Although MASA Medical Transport Solutions (MTS) may be a new name to many Central Oregon residents, the global company has been a leader in the pre-paid medical transportation industry since 1974. MASA MTS supports regional employers with one comprehensive membership that covers out-of-pocket costs for emergency air and ground medical transportation, regardless of the company providing the emergency medical transport.
“Many employers in Central Oregon are doing their best to offer competitive employee benefit packages to help them recruit and retain their people,” said Tony Urioste, group membership area director for MASA MTS. “We compliment those existing benefits by coming throughwhere health insurance falls short. MASA MTS covers all out-of-pocket expenses from an emergency transport, either by ground or air, no matter which company provides the service, in all 50 states.”
Urioste points out the coverage provided by MASA MTS contributes to economic sustainability by keeping dollarsin Central Oregon that would otherwise leave the region.
“Our mission is to protect our members from devastating medical bills as well as keeping local emergency transport providers profitable so they can focus on serving our community when they are needed,” said Urioste, who explained that many air ambulance memberships do not observe reciprocity with other providers, and many do not cover emergency ground transport, leaving families vulnerable to financially devastating medical bills.
“A family that doesn’t have an enormous emergency medical transport bill is able to reinvest in the community and spend discretionary income locally,” said Urioste. “A medical transport company that doesn’t have to manage and mitigate unpaid services is more efficient. It just makes sense, and provides huge peace of mind.”
Tim Morris, the owner of Bend-based auto repair shop German Master Tech, Inc., agrees. Morris recently rolled out MASA MTS coverage to his employees as an additional benefit.
“It’s amazing coverage at a low cost to our business,” said Morris. “Living in Central Oregon, we encourage our team to be active away from work. We all drive cars, ski and ride bikes. It could wipe them out financially if they had to bear an extremely large emergency medical transportation bill. The value for the money is incredible.”
Some employers, like German Master Tech, opt to provide MASA MTS coverage as a paid benefit, while others provide eligibility for membership to their employees, which can be payroll deducted for less than $10 per month. There is no set enrollment and plans are uniquely tailored for the needs of each business. The employers Urioste works with consistently express their appreciation for the opportunity to offer the MASA MTS coverage to their employees, whose entire households are covered with a single membership.
“Our employees are so grateful and have told us they feel blessed,” said Morris. “We hope they never have to use it, but we are so happy to be able to protect them in such a large way.”
MASA Medical Transport Solutions, turioste@masamts.com, 541-848-8124, masamts.com/biz-solutions
