Carnival Cruises  does not operate its own air ambulance service; instead, medical flights are carried out by third-party providers like Aeromed, which is a fully licensed and insured air ambulance service.

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Air ambulance Transport,Medical evacuation, often referred to as medevac or medivac, is only required when a medical condition cannot be adequately treated aboard a Cruise ship.

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It involves moving a patient  from the cruise to the closest port for medical stabilization and then fly the patient to another location with a higher standard of care.

 

Carnival Cruise Line works with local and military emergency services, such as the US Coast Guard or Air Force, for medical evacuations at sea.These are often performed for critical medical situations, with the ship sometimes diverting to the nearest port for a faster transfer.Passengers are responsible for the costs, which can be thousands of dollars, and travel insurance is highly recommended.  

How air ambulances work for Carnival cruises

• No ship-based helipads: 

  Carnival cruise ships do not have helipads, so evacuations require a helicopter to be dispatched to the vessel from shore. 

• Emergency services coordination: 

  Carnival's medical team will contact the appropriate authorities to coordinate a rescue. The US Coast Guard or Air Force are often involved, especially for incidents far from shore. 

• Ship diversion: 

  Depending on the situation and location, the ship may divert to the nearest port to transfer a patient to a land-based hospital and then Aeromed will pickup the patient to conduct the air medical transport by air ambulance.

• Cost responsibility: 

  The passenger is responsible for the costs associated with a medical evacuation, which can be very expensive, especially for international flights. 

• Aeromed Membership  is crucial: 

  It is highly recommended to have aeromed membership that covers medical evacuation to avoid significant out-of-pocket expenses. Some credit cards and health plans may offer this coverage, but it is important to check the policy details. 

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Air ambulance dispatch should be based on the patient´s specific  needs rather than restrictive policies. Avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and poor decisions made by untrained coordinators who merely follow a flowchart.

 

Contact us immediately to confirm eligibility benefits, as most transports occur within 12 hours once benefits are verified.

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If you're planning to travel on Carnival cruises consider purchasing our air ambulance membership for additional health coverage.

 

Air ambulance costs can vary greatly on flight distance, provider location, and your insurance coverage. Without insurance, expenses can be exorbitant, potentially ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands dollars for a single flight.

 

It's crucial to contact us right away to assess your insurance coverage.

We will review your policy to clarify your specific air ambulance benefits and any out-of-pocket costs.

Factors influencing costs include: 

 

• Distance: Longer distances generally result in higher costs.

• Provider: Different air ambulance companies have varying pricing structures Aeromed strives to keep rates competitive and minimize out-of-pocket expenses.

• Insurance Coverage: For Carnival patients, we recommend  you to call us immediately. Our insurance specialists will review your plan and clarify the terms regarding air transport, as coverage can vary. We will submit a detailed bill for air ambulance services and diligently follow up with the united Healthcare  until the claim is resolved.

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 Clinical Guidelines, when to call Aeromed  Air Ambulance while on a Carnival cruise

Emergency air transport from a Carnival Cruise Ship is clinically indicated when the patient’s condition is such that the medical condition poses a threat to the patient’s survival or seriously endangers the patient’s health.

 

Carnival Air ambulance transportation services, either by means of a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft, is medically necessary on any the following:

A. Port to Hospital Air Transport
An air transport from the closest port to a hospital is clinically indicated if the patient is critically ill or injured aboard a carnival cruise ship

B. Hospital to Hospital Air Transport
An air ambulance transport from a local hospital to another hospital is clinically indicated if the patient requires advanced medical care not available locally.
 

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