Getting a Canadian snowbird home: air ambulance and medical escort flights

Reviewed by the AirAmbulance.org editorial team · Updated 6 November 2026 · Editorial policy

Every winter, hundreds of thousands of Canadians spend months in Florida, Arizona, California, Texas and Mexico. When one of them falls ill or is injured, the question quickly becomes how to get them home safely to a Canadian hospital or to recover near family.

Who usually pays

• Provincial health plans pay only a small part of emergency care outside Canada, and US hospital bills are among the highest in the world.
• Most snowbirds rely on private travel medical insurance. Many policies include repatriation by air ambulance or medical escort, but usually only when the insurer's assistance team arranges or approves it.
• Call the insurer's emergency assistance number before booking anything yourself. Booking first and claiming later is the most common reason a flight isn't reimbursed.

Air ambulance or medical escort?

• A patient who is stable and can sit upright can often fly home on a regular airline with a nurse or paramedic, for a fraction of the cost of a private jet.
• Stretcher and critical-care patients need an air ambulance: a jet or turboprop with a medical crew, bed to bed, including ground ambulances at both ends.

Before the flight

• A doctor at the treating hospital confirms the patient is fit to fly.
• A receiving hospital in Canada accepts the patient, or care at home is arranged.
• Have passports, provincial health card details and the insurance policy number ready, plus a short medical summary from the treating team.

What it costs

• Published planning ranges for regional fixed-wing air ambulance flights run about $15,000–$70,000. Florida to Ontario or Quebec usually falls in that band.
• Use the cost calculator to see the distance, flying time and published range for a specific trip.

Routes

Distance, flying time and a free quote for each:

• Cancún → Toronto 2,610 km · 3 h 45 min
• Fort Lauderdale → Montreal 2,230 km · 3 h 15 min
• Fort Lauderdale → Ottawa 2,180 km · 3 h 15 min
• Fort Lauderdale → Toronto 1,960 km · 2 h 55 min
• Fort Myers → Toronto 1,920 km · 2 h 55 min
• Honolulu → Vancouver 4,350 km · 5 h 55 min
• Las Vegas → Vancouver 1,600 km · 2 h 30 min
• London → Toronto 5,710 km · 7 h 40 min
• Orlando → Toronto 1,700 km · 2 h 40 min
• Palm Springs → Vancouver 1,800 km · 2 h 45 min
• Phoenix → Calgary 1,970 km · 3 h
• Phoenix → Edmonton 2,210 km · 3 h 15 min
• Phoenix → Winnipeg 2,200 km · 3 h 15 min
• Puerto Vallarta → Vancouver 3,550 km · 4 h 55 min
• Tampa → Montreal 2,090 km · 3 h 05 min

General information only, not medical, legal or insurance advice. Coverage rules change; confirm with your insurer.