless approved otherwise in advance

• Require pre-approval for non-urgent air �ight to prevent the plan for paying for services unnecessarily

- used to transport a patient with an urgent medical need, or- another mode of transportation would or is likely to cause the patient harm