Hawaii's visitors to pay for emergency helicopter extractions

[Kerry]

New report I'd like to read:

Hawaii's legislators approved a law that will charge visitors who requires airborne medical evacuation to pay for the pilot and crew, the EMS medic, and the costs to fuel and operate a helicopter. Such costs per rescue are typically around $25,000.00.*

Visitors are advised to include hiking-sports medical evacuation coverage in their trip insurance. It's irresponsible to expect Hawaii's tax-paying residents to pay $25,000.00 for one's sporting "accident." Hawaii residents pay for such services via their state taxes.

The Coast Guard does not levy charges for air or sea rescues.

* The seemingly exorbitant fee covers a number of expenses—essentially, a privately chartered flight or ambulance with the benefit of expensive life-saving equipment and highly skilled, trained pilots and medical professionals. —medical-evacuation-costs

Last edited 10/23/24