Air Methods

On August 19th, 2018 I was involved in an accident that left my face with 2nd degree surface burns. I was driven by a friend to the closest hospital, ***, and seen to in the ER there. They checked my throat passages and eyes - all clear - I was not at risk for complications due to smoke inhalation or other dire side effects of the burn - I was stable and non-critical. I was given morphine for the pain and told that they would still have to transfer me to *** hospital, which had a burn specialist. I was told it would be about a 40 minute ambulance ride and that my friend could come with me.
A few minutes later, two men come in and strap me into a gurney, say that my friend can't come with me, and wheel me out and shove me in the butt of a helicopter. Once arrived at ***, I was waiting for over 45 minutes to be seen - further evidence that my condition was NOT flagged as "critical".
I was billed $54,000 for this service, which I did NOT consent to. I do remember them shoving a clipboard in my face but I was already under the influence of morphine and they did not tell me that a helicopter was involved when they passed it to me. I'm positive whatever they have on there is not even my signature, as my motor functions were already impaired by the morphine. My insurance paid them $16,000, and despite my insistence they said they could not pay more because it was not deemed a medical emergency. Now they are hounding me for the remaining $38,000, and my credit has taken a nosedive.
$38,000 is more than my entire yearly salary after taxes. That's more than all of my student debt and credit card debt combined. I cannot pay this. IF I could say that this service "saved my life" and was necessary, I might feel like there is something to discuss. But I was clearly stable and not in need of this service, I was deceived and taken advantage of while under the influence of medical drugs and in a vulnerable position - "poached" by these air ambulance pilots, for lack of another word. Therefore, I do not feel responsible for this debt, feel it should be removed from collections.

My son was born in February of 2016. I had a perfect pregnancy with him but shortly after he was born he required oxygen to breath. He was in the nursery for about 9 hours before the doctor decided to transport him via helicopter to All Children’s Hospital where they determined he needed open heart surgery to correct his heart condition that we were not aware of. He was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. Several months after being home, I was made aware that the insurance was not going to cover the nearly $60,000 flight but after several appeals they finally paid the allowed amount for the flight to be covered. I was so relieved until I received a bill for the remaining amount owed. We are an average family and we don’t have roughly $52,xxx to just give away. I tried to come to an agreement but their settlement was still $29,xxx. That is just not possible. It has hit my credit and they keep increasing the amount owed. This is so unfair when already dealing with a child that has a medical condition that he has to live with for the rest of his life. The insurance paid and I don’t feel I should be responsible for the remaining.

I’m November 2106 I was in a bad car wreck . I was unconscious and flew by Rocky Mountain holdings to a hospital. My insurance payed around $1600 and I ended up paying $100 myself. I still owe around $39,000 and ive since not been able to work due to injuries from my accident and am unable to pay this balance

In October 2017, my son was admitted to a hospital in east Texas at three months old. The doctor's then informed me that they would need to air flight him to children's in Dallas. Once the helicopter arrive the flight medics loaded our son the proceeded for take off but the medics could not stabilize our son's condition and landed back at the hospital they just departed from, just to argue with the hospital staff on the next steps. Ultimately they flew to a different hospital that was only one hour away (by road) and after all the prep, take-off, landing, another take-off and landing. Our son could have ridden in an ambulance and arrived at the final destination one hour away in a much quicker manner.

Months later, my insurance denied the claim, stated the service was not covered, and we were never informed of this or any alternatives to a mode of transportation. Then Rocky Mountain Holdings began to bill me personally for the full amount of approximately $50,000 and after months of their negligence of trying to contact me via cell phone they turned the account over to collections and are not willing to adjust the billing to a more manageable amount, and this has now been on my credit report for nearly two years as a delinquent account.

I drive to fla hospital in kissimmee fl 5 min from home (my wife come with me) they said im in the middle of an heart attack and told me they need to send me to fla hospital by air in orlando fl, they knew I dont have any type of insurrance, well that 12 miles trip fk me up big time cause now I have those $41k in my credit.... here we have helicopters rides for $20 and I never ride 1 cause I scared of them much less want to ride a $41k trip.... thats ridiculous

Ralph M
$37,967.38 - start helicopter
$11,818.95 - 25.9 miles
$49,786.33 - total cost
$-4,151.98 - what medicare and supplement pay
$45,634.35 - what I owe
If I pay I lose a large portion of what I worked 50 years for.
They should be forced to tell you the approximate cost in writing BEFORE they are called.
Can't leave a 0 star rating?

Helicopter rides at the beach are $20/person for an hour... They billed me for $42,000 and I was unconscious... couldn't even enjoy the scenery... ill carry this debt to the grave

These people commit fraud. They have sent me to collections with a bill of $42,882.63 that I should not be reliable for. When I was in my car accident I told them that I am refusing for the helicopter twice and they still sent the helicopter out. I should not be reliable for services that I did not want and or can't afford to pay over forty-two thousand dollar debt. These people will make you suffer and still expect for you to pay thousands of dollars that clearly I can not pay. They also have said that they made phone calls and sent out letters which I never received but a few of them or phone calls that never went through to me as they said that they have. Prove to me that you have actually calls and talked to me of course, they can't because nobody has. Avoid this company they will destroy you. Remember they will commit fraud.

I was in a car accident where a different air transportation company other then Rocky Mountain holdings took me to the hospital. Yet I’m being billed 41,000 from them. This was over 3 years ago. Now that I’ve been working on fixing my credit, reopened the account after it being closed which cause my credit score to drop over 100 points immediately. How can they reopen an account once it’s been closed.

was in a coma in Cleveland Ohio and was life flighted from a smaller hospital to its larger campus in Cleveland Ohio in August 2015. My insurance paid 8 thousand dollars and said the rest was too high and unusual. We have sent the forms and all records needed to show that *** was unable to pay the balance of the bill. We haven't heard anything from anyone at Rocky Mountain Holdings for years but the bills are still on her credit as unpaid. I have tried on at least 20 occasions to get through to them but no one has responded. We sent the info again to them and still no response. She was a student at the time and had to go on public assistance for a year after due to rehabilitation. We would like for this to be taken off all major credit reporting agencies as well as a receipt from them showing nothing else is due.

$100,000 after we were struck head on by a dump truck who was minimally insured. I was air lifted and my six year old with a slight concussion. My hospital stay for the hospital was a $100,000 & I stayed one week in trauma. They are both ridiculous single mother of six survived death to be billed to death by this crooked billing.

I gave rocky mountain holdings my sons insurance information four times. Each time the requested information from the insurance company and when I contacted the insurance company and gave Rocky Mountain the information they never billed the insurance they kept sending me bills. Finally they sent it to collections. I am unable to pay the 49,500 bill hence having insurance.

Our insurance company was billed and paid for the air ambulance ride. They paid the allowable at 100% leaving a zero patient responsibility. We have been receiving calls daily this past week telling us we owe over $1,600 as a balance to them. We have explained the EOB several times already. Our daughter *** has been handling this matter for us and she worked in the medical reimbursement field for many years, if not we may have paid this bill. They are very persistent , they wanted to "settle in full today" for $800. *** explained the bill to them, they said they were not in network so we had a balance, when she told them her background and explained the fact that they received and accepted payment directly from the insurance company with an EOB that states zero responsibility, they said they would adjust the balance. Well they called again today and once again said they would adjust the balance. They provided a great service but they have quite a scam going on with their billing. I wonder what an audit of their collections would show? Do they return any of these over payments they are collecting from unsuspecting patients?

My son was injured in a boat accident and had to be airlifted to a trauma unit....a 30 minute transport. I asked, begged and pleaded to please send him by ambulance or we could have driven him. As a parent, your first priority is your child and you do anything to protect them, so I did what the ER told me to do and we used this air ambulance service. Their claim was for almost $70,000 and now I am on the hook for $42,000....after my insurance paid them what they where owed. I am not sure how this company is still in business, this debt will ruin me. I am a single mom who works full time and I PAY for my insurance (BCBS) and I just don't see how this is right.

My husband was airlifted in January 2017. We have been going back and forth with them about a $50 000 bill they charged us for a max 30 min ride. What the insurance paid them was not enough and they say we are liable for the remainder which is $30 000. They have been mailing us a packet to sign to appeal to our insurance. It has been signed at least 3 times and they only received the last time. Not once did they mention it was time sensitive. They never mentioned a deadline. If known, I would have called 2 days later to make sure it was received. Weeks would go by before getting any news. I feel they made the time go by so it would be too late for us to do anything else and they could get more money. Now they want a payment plan of $800/month. $50 000 for a helicopter ride is outrageous!!

My three year old son had to be air lifted from Pocono Medical Center to Lehigh Valley Hospital requiring emergency health treatment. When at Pocono we were told we could not drive him or use ground ambulance because of the necessity of time for our son to be treated. I do commend Pocono Medical Center for holding my sons health in his best interest. We flew to Lehigh Valley which was a 30 min flight and my son was treated. We then received a bill from Rocky Mountain Holdings (Air Methods) for 48,000+. The insurance would only approve 3,000 and my husband and I were told we would be responsible for the rest. My husband and I are both nurses and hold full time jobs. We would never withhold treatment for our children, and if it was told we must have our child treated immediately, we would follow what the physician is advising. How a company can charge this astronomical amount when the actual flight only costs around 12,000 is fraud. ( Much investigation was completed for this information). (ABC news had a documentary as well on this company). After multiple letters and phone calls my husband was finally able to overturn the insurance decision, and they paid out 45,000. I also commend Blue Cross PPO for giving our bill another consideration. We could not have been more grateful for this outcome from the insurance. However, despite the company receiving four times the amount of what the actual flight costs, we were till held responsible for the remaining balance . How a company in good conscience can gouge an insurance company and still expect payment, I cannot wrap my head around. As a parent we always want the best for our children and beyond that our family members as well. To know that if we were to need air transportation again for a loved one, and the bill will be over 48,000 makes me sick to my stomach. We were very lucky this time that our insurance company overturned the decision. Others are not so lucky. Shame on this company. How they can sleep at night knowing a life saving decision could put a family in financial ruins is sickening. I will pray for the forgiveness of all these employees and any individual who is associated with this company. Shame on the CEO

Hauled me 25 air miles and charged half a years income. They were not on any insurance list. They settled for a reduced amount in writing, then increased it by a huge amount when they found out I had $5,000.. medical coverage with my insurance. They placed a lien on that causing me to have a long delay in getting payment from my health insurance. My health insurance called them and paid 100% of the amount they claimed. Now, 2 years later they are harassing me again. I have heard nothing in 2 years and the claim was settled in full. I will ride a horse to the hospital before I will ride in one of their junk heaps again.

I provided Rocky Mountain Holdings LLC my medical insurance info by calling them and they collected my insurance info.
But they keep on sending enormous bill ($55,782.03) and refuse to take the bill from BCBS which will pay the flat fee.
I am thinking about joining a class action law suit if they keep on doing this.

I had a mild stroke, didn't really know I had a stroke till my wife took me to ER after checking BP. The local Hospital was not capable of handle any type of medical attention than a splinter. They contacted University of Louisville Hospital Stroke Center for medical care. The hospital said I would be transport by helicopter, I said No, my wife can drive me, I was fine. They replied cant let you do that, then I said ground Ambulance, they denied that request. Well after a 51 Rotor miles final bill came in at $44K+ bill. BCBS had an "agreement" with Rocky Mountain that they only pay $7500 and patient was responsible for the rest. I don't like the "Back Door" negotiations or refusing my alternative transportation requests. Plus they charged me for the Pilot, and 3 paramedics, they didn't have to do any medical procedures, it was simple a Taxi service, but got charge $35k for the paramedics. There isn't a Class Action Lawsuit against them in the State of KY as of yet. BCBS reason for only paying that amount was it was not deemed Medically Necessary. I'm sure the Health Insurance companies are getting a Kick Back by using this con-artist Rocky Mountain. Spread the word, get a written confirmation from your Health Insurance of what you will be expected to pay if this happens to your family.