Member Services
1. EMERGENCY AIR TRANSPORTATION *
First Flight Air Ambulance C0. Ltd. will provide Emergency Air Transportation for seriously ill or injured members in need of life-saving medical attention, confirmed by the attending physician and First Flight’s Medical Director to the nearest medical facility in the United States capable of treating that ill or injured member by medically equipped and staffed air ambulances through our international provider Aero Jet International of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Members are covered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at home or away from home while travelling on business or pleasure.
2. TRAVEL EXPENSE
First Flight will provide a miscellaneous travel expense of US$300.00 for anyone accompanying a sick or injured member travelling by air ambulance.
3. COMMERCIAL AIR TRANSPORTATION
First Flight will refund 100% of a member’s commercial airfare should a member travel overseas for medical attention. spending 24 hours in a medical facility outside of Trinidad & Tobago. This benefit also includes Canada.
4. HELICOPTER TRANSPORTATION
This benefit was created by First Flight for members residing in Tobago who may need to come to Trinidad at a moments notice for urgent medical attention and who cannot fly commercially, as well as Trinidad members who may be holidaying or on business in Tobago and need to get back to Trinidad urgently, again for medical attention. This benefit also extends to members living in twin island states in the Caribbean.
5. GROUND TRANSPORTATION
First Flight will cover the cost of ground ambulance transportation from hospital to airport (Benefit #1)
6. RETURN TRANSPORTATION
First Flight will transport members following in-patient medical confinement by common air carrier to the point of origin or to a commercial airport nearest the member‘s residence.
7. NON-INJURY TRANSPORTATION
First Flight will provide a commercial return ticket for family member or anyone selected to visit if the member is confined to a medical facility for more than 7 days outside of the member‘s place of residence.
8. REPATRIATION/RECUPERATION*
When a member is confined in a medical facility outside his place of residence and his attending physician along with First Flight’s Medical Director determines that it is medically necessary to transfer the member to a medical facility nearer his home to recuperate, First Flight will provide air transport for the member.
9. ESCORT TRANSPORTATION
In the event a member requires emergency air transportation, First Flight will provide transportation for a member s spouse or anyone else selected by the member to accompany the sick or injured member in flight, giving priority to the medical personnel and equipment provided for the welfare and safety of the member.
10. MINOR CHILDREN RETURN*
If a member utilizes First Flight emergency air transportation (Benefit #1) and minor children are left unattended, First Flight will provide one way commercial transportation for the return of the children to the airport nearest member’s place of residence. first Flight will also provide qualified personnel to accompany the children.
11. ORGAN RETRIEVAL**
First Flight will provide air transportation of a heart, lung, liver, kidney or pancreas.
12. ORGAN RECIPIENT TRANSPORTATION**
First Flight will provide air transportation for the member in need of the organ and a family member to the commercial airport nearest the medical facility of the organ transplant procedure.
13. MORTAL REMAINS*
In the event a member dies away from home, First Flight will provide payment of the air waybill of the member’s remains to the airport nearest the member’s place of residence as per address on application.
14. VEHICLE RETURN*
First Flight will provide vehicle return service for vehicles rented by the member if illness or injury requires the use of First Flight Air Ambulance service (Benefit #1). Cost of retum of vehicle by company or driver contracted by First Eight will be paid by First Flight
*Emergency Air Transportation, Repatriation/Recuperation, Minor Children Return, Vehicle Return & Mortal Remains Transportation will be provided anywhere in the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean (Cuba excluded), the Bahamas, Bermuda, Central America, Columbia and Venezuela.
** Organ Retrieval and Organ Recipient Transportation will be provided in the United States of America, Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Central America and Mexico.
Definitions
- Emergency Air Transportation means traveling from a suitable airport nearest the hospital where the member is hospitalized to the airport nearest the medical facility by medically equipped and snuffed air ambulances, or by common air carrier
- Serious illness or injury is a medical condition considered in the medical profession to Warrant transport to a medical facility equipped to handle the medical condition as recommended by the attending doctor, and in agreement with First Flight’s Medical Director that the flight is in the best interest of the member, and that the member is in a sufficiently stable condition for flight
- Medical Facility is a licensed institution operating according to the laws pertaining to hospitals maintaining the facilities necessary to provide for the diagnosis and treatment of sickness and/or injury under the supervision of doctors on an in-patient basis with continuous 24 hour nursing services.
- Member means a person who makes application for membership and whose application and membership fees have been received by First Flight.
- Family Membership means member, spouse and children up to age 23 at school – First Flight must be notified of any change in family status
- Spouse means being legally married or a common-law relationship
- Children means any child or children under the care of the member
- Residence means the address on application form filled out by member for applicant and family. Any change in residence must be submitted to First Flight in writing prior to any injury, illness or any other incident which may require First Flight Services
- Suitable airport means an airport which can safely accommodate the landing, ground service and maintenance requirements, as well as take off of the air ambulances
- In-patient means admission into a medical facility for at least 24 hours ~ out-patient visits are not considered in-patient.
General Provisions
- First Flight will provide its members with identification cards bearing the member’s name and membership number.
- All arrangements for transportation or services under First Flight’s Membership Agreement must be made by First Flight.
- Members agree to notify First Flight immediately of the need for emergency air medical transportation, specifying the nature of illness or injury. First Flight will require a reasonable period of time to properly initiate the member’s air medical transportation. Members must realize that absolute diligence is necessary in order to accommodate the medical emergency, and therefore requires immediate notice in order to prepare the member’s flight.
- First Flight is under no obligation to reimburse a member if the member authorizes, contracts or makes payment for any services not authorized by First Flight.
- In order to facilitate the providing of services, the member hereby authorizes any physician, medical attendant, hospital or anyone else to submit any and all information regarding the member’s physical condition.
- Members may receive reimbursement of membership fees within the first 10 days of coverage, providing the member has not received any of the services contained in the agreement. After the first 10 days of coverage, the member will not be entitled to reimbursement of membership fees for any reason.
- Return Transportation must occur within 30 days of discharge from in-patient medical facility confinement.
Exclusions
- Membership does not provide transportation for illness or injury arising out of or caused by:
- – Elective or cosmetic surgery
- – Treatment for mental illness or disease
- – Members receiving medical care and/or treatment for pre-existing conditions have a 90 day waiting period for services from the effective date of membership
- – Accidents which occur following the effective date of membership are covered immediately
- First Flight members in need of an organ transplant have a one year waiting period for Organ Retrieval and Organ Recipient Transportation Services
- Each member is entitled to two return flights per membership year, either by air ambulance or commercially by common air carrier
- Claims submitted after 180 days will not be entertained
Limitations On Liability
- First Flight will be diligent in selecting medical personnel and equipment to provide the described services. First Flight will not be liable for delayed arrivals or departures in transport if deemed unsafe by airport authorities or by the pilot due to operational conditions, Acts of God, mechanical failure, fire, flood, riot. labor dispute or any other cause beyond the control of First Flight
- All disputes shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance with the laws of Trinidad and Tobago
- Member Services shall become effective on the date the application and membership fees are received and approved by First Flight
- If legal action is brought by either party. it is agreed that the party in whose favor final judgment is rendered will be entitled to recover from the other party attorney‘s fees (reasonable) in addition to any other relief which may be awarded
- First Flight’s membership cannot be assigned by the member to anyone.