Child's Medevac Costs Arizona Family Nearly $50K

FLAGSTAFF, AZ — A sore throat became exceedingly expensive for an Arizona family late last year. Ezra Brunner had a sore throat on Christmas Day, according to reports, and it ended up with a $47,000 helicopter ride.

Ezra's cough worsened over night, and his parents got an ambulance to take him to Verde Valley Medical Center. Ezra was diagnosed with the croup, a respiratory infection.

The hospital didn't have a pediatric unit, though, and he was in critical condition. Doctors recommended Ezra be airlifted to a Flagstaff hospital.

"I heard 'helicopter' and thought, 'That's probably not cheap,'" Dave Brunner, Ezra's father, said.

It was. The 15-minute helicopter ride cost $47,000, according to AZ Central. The Brunner family's insurance policy only paid for $5,000 of the helicopter ride.

"I don't want to bankrupt my family," Dave Brunner said, according to AZ Central. "This company was our only option because of the emergency. ... We had insurance, did everything we were supposed to do, and still are left with a $42,000 bill." Brunner is an associate pastor at a Baptist church.

The bill was eventually reduced by the company and the Brunners' insurers amid pressure after the Arizona Republic and other media picked up the story.

"I don't want them to do this to anyone again," Brunner said, according to AZ Central, as a part of an effort to pressure Air Methods, the company that transported Ezra, to change their business practices.

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