Before purchasing a medical helicopter membership, there are several more important things you should know:

• If another helicopter service transports you, your membership will probably not cover the cost of the transport.

• If the hospital you are being transported to does not have a helipad, or if the helipad is occupied by another helicopter, you may need to be transported from where your helicopter will land by a ground ambulance that is not covered by your membership.

• Even if you are flown by your membership helicopter, you could still be billed for part or all of your flight if you haven't met your plan's deductible, or if it is later determined that your condition did not meet the life- or limb-threatening criteria set forth by the seller of your plan.

• If you buy a membership, your insurance company will still be billed for the full-cost of your transport by your membership service.

Check with your insurance company before purchasing a medical helicopter membership.

Questions you should ask (and you may want to get the answers in writing):

• Who pays when I need medical helicopter transport if your helicopter is not available or not used?

• If ground ambulance transport is required between the accident scene or hospital and the helicopter, who pays for the ground ambulance?

• Under what circumstances would you still bill me for a medical helicopter transport? What if someone later determines that medical helicopter transport wasn't medically necessary?

• Will anyone (such as the police department, fire department, or EMS) bill me for helping to land the helicopter?