Air ambulance offers annual membership
McCOOK, Nebraska -- For an annual fee, LifeTeam Critical Care Transport offers a membership program that pays for the cost of an emergency air flight or the portion of the cost of a flight not covered by insurance.
Chanel Choitz of McCook, Nebraska, who directs LifeTeam's marketing and membership development, told Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning that the membership program is offered to individuals ($50 per year), couples ($55) and households ($60); and to businesses and governmental entities which can decide to offer the opportunity to its employees to purchase memberships, or to pay for membership as part of the employees' benefit package, either option costs $35 per employee/household.
Choitz said the cost of an emergency flight can be upwards of $20,000 to $30,000. Distance from larger hospital facilities is a fact of life in rural Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. "It's a real part of living out here," she said. "If that time comes, membership can make a very significant difference," Choitz said.
LifeTeam crews are based in McCook and fly a fixed-wing airplane from McCook's airport.
Chanel is in charge of marketing and membership development for LifeTeam; her husband is a pilot.
Commissioners will research the county's insurance plan and readdress the subject at 9:15 a.m. Dec. 16.