12-05-2025
Life Flight and Medicare: Air ambulance costs
Medicare does not pay for a membership with Life Flight, a private air ambulance service that operates primarily in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West of the United States. However, Life Flight can help pay the remaining air ambulance fees after Medicare kicks in.
Medical transportation via helicopter or airplane may be needed if someone has an emergency in a place that is inaccessible to covered medical transportation. This can happen during bad weather or in locations where only an air ambulance can reach.
Since an air ambulance can be costly, even with Medicare coverage, a person may consider enrolling in a private ambulance service. This service can assist with any remaining expenses after Medicare coverage is applied.
However, an individual will need to pay an additional monthly fee for this service.
This article discusses the relationship between Medicare and private ambulance services like Life Flight. Does Medicare cover the cost of Life Flight?
Medicare does not cover the Life Flight membership fee. But during an emergency, Medicare might cover the cost of an air ambulance from Life Flight.
This typically happens if a person resides in an isolated or hazardous area and lives with a chronic condition that may require emergency air transport.
Private ambulance services like Life Flight step in to offer such emergency air transport options. These services bill Medicare for the flight and cover the person's remaining coinsurance. How much does it cost to fly in with Life Flight?
A basic Life Flight membership for an air ambulance costs $85 per month. A person can select a higher tier membership depending on their needs:
A person should be aware, though, that Life Flight only operates in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, serving the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. The service also partners with a few other air ambulance companies in California and Nevada. In Oregon specifically, a person can also enroll in ground transport only for a mid-tier fee.
Individuals wishing to enroll in private air ambulance services outside these states can explore available options in their area. These options have varying costs. When does Medicare cover being airlifted?
Generally, for people residing in a skilled nursing facility (SNF), the SNF is responsible for transport costs under Medicare Part A.
In other cases, though, ambulance coverage falls under Medicare Part B. This includes both emergency and nonemergency ambulance services when medically required. It also applies to air ambulance services in emergencies when ground ambulances cannot access the location.
A person enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan is entitled to the same coverage as Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). However, some Part C plans might require a person to use in-network ambulance services for coverage. » Learn more:Do Medicare plans cover medical transportation? How much does Medicare pay for medical transport for seniors?
Paying for transportation via an air ambulance can be costly out of pocket. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners notes that a 52-mile flight in an air ambulance can range from $12,000 to $25,000.
That said, if an individual has met their Medicare Part B deductible ($257 in 2025), Part B will cover 80% of this expense.
The remaining balance becomes the person's responsibility as coinsurance. At this point, a service like Life Flight could cover the remaining cost.
A person considering a membership with a service like Life Flight should remember that they must also pay their Part B premium to keep their Medicare coverage. In 2025, this premium begins at $185, depending on income.
This means that a person's total minimum monthly fee for Medicare Part B and Life Flight would be $185 plus the $85 Life Flight membership fee. This works out to $270 per month ($3,240 per year).
This amount will differ under Part C because these plans are managed by private insurers, meaning they have varying premiums, copays, and deductibles. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) states that the average monthly premium for Part C plans is approximately $17 in 2025.
In addition to enrolling in a Part C plan, individuals also still need to pay the Part B premium. Some Part C plans might cover this Part B premium for them.
Given the high costs associated with air ambulances, individuals might consider joining a private ambulance service that can help pay the remaining expenses after Medicare covers its portion. However, this typically involves an extra monthly fee that Medicare does not cover.
Life Flight is a private air ambulance service primarily serving the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West of the United States. It can assist with covering the remaining air ambulance expenses after Medicare has been applied.
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