AirWaves and GroundRules

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (August 21, 2008) - Travelers buy medical evacuation coverage for peace of mind and financial protection, but a study released by the US Travel Insurance Association suggests if the travelers are not aware of the fine print, they may be buying a false sense of security. The recent survey on sources of travel insurance and assistance prepared by Avalon Actuarial on behalf of the United States Travel Insurance Association found that most domestic health care plans do not cover out-of-country emergency medical transportation and the only credit card reviewed that provided medical transportation and evacuation carried a high annualfee.

"One of the first things people tell us when we explain our product is 'I think I have that with my credit card,'" said Sam Jackson, president of Air Ambulance Card, LLC, a medical evacuation membership program. "The next thing they say is, 'I already buy travel insurance.'" In fact, Jackson explains, credit card policies often include "nearest appropriate facility" and "medical necessity" clauses, meaning the company, not the patient and their doctor, decide if they will be transported home. While the USTIA study points out comprehensive travel insurance policies cover medical evacuation, Jackson suggests buyers read the fine print, as these policies often contain the same exclusions and conditions. Air Ambulance Card memberships have none of these clauses, and no pre-existing condition limitation.

Air Ambulance Card provides travelers with prepaid hospital-to-hospital air ambulance service, domestically and abroad. The membership program offers services for a period of one year to families or individuals, and under corporate accounts. Air Ambulance Card memberships are available to residents of the U.S. and Canada and cost $195 per year for individuals and $295 per year for families. For more information visit www.AirAmbulanceCard.com.

Labels: air ambulance, air ambulance card, emergency, medical evacuation, travel insurance

Points of Interest

• Air ambulance program flies select Rooms To Go employees to home hospital when they are admitted to hospital 150 miles or more from home
• Rooms To Go enrolling team members who travel frequently
• Added layer of health and financial protection is example of innovations in human resources
• Air Ambulance Card is leader in the industry, offering corporate, group and individual memberships

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (August 13, 2008) - Birmingham-based air transport membership provider Air Ambulance Card has reached an agreement with U.S.'s number one independent furniture company to provide air transportation memberships to executives and others employees who travel frequently. "The best companies today are looking for ways to protect their employees, and let them know they are valued," said Stan Bradley, executive vice-president of Air Ambulance Card. "We offer companies a way to offer something of great value to their employees for a very low cost."

Founded in 1991, Florida-based Rooms To Go has stores in nine states and is recognized as the top selling furniture retailer in the United States. Rooms To Go also operates Rooms To Go Kids, specializing in children's furniture, www.roomstogo.com.

Air Ambulance Card provides travelers with prepaid hospital-to-hospital air ambulance service, domestically and abroad. The membership program offers services for a period of one year to families or individuals, and corporate accounts. Air Ambulance Card memberships are available to residents of the U.S. and Canada and cost $195 per year for individuals and $295 per year for families. For more information visit www.AirAmbulanceCard.com.

Attacks on US tourists in China are rare, but the murder of an Olympic tourist in Beijing on the first day of competition must have tourists questioning what they would do in the event of an emergency. The travelers Air Ambulance Card transports home to US hospitals are overwhelmingly hospitalized as a result common accidents or illness.

Ask yourself, in Beijing or Berlin, would you rather be treated in a hospital overseas, or fly home to the doctors and hospital you know and trust near family and friends who can be at your bedside? Air Ambulance Card will fly you home to the US or Canadian hospital of your choice if you are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, domestically or internationally.

Certainly, we don't anticipate more attacks on tourists in Beijing over the next 15 days, we'll be praying it won't happen. But we do anticipate someone will get sick, or in an accident.

We hope all travelers will take a few minutes before their next event to buy a bit of protection and enroll online, whether they've left the US yet or not. It's a small price to pay for huge peace of mind.