. >> repororr: jean medina got a $35,000 bill from air methods after her teenage daughter, developed complications from a tonsillectomy. >> the surgery itself was $16,000. the h@licopter was $35,000. it seems a crazy amount of money. >> reporter: after insurance and a protracted back and forth, she still owes $17,000. and medina questions whether her daughter's 37-mile medevac trip was necessary. it took almost an hour for the helicopter just to arrive and load, and she was able to drive the distance in almost the same amount of time. >> i left a few minutesefore they took off and ended up arriving at the hospital about five minutes after they did. >> reporter: air methods said its flight crews provide medical care that a ground ambulance could not. >> the same thing could not have been accomplished on the ground. because of the level of care that she receivesinside the helicopter. >> reporter: according to the flight logs for medina's daughter, no extraordinary treatments were necessary. >> if the patient really isn't time sensitive, we can take them by ground and we're a nonprofit,

. >> reporter: jean medina got a $35,000 bill from the same company after her teenage gaugter, sophia, was air lifted 37 miles. >> it's just a crazy amount of money. >> reporter: the bills came from airmethods, the biggest for-profit air ambulance company, operating in 48 states, posting a profit last year of more than $100 million. company officials acknowledge airmethods charges far more than the actual cost of a flight, because they say they have to make up for underpayments by the poor and the elderly. >> look, if everybody paid their fair share, you know what the charge for this service would be? $12,000. >> reporter: but many insurance companies refuse to pay what they regard as the excessive cost, leaving the patients and their families on the hook. >> they said, don't worry about it, it's just a standard form, just give us permission to transport your daughter. >> reporter: but the standard form, which made him personally and fully responsible, did not why don't you put the price here? >> i -- i can -- i can get back with you on that. >> reporter: you don't know the answer to