In limited cases, Medicare Part B covers transportation in an air ambulance. The service must be medically necessary, meaning that you require immediate and rapid ambulance transportation that could not be provided by a ground ambulance. More specifically, the service must be needed either because:

• A ground ambulance cannot get to you where you are
• Or, there is a great distance to travel or another obstacle involved in getting you to the nearest appropriate facility.

In rural areas, you automatically meet the medical necessity requirement if:

• A doctor or other medical professional determines that air transport is necessary due to time and/or geographical factors
• And, the air transport meets Medicare-approved air ambulance requirements