After learning of the financial burden that air ambulance billing can inflict on an individual, members of Gulf Shores Fire Rescue worked with city officials to instate the new policy, which ensures that the cost of an insured resident’s trip on any Medstar AirCare helicopter or ambulance to any hospital in the country is covered by the city.

"I've seen them from $20k to $27k, which the individual owed after insurance covered all it was going to cover. That can be life-altering. That can put somebody into bankruptcy," Deputy Chief Keith Martin with Gulf Shores Fire Rescue said. He added that thanks to the new strategy, residents were able to return home and focus on getting better, rather than fretting over their medical bills.

Medstar is part of the AirMedCare company, with whom the city of Gulf Shores struck its $163,000 deal. AirMedCare’s Wes McAden added that the membership provided an ideal solution for the city. “The city was looking for a solution in terms of how to help with the high cost of air ambulance service and that kind of rolled over into the cost associated with ground ambulance service as well. The air side of it we’ve done numerous times. The ground component is something that relatively new in terms of combining it with the air membership.”

Gulf Shores resident William Zishka also weighed in: "Our age in Gulf Shores seems to be going up and not down. Being able to not have to worry about the bills and things is just a really big comfort to people."