Published reports indicate that over 120 rural hospitals have closed in the United States since 2010. This fact coupled with the fact that many good rural hospitals lack high level trauma centers put those injured in serious auto accidents in rural areas at particular risk. Oftentimes necessary medical treatment is only available at a hospital in a larger city. An ever -increasing necessity to provide lifesaving care in such circumstances is the use of air ambulances. However, the cost of such services has skyrocketed in recent years with some estimates indicating the average cost of the same to be $40,000. Charges vary depending on the number of miles traveled, the personnel involved in the transport, length of time in the air and the individual air ambulance provider.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FROM THESE HIGH COSTS?
There are various solutions one can consider in this regard. Some of them are as follows:
- BUY GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE: Given the high price of health insurance for many this is easier said than done. But those who can afford good health insurance should make obtaining the same a priority for them and their family. However, even those who obtain such coverage will oftentimes have a high deductible and thus have a gap in their overall coverage.
- BUY MEDICAL PAYMENTS INSURANCE ON YOUR AUTOMOBILE POLICY: This is an often overlooked and affordable solution for many. What is called “Med Pay” coverage is an add on option in automobile insurance policies. A key component is that it pays medical expenses for those injured in an automobile accident REGARDLESS OF WHO IS AT FAULT. Such policies typically have NO DEDUCTIBLE. Such coverage tends to be affordable and is offered at various dollar levels. The cautious person would be wise to obtain as large amount of Med Pay coverage as they can afford.
- BUY UNINSURED MOTORIST PROTECTION: While such coverage (UM for short) will not immediately pay a medical bill, such coverage will be available when the at fault party that caused an automobile accident is either uninsured or underinsured. Funds will not be received until a case is settled. To prevent a set off whereby one’s UM coverage is not reduced by the amount of an underinsured at fault driver, one should buy “add on” UM coverage. Just as with Med Pay automobile coverage the cautious person should buy as much UM coverage as they can afford.
- BUY A SAFE CAR: While no vehicle can guarantee protecting one’s life and limb, it is a fact that statistically some cars are much safer than others. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has crash test data readily available on their website for all to peruse. Safety should always be a priority when selecting which car to own.
Remember that approximately 1 in 8 cars operating on Georgia roads has an uninsured driver behind the wheel. Also note that many Georgia drivers maintain the minimum liability insurance policy limits of $25,000. The cost of an air ambulance ride alone is much more than this. Those seriously injured in rural accidents may also face financial ruin unless they have sufficient insurance to protect their assets.
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