tips for protecting your good health

What Do I Pay For In An Ambulance Transport?

24 March 2020 by Sasha Meyer

Being transported by an ambulance is a scary experience for many reasons. While the life-threatening illness which instigated the ride should be the primary focus, there are additional worries that may come after that has been taken care of. You may be wondering what kind of bill you will receive after the emergency has passed. In an effort to ease your mind, here are a few details you may want to look into. An ambulance transport can be quite costly, depending on your insurance, the distance of the ride, and the treatments required en route. 

Insurance

If you have insurance, they usually have some policy for how they handle ambulance transports. For example, some have a flat fee or copayment that they require you to pay such as $150. Other insurances only pay their part after you have paid your deductible. If you have this latter option your trip may be significantly more expensive, though this is much more rare than a copay. 

Distance

In order to offset the costs of running an ambulance, most cities will charge you the cost of your treatments plus around $9 per mile. Hence, if you live out in a very rural area, or if an ambulance must drive a long distance to transport you, you may end up paying quite a bit for mileage. 

Treatments

There are two main types of care rendered in an ambulance: Basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS). The main difference between the two is that advanced life support is a critical emergency, while basic life support is less time-sensitive. For example, someone may need an ambulance because they have broken a bone or need help to stop a wound from bleeding. Advanced support is when the patient must be intubated in order to breathe, have lost a lot of blood, or have lost consciousness. There are different types of ambulance crews; Some with advanced training and supplies for ALS emergencies, while others may be beginners or have less equipment. When someone calls 911 the dispatcher usually indicates which type of life support is needed. The more treatment that is required in the ambulance, the higher the bill will be. ALS bills are usually substantially more than BLS bills. 

In conclusion, you will likely receive a bill in the mail from the city whose ambulance service you used. They have likely contacted your insurance beforehand, and will send you the bill after your insurance's payment has been deducted. If you do not have insurance or are unable to pay your bill, you can call the city to talk about payment plans.

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