MASA

What MASA is

MASA sells emergency medical transportation memberships. It does not fly or drive ambulances itself: the footer on every page says "MASA is not a provider medical transportation and utilizes third-party transportation service providers. MASA does not own or lease any vehicles or aircrafts." What a membership buys is payment of the member's share of ambulance bills. The benefits page says "MASA will provide payment for the eligible out-of-pocket expenses incurred by air ambulance transportation services resulting from a serious emergency," with a matching benefit for ground ambulances. The same footer says "MASA, Medical Access & Service Advantage, and MASA Direct are fictitious names of MASA Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation," affiliated with Medical Air Services Association, Inc. and "MASA Insurance Services, Inc. (MISI) jurisdictional registrations in progress."

The about page says "In 1974 MASA pioneered the first prepaid membership program providing coverage for medical emergency air transportation costs," and the corporate page says the company operates "with 14 international locations and services in all 50 states and Canada" and "serves more than 2 million members." Its divisions are listed as "Group Benefits (U.S.) Consumer (U.S.) International."

The plans and prices

The compare plans page says "critical membership benefits are included in all four plans, Lifetime members pay one fee for lifetime protection. Emergency Shield Plus also offers additional services." The page prints prices for Emergency Shield Plus: "$63 single plan" and "$80 family plan" per month, or "$5,200 single plan" and "$6,400 family plan" for lifetime membership. It adds that "Pricing excludes one time initiation fee," that monthly plans "automatically renew each month, unless member cancels prior to the start of the next month," and that "Members 50 years of age or older are eligible to upgrade to our Lifetime Plan." Plans are paid by bank account or credit card, and the page gives 1-800-755-7857 for questions or purchase.

What the benefits cover

The benefits page lists what the plans can include, with the caution that "Membership benefits described below aren't available on all plans." Core benefits pay out-of-pocket costs for emergency ground and air ambulance transport and for physician-ordered hospital-to-hospital transfers "in cases where a specialized level of care is not available at their current facility." Air flights "must be ordered by a first responder or transferring physician who deems air transport as medically necessary."

A group of benefits applies when a member is hospitalized far from home. MASA "will help coordinate and provide payment for transportation by air or ground for a member to return home for continued care" when "hospitalized more than 100 miles away from home." Other listed benefits include a commercial flight home after discharge, a round-trip ticket for a visitor, return of a minor, a pet, or a vehicle or RV, extended-stay expenses for a hospitalization of "7 days or more," "up to $500" for post-admission continued care transport, and mortal remains transportation. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are covered "up to the age of 14," or up to 26 for grandchildren on Lifetime memberships, excluding the air ambulance benefits.

The travel side sits mainly in the Emergency Shield Plus plans. Worldwide emergency and hospital-to-hospital ambulance benefits, cruise ship evacuation "off a cruise ship in cases where a specialized level of care is not available on the ship," a flight back to rejoin the cruise, and transportation interruption expenses are each marked "Exclusive to Emergency Shield Plus membership plans." Worldwide ambulance cover takes a member "to the nearest and most appropriate medical facility or suitable airport while outside the United States." Lifetime plans add a nurse helpline, physician search, translation and a benefit where, if foreign currency is needed to prepay transport, "MASA will pay up to $50,000." Emergency Shield Plus Lifetime plans also pay "$5,000 when a member is admitted for an inpatient medical stay resulting from a serious emergency while outside the United States," limited to two payments per 12-month period. Several benefits carry limits of one or two reimbursements per 12 months.

Protection area and how claims work

The FAQ says "For most plans, the basic protection area for MASA includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean (excluding Cuba), the Bahamas, and Bermuda." Travelers going farther "must provide MASA with your itinerary 10 days before your trip to adjust your global emergency medical transportation protection area." The compare page defines worldwide protection as "any region with the exclusion of Antarctica and not prohibited by U.S. law or under certain U.S. travel advisories as long as the member has provided ten (10) day notice."

In an emergency, the FAQ says "call 911 and get yourself or your loved one to the hospital," then send the ambulance bill to MASA, adding "please refrain from paying your ambulance bill." Bills go to ambulanceclaims@masaglobal.com, by fax or by mail to Sunrise, Florida, or through the member portal. The about page says "You simply send us the bill, and we'll get you a complete payout within 30 days of approval." MASA says it works "with all emergency transportation providers," which matters when an ambulance is out of network for a member's health plan. The FAQ explains why that gap exists: "The ambulance that picks you up may be out-of-network, the reason for your trip may not be deemed a medical necessity, or you might still have to meet your health insurance deductible." Members call MASA directly in a few cases, per the FAQ: "if you are in stable condition and the doctor wants to send you to a different medical facility for specialized care," or when hospitalized more than 100 miles from home and needing a different hospital, a family member at the bedside, or a return home.

Final Expense insurance

Separately, the licensed agency MASA Insurance Services, Inc. (National Producer Number 19897480) sells Final Expense whole life insurance, letting buyers "Select coverage from $2,500 to $50,000 in any whole-dollar amount," for issue ages 50 to 85, with premiums "from $30" a month, which "vary by state, age, and underwriting." The insurance page lists travel insurance as "Coming soon."

Who it suits

MASA fits a US household that wants its share of ambulance bills paid, including out-of-network ambulances, with a Lifetime option open from age 50. For travel, the Emergency Shield Plus plans carry the worldwide, cruise and interruption benefits, and trips outside the basic area need 10 days' notice. Apart from the $5,000 inpatient payment on Emergency Shield Plus Lifetime plans, it pays transport and related costs, not hospital treatment.