Why do I get a bill when I call EMS?

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by Restrain

Doctor though I was having a stroke. Instead of letting the wife drive me 2 miles to the hospital, called the ambulance. 2 mile trip equalled $1500 bill.

Unless you are DYING, don't call EMS.

Did you have to pay to pay the full $1500 out of pocket? Did insurance pay anything, or negotiate a lower charge?

I've been fortunate not to ever have had a need to personally be transported by an ambulance, but I've had my share of medical issues. One thing I can tell you, is that providers of medical services can sometimes bill for what seems to me like an outrageous amount, only to settle for a small fraction of that amount from insurance, as payment in full.


In the case of a true emergency, where someone needs to be transported promptly to an emergency room, I would call EMS, and worry about the payment later. Even if they bill for thousands of dollars, might not even mean anything out-of-pocket, once the dust settles.

[need4speed2012]

Both Medicare and private insurance generally cover the cost of ambulance rides, but they rely on medical necessity when determining reimbursement.

Ambulance trips are considered medically necessary in cases of a sudden emergency or when your health is in serious danger and time is crucial. An ambulance may also be considered a necessary service in non-emergency situations, such as when a patient needs to be moved from one hospital to another.

So your wife calling just to have her vitals taken wont be covered unless she has some type of condition that your insurance company knows about.