REACH Membership

REACH for Life Membership Frequently Asked Questions

What is REACH for Life?
REACH for Life is a membership program that covers the financial gap between what your health insurance covers and what you would be billed in the event of an emergency air ambulance transport by REACH. Membership costs $50 a year for a family or an individual. Discounts are available for groups. Groups must initially have a minimum of 25 people join at one time in order to receive a group discount.

How much does REACH for Life membership cost?
A membership costs $50 per year for a family or an individual. A family membership covers the Primary Member, their husband or wife (or domestic partner), and other family members who live in the same residence. Please contact us to discuss discounted rates for groups of 25 or more people.
REACH Membership

What does my membership fee cover?
As a member of our REACH for Life program with current health insurance coverage, you pay no additional fees for an emergency air medical transport provided by REACH. We will bill your insurance carrier and accept their payment as payment in full. If you are a REACH for Life member without health insurance at the time of transport, we will bill you for fifty percent of the transport cost; the balance is covered by your membership fee.

Does my REACH for Life membership cover an emergency flight on any helicopter?
No. Your enrollment covers only emergency or physician-approved medically necessary flights provided by REACH Air Medical Services. We strongly recommend you purchase a membership in all air ambulance providers that serve your area. REACH for Life covers only emergency or physician-requested medically necessary air ambulance transport. It does not cover you for a ground ambulance transport.

What does emergency air ambulance transport cost?
The cost of an emergency air ambulance transport varies. The typical charge can be several thousand dollars.

Does my health insurance cover the cost of an air ambulance flight?
Some health insurance companies do provide coverage for emergency air ambulance flights, but the amount of coverage varies. We suggest you contact your health insurance provider to find out if you are covered for an emergency air ambulance flight and if so, how much coverage is provided. Some health insurance companies pay only a small portion while others pay the full amount. If you do not have current health insurance at the time of transport, membership covers fifty percent of the total charges of an emergency air ambulance transport by REACH; you will be responsible for the remainder of the bill.

What kinds of memberships are available?
You can choose an individual or family membership. A family membership covers the Primary Member, their husband or wife (or domestic partner), and other family members who live in the same residence. Family membership does not cover relatives who do not live in the same residence as the Primary Member. Gift and group memberships are also available. Please call us to discuss a plan that’s right for you.

Do I need to carry proof of membership?
No. Membership cards are not required to receive service. In an emergency, dial 911. You will not be asked whether or not you are a member when receiving emergency service. In the event you are in a hospital, and your physician needs to transport you elsewhere based on medical necessity, let them know you are a REACH for Life member and they can request our service. As a member with current health insurance, you will not be charged for any emergency flight requested by your physician. If you do not have health insurance at the time of the flght, we will bill you for fifty percent of the transport cost; the balance is covered by your membership fee.

What geographic area is covered by REACH?
REACH provides emergency air medical transportation using helicopters or airplanes based throughout California, as well as in Oregon and Texas. Helicopters provide transport for critically ill or injured patients to and from hospitals within 200 miles of each base. Airplanes provide transport to and from hospitals within 600 miles of the base. View our Service Areas page for more details on geographic coverage areas.

REACH provides service from bases in California, Oregon, and Texas:

REACH 1 in Santa Rosa, CA provides service up to 200 miles from its base. The service area includes, but is not restricted to, the following counties: Marin, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Colusa and Yolo.
REACH 2 in Stockton, CA can provide service up to 200 miles from its base. The service area includes, but is not restricted to, the following counties: San Joaquin, Yolo, Sacramento, Amador, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Contra Costa, Solano, and Alameda.
REACH 3 in Concord, CA can provide service up to 200 miles from its base. The service area includes, but is not restricted to, the following counties: Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano.
REACH 5 in Redding, CA can provide service up to 200 miles from its base. The service area includes, but is not restricted to, the following counties: Shasta, Lassen, Modoc, Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, Plumas, and Tehama.
REACH 6 in Lakeport, CA can provide service up to 200 miles from its base. The service area includes, but is not restricted to, the following counties: Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Colusa, and Yolo.
REACH 7 in Olivehurst. CA can provide service up to 200 miles from its base. The service area includes, but is not restricted to, the following counties: Nevada, Yolo, Placer, Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Butte, Eldorado, Glenn, Tehama, and Sacramento.
REACH 8 in Corvallis, OR can provide service up to 200 miles from its base. The service area includes, but is not restricted to, the following counties in Western Oregon: Lane, Douglas, Coos, Lin, Marion, Polk, Lincoln, Tillamook, Clackamas, and Deschutes.
REACH 9 in Imperial, CA can provide service up to 200 miles from its base which includes Imperial County in southern California.
REACH 11 in Thermal, CA can provide service up to 200 miles from its base which includes communities throughout Riverside County and surrounding areas.
REACH 12/Methodist AirCare in San Antonio, TX can provide service up to 200 miles from its base which includes service to residents located throughout most of South Texas.
REACH 13 in Upland, CA can provide service up to 200 miles from its base which includes residents in San Bernardino County and the surrounding area.
REACH 14/The Woman's Hospital of Texas in Houston, TX can provide service up to 200 miles from its base which includes residents in Houston and the surrounding area.
REACH 15/Methodist AirCare 2 in Pearsall, TX can provide service up to 200 miles from its base which includes service to residents located throughout most of South Texas.
REACH 50 in Sacramento, CA provides airplane service throughout the western United States.

For more details, view our service areas.

What will I have to pay if I have Medicare and/or supplemental insurance?
REACH will bill Medicare and/or your supplemental insurance company. REACH for Life membership bridges the financial gap (including co-pays and deductibles) between what your health insurance provider covers and what you will be billed in the event of an emergency air ambulance transport by REACH. Your out-of-pocket expenses will be zero, whereas they could be thousands of dollars without the benefit of membership.

Can I join REACH for Life online?
Yes! New members may enroll online. Current members may renew online using your REACH for Life membership number and your last name. If you prefer, you may download a REACH for Life membership application and return it to us with your payment. If you have any questions about memberships or renewals, please call us at 866-767-3224.

How can I pay for my REACH for Life membership?
Payment for membership can be made by check or money order (payable to REACH for Life Membership), or by MasterCard, VISA, Discover or American Express credit cards.

Can I purchase a REACH for Life Membership as a gift?
Yes. You can purchase gift memberships. Please call us for details.

What are the guidelines for a family membership plan?
A family membership covers the Primary Member, their husband or wife (or domestic partner), and other family members who live in the same residence. Family membership does not cover relatives who do not live in the same residence as the Primary Member.

When applying for group memberships, does each member of the group need to fill out an application and provide their signature along with payment?
Yes. We require all information for each member of a group. REACH for Life membership is effective only when we have received a member signature on the disclosure section of the application form or by agreeing to our online disclosure statement.

How can I contact you?
You can reach us by mail, phone, fax or email at the addresses below:

REACH Air Medical Services (Attn: Membership)
P.O. Box 49100
San Jose, CA 95161-9100

Phone: 866 767-3224 (866 76-REACH)
Fax: 707 324-2487
Email: membership@REACHair.com
Billing Questions:
Call: 800 811-4045 (HSI – Health Services Integration, Inc.)
Visit: Patient Billing Services and Questions

When does my REACH for LIFE membership become effective?
If you join online, your REACH for Life membership is active the same day. If you mail your payment, your membership becomes effective seven business days after receipt of your payment and signed application form.

What expenses does REACH for Life membership cover?
REACH for Life membership bridges the financial gap (including co-pays and deductibles) between what your health insurance provider covers and what you will be billed in the event of a transport by REACH. Your out-of-pocket expenses will be zero, whereas they could be thousands of dollars without the benefit of membership. For REACH for Life members who do not have current health insurance at the time of transport, membership covers fifty percent of the total charges of an emergency air transport by REACH; you will be responsible for the remainder of the bill.

What do I do if I am transported by REACH?
Our membership and billing staff work closely together so that in most cases there is no action needed on your part. We will bill your insurance and accept what they pay as payment in full. For REACH for Life members who do not have current health insurance at the time of transport, membership covers fifty percent of the total charges of an emergency air transport by REACH; you will be responsible for the remainder of the bill. For additional patient billing questions and services, please click here.

If a physician determines that I need to be transported from one hospital to another by air ambulance, can I request REACH?
Yes. Please advise the referring physician or hospital that you have a REACH for Life membership and request they call REACH. We suggest you supply your membership information to the admitting clerk at the hospital so your physician is aware you belong to the REACH For Life membership program.

What is Referral Management?
When you are in need of emergency transfer to a hospital providing specialty services, REACH can assist your physician in finding an appropriate receiving facility and physician. REACH also completes certain arrangements required to coordinate your entire transport. This allows your physician and their staff to continue to focus on you and the care you need.

Will REACH always be sent to pick me up if I am ill or injured?
In an emergency, always call 911. Your local Emergency Medical Services Agency has a system which ensures you will receive the most rapid response when time matters most. In most cases the closest appropriate air ambulance will be sent to your location regardless of the provider. We cannot guarantee this will be REACH. We strongly recommend you purchase a membership in all air ambulance providers that serve your area.

If I do not have insurance, will REACH still pick me up?
Yes – REACH responds to patients who need emergency air ambulance transport regardless of their ability to pay. If you have a REACH for Life membership but do not have current health insurance at the time of transport, you will be billed for 50% of the charges of the flight by REACH.