US Medical Term · billing
Air Ambulance
Ambulancia Aérea
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Air Ambulance |
| Spanish (Español) | Ambulancia Aérea |
| Chinese (中文) | 空中救护车 |
| Korean (한국어) | 항공 구급차 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Xe cứu thương hàng không |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Air Ambulansya |
| Portuguese (Português) | Ambulância Aérea |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | รถพยาบาลทางอากาศ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 航空救急車 |
What it means
An air ambulance is emergency medical transport by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft, typically used when ground transport is too slow or impractical due to distance or terrain. Air ambulance rides are extremely expensive—often $30,000 to $100,000 or more—and have historically been a major source of surprise billing. The No Surprises Act, which took effect in 2022, extended federal surprise billing protections to most air ambulance services, limiting your out-of-pocket cost to your in-network cost-sharing amount even if the air ambulance provider is out of network. However, coverage can still vary, so always check whether your plan covers emergency air transport and what your maximum exposure is.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I was flown by air ambulance after my car accident, and the bill was over $50,000.
Me transportaron en ambulancia aérea después de mi accidente de carro, y la factura fue de más de $50,000.
The No Surprises Act limits what I owe for an out-of-network air ambulance.
La Ley de Sin Sorpresas limita lo que debo pagar por una ambulancia aérea fuera de la red.
Ask your insurer how it handles air ambulance claims before an emergency happens.
Pregúntele a su aseguradora cómo maneja los reclamos de ambulancia aérea antes de que ocurra una emergencia.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026