When Jeff Blankenhorn and his mother moved to the Rogue Valley late in 2004, they signed-up for Mercy Flights membership right away. Jeff explains, “My elderly mother has ongoing heart issues, and I personally experience debilitating migraines on a regular basis, so a family membership made sense for us.”

As a Customer Service Specialist for Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, Jeff is keenly aware of the limitations of health care coverage for emergency transportation. He explains, “Most insurance policies will only cover a percentage of the costs. Medicare patients are surprised to discover that the government will only pay for emergency ambulance services if the patient is actually transported to a hospital.” Mercy Flights members are spared out-of-pocket ambulance expenses when they have insurance benefits like Medicare.

As the Regence employee Group Membership Coordinator, Jeff encourages his fellow colleagues at Regence to take advantage of Mercy Flight’s cost-effective membership program. He realizes that very often people don’t give ambulance costs a second thought when planning their health care budget. Especially in these trying economic times it makes sense to take advantage of offers like Mercy Flights membership

The value of Mercy Flights membership took on a personal note for Jeff late this summer when he was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash. He was very impressed by the outstanding care he received from the Mercy Flights personnel. Jeff appreciated the caution they displayed before removing his helmet and the care they showed for his fractured right shoulder when moving him from the middle of the street. Jeff concludes, “Mercy Flights has always provided my family and I with rapid and professional care.”