Request Assistance

Patients are provided with gas cards, or commercial bus or Amtrak tickets to medical-related treatment. These trips are for non-local medical care more than 50 miles away. Gas cards are also available for multiple trips to local treatment to the same treating facility and must be equal or over 100 miles. 

Please carefully note the following Angel Wheels’ guidelines for ground transportation assistance. 

This is a financial need-based program that provides travel assistance to medical appointments over 50 miles away in the form of gas cards, bus, and train tickets. We require a minimum of 14 business days’ to process all requests. If you are applying for a train or bus ticket, these will be emailed to you via an E-ticket. Gas cards are mailed to the address on file, please allow for mailing delays and kindly note that this program is a reimbursement program and your gas card may not arrive before your travel date. It is important to also note that we can only assist with travel within the month that you are applying for and cannot back date to a previous month.  

**Please be advised that if you are traveling over 300 miles one way, your application will be referred to our volunteer pilot program. If you are traveling over 900 miles one way, your application will be referred to our commercial flight program. A coordinator from the respective program will be in contact with you within the next 24 hours.** 

Below is the documentation required to process your application, applications will not be processed without ALL the below: 

• Appointment Verification - Please provide a formal confirmation from your treating facility with scheduled appointment date(s) and time. For some facilities, you may access via My Chart and a screenshot or photo will suffice (please include your name in screenshot). We do not accept handwritten confirmation, it must be in the form of a letter, appointment schedule or via email directly from the facility. 
• Income verification (Gross) - Angel Wheels requires the following documents for the total household/everyone living in the home, to verify income. Please submit one set of documents listed in either row A, B, or C.    

 A.) 2023 Tax Return- All pages.

B.) Social Security Benefit or Disability Statement along with non-filling letter. This letter can be obtained at www.IRS.gov and verifies you did not file a tax return.  

C.) Social Security Benefit or Disability Statement paired with your last 3 months bank statements.

Please choose one set of documents from either row A, B, or C.   

Documentation can be submitted by upload, using this link, via email, or faxed to 855-827-6026.

Ground Coordination Team 

Angel Wheels                                    

Office 800-296-3797

Fax 855-827-6026

ground@mercymedical.org

Patients (with or without escort) must be ambulatory and require no medical monitoring or care during the flight. Mercy Medical Angel’s program Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic serves the residents of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Delaware, Michigan, Ohio, Washington, DC and in North Carolina and Tennessee as Airlift Hope. 

Please carefully note the following guidelines and documents required below. 

Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic requires a minimum of 10 days to consider flight assistance. If your application was received within this window please expedite the following documentation:

• Medical Clearance Form – AFMA requires the completion of an medical clearance form from the doctor who has most recently seen the patient and is aware of their travel request for medical treatment/appointment. Said form will be faxed directly to the doctor from MMA upon receipt of your application. Please ensure the fax number of your releasing physician is correct.
• Appointment Verification - Please provide a formal confirmation from your treating facility with scheduled appointment date(s) and time. This can be faxed or emailed to my contact info below. For some facilities, you may access via My Chart and a screenshot or photo will suffice (please include your name in screenshot). We do not accept handwritten confirmation, it must be in the form of a letter, appointment schedule or via email directly from the facility. 
• Income verification (Gross) – Angel Flight requires the following documents for the total household/everyone living in the home: 2023 tax return(s) including schedule C/D/E showing gross income (if filed), 2023/2024 Social Security award letters, pension, IRAs, stocks, etc. We also accept your 3 most recent bank statements. 
• IRS transcript of filing or non-filing. Please visit the following website: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript You will have to create a login and provide them with your tax information (if filed) and some identifying information in order to obtain your transcript or letter. When you receive your copy please email the email below.

Documentation can be submitted via email back to afmalogistics@mercymedical.org or faxed to 855-827-6026.

**All documentation is required 7 days before departure to move forward with your flight request.**

What to expect when you fly with Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic:

Your pilot arranges the flight schedule:

After you have been approved for a flight and AFMA has received the completed application, financial documentation and signed medical clearance from the patient’s physician, we will start reaching out to pilots to volunteer for your flight dates. Once a pilot has accepted the assignment, he or she will contact you directly, and all travel arrangements from that point on will be made between the pilot and you.

You need to have a back-up plan:

Your flight is not guaranteed. Pilots make the final decisions about the execution of their trips. A pilot may delay or cancel a flight because of bad weather or other critical factors. We ask our passengers either to have a back-up plan, or to be able to re-schedule their appointments. We may have a commercial flight option available as a back-up plan, if you are interested, please respond via email notifying the coordinator. 

Smaller plane, longer travel time:

Travel is in a small private aircraft that probably has from four to six seats. These aircraft are not as fast or as large as a commercial airplanes, so the flying time to your destination may be a bit longer than you anticipated.

Weight limitations:

A small plane is far more limited in the amount of weight it can carry than a large commercial jet. Because of this, you need to limit your luggage to a maximum of 50 lbs. total luggage. Luggage must be soft-sided and no larger than what would be allowed on a commercial airplane as a carry-on. These limitations will be strictly enforced. Oxygen, crutches, car seats, strollers, and other such items can be accommodated if you let us know before your flight is scheduled. In addition, please be prepared to confirm with the pilot your weight, as well as the weights of anyone else who is flying with you.

Entering the airplane:

In order to board the aircraft, you may have to step up onto a wing that is 16 to 20 inches above the ground, crouch slightly to fit through a small door, then lower yourself into the back seat. If you or one of your traveling companions cannot perform these movements, that person will not be able to fly with us.

Noise during the flight:

If you’ve never flown on a small aircraft before, you’ll discover that it’s a much different experience than flying on a large commercial jet. The engine noise on small planes can be loud enough to prevent you from having a normal conversation. Some pilots will provide you with headphones to wear during the flight, which will enable you to communicate with the pilot and other passengers, as well as serving to block out most of the noise. If you wish, you can also bring your own ear plugs. On some planes, you might hear different sounds from the engine as it changes speed. Be aware that, for safety reasons, some pilots request that you do not talk during take-off and landing, or even throughout the entire flight. Your pilot will inform you of his or her specific requirements.

Turbulence during the flight:

Small planes are more susceptible to air turbulence than large ones, so you might experience more “bumps” than you’re used to. These motions are perfectly normal and no cause for alarm.

Temperature during the flight:

Some, but not all, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic planes have heated cockpits, and most do not have air conditioning. Consequently, it can be chilly inside the plane because of the altitude, even if it isn’t cold on the ground. And on a hot, sunny summer day, the temperature onboard can be quite warm. To ensure that you’re comfortable during the flight, please ask your pilot about the best type of clothing to wear.

Rideshare/Uber guidelines: 

This is a financial need-based program that provides round trip Uber assistance from the Airport/FBO to the facility (hospital/treatment center). Please see below following guidelines:

• It will be in the form of a voucher that you can upload to your Uber account.
• This voucher will be emailed to you and can be used for round trip only, we will not be able to further assist you for more than 2 trips.
• It is limited to use of a regular sized car and only valid for your travel dates.
• Tips given will come out of your Uber account and will not be covered by the voucher.
• Any extra charges to your account will not be refunded by our organization and you will need to speak with Uber directly regarding this.
• It is limited to $60 and will only cover a maximum of $30 one way. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email. We am happy to assist you in any way that we can.