[pct-l] Cost of a SAR airlift

[abiegen at cox.net]

On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 11:36 AM, Steven M. Ratner <smr at calelderfirm.com> wrote: 
> Just curious.  What does an airlift out of the trail cost?  Is it covered 
> by health insurance?  Or just provided as a free gov't service like calling 
> the fire dept. 

Here's my costs from my 2010 air rescue from Apache Peak after sliding down 100 feet and damaging by ankle.

1, Air Rescue by CalFire to their Hemet base - $0.00 - They treated it as a training mission.
2. Ambulance from CalFire base to hospital in Hemet -  $0.00 - Aetna Insurance covered this. Between my company and my portion we pay $13,000 a year for this privilege. 
3. Emergency room and x-rays - $100 - my copay; Aetna Insurance covered the rest. Again, my portion of my medical insurance was much greater than all the costs incurred in this rescue and anything else for the year.. Aetna has consistently made a profit off of me for the last 15 years.
4. Taxi from Hemet hospital to Idyllwild  - $120

So out of pocket, the taxi was the most expensive part for me. I don't think there were any socialists or liberals involved; at least, they never sent me a bill. The capitalists send me a bill every year before anything happens.

TrailHacker
--
"When my feet hurt, I can't think straight"
Abraham Lincoln