AirEvac bill from Heart Attack Help
My name is Jessika Holmes and I am a 19 year old student of Jacksonville State University. On January 3rd, 2016 the unthinkable happened. My 47-year old father (David Holmes) had a heart attack. He woke me at 6 am and asked me to check his blood pressure. It was 89/36. I made him lay down on the couch and went to wake my mother. As I returned to my living room couch where he was laying, he began to seize. I knew in that moment that he was having a heart attack. There was not enough blood getting to his brain and I was terrified that he was going to die. I called 911 immediately. I rode in the ambulance with him to the hospital and heard the paramedic call in and say the magic words that confirmed my fear "myocardial infarction"- Heart attack. I was sent into the ER waiting room as they admitted him in to the back. After I called my Uncle, I went to the desk to ask if I could go back. They allowed me to. There were 2 doctors and several nurses with him. I watched them work, held his hand, and told him it was going to be okay as I watched the strongest man I have ever known beg them to help him and tell them that he was dying in his few lucid moments. I refused to cry. I had to be strong for him. And I did not cry for several weeks. The doctors at Cullman Regional saved my father's life when they had me sign a form allowing them to give him a medicine that broke the clot- a thrombolytic. My father was then flown by Air Evac to Princeton- a 15 minute, 52 mile flight. In the meantime, I drove my sobbing mother to Princeton Hospital. Because of the quick actions of the paramedics, doctors at the Cullman ER, and Dr. Brantley at Princeton my father not only survived a 100% blockage of his Right Coronary Artery, but Dr. Brantley was able to clear it WITHOUT open heart surgery. We were very lucky and very blessed. Though my dad did not like ObamaCare, we were all grateful that he had insurance and we would not go bankrupt over this.
Then, all the bills came in.
All of the services accepted Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama's payments and sent us reasonable bills. Except Air Evac. Our total bill for this 52 mile ride was $37,543.97- more than my family makes in a year. After some research we found that the average cost for a 55 mile ride from other air ambulance providers is only $2,500. Blue Cross paid Air Evac $9,096.04 leaving us a balance of $28,447.93. Because they are considered an out of network provider,they accepted this amount and are now after my family for over $28,000. We are honest people and believe in paying our debts, but this company is taking advantage of people in need- Blue Cross has paid them almost 4xs what this ride should have cost. You would really change my life for the better if you would help in any amount. Honestly, I am ashamed to be putting this up, but we are out of options.
We are attempting to negotiate with them but Lawyers have told us we have basically no case.
Please sign my petition about this on Change.org
