How Long Do You Have To Pay An Ambulance Bill?

Getting rushed to the hospital in an ambulance can be a scary and stressful experience. The last thing you want to worry about is how you’ll pay for it. But ambulance bills can be expensive often costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. So how long do you actually have to pay an ambulance bill? Here’s what you need to know.

The Bill Arrives

After taking an ambulance ride, you’ll receive a bill in the mail from the ambulance company, likely within a few weeks. This initial bill lets you know the date of service, mileage, medical treatments given during transport, and the total charges.

Ambulance companies can charge for various things, including:

• Basic life support (BLS) – For simple transport with monitoring

• Advanced life support (ALS) – For more advanced care and monitoring.

• Mileage – Per mile cost for distance traveled.

• Supplies & medications – Any supplies or meds used.

• Specialty care transport – For critical care transport with specially trained paramedics.

Charges vary greatly, but can range anywhere from $300 to $3000 or more. The bill itself will list a due date, often 30 days out from the date issued. However, this is not necessarily a hard deadline for payment.

Payment Deadlines

The initial bill will state a due date. But failing to pay by that deadline doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be sent to collections right away. Here are some general guidelines on ambulance bill deadlines:

• 30 days – This is a typical due date given on the initial bill. Not meeting it won’t likely affect your credit score or prompt collections.

• 90 days – After 30 days, you may get another notice giving you 60 more days to pay. This is still a relatively soft deadline.

• 6 months – If still unpaid after 90 days, the ambulance company will likely continue attempting contact via phone calls, letters, and warnings about sending you to collections. This can go on for several months.

• 1 year – If you reach a year without paying, you will likely get sent to collections, which can majorly damage your credit score.

So while the initial bill states 30 days, you generally have at least 90 days, and up to 6 months, before more serious consequences. That said, it’s best not to ignore the bill entirely. Keep reading for how to handle it appropriately.

Negotiating the Bill

Ambulance companies often inflate their bills, charging uninsured patients more. There’s room for negotiation. Here are some tips:

• Review for errors – Go through the bill line by line looking for incorrect charges. Dispute any you find.

• Ask about discounts – Uninsured and cash paying patients can sometimes get 25-50% off their bill by asking.

• Request an itemized bill – If the initial bill is vague, request an itemized version to better understand the charges.

• Offer to pay in full at a reduced rate – Offering immediate payment in exchange for a lower total bill often works.

• Set up a payment plan – If you can’t pay in full, ask to break up payments over several months.

• Apply for financial assistance – Many ambulance companies offer financial hardship programs with reduced payments.

Being polite and persistent here can really pay off. Negotiating an ambulance bill down significantly reduces how much you pay.

Assistance With Ambulance Bills

If you’re still struggling with an ambulance bill, there are options for assistance:

• Health insurance – Insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, will often cover a portion of ambulance fees. Contact your provider.

• Medical sharing programs – Faith-based programs like MediShare can help with bills for those who qualify.

• Hospital charity care – Hospitals have financial assistance for low income uninsured patients. Ambulance companies may honor these.

• Payment plans – Ask the ambulance company about extending payments over several months or years if needed.

• Crowdfunding – Turning to friends/family and crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe is an option if all else fails.

Don’t panic if you received a big ambulance bill. Take a breath and explore the money-saving and assistance options outlined here. With some persistence, you can likely lower the bill or find help paying it over time.

When Ambulances Can’t Charge You

There are some cases where ambulance transportation won’t result in getting a bill:

• If an ambulance was called by police or a 9-1-1 dispatcher, you can’t be charged.

• Most states prohibit billing when no emergency transport takes place. If paramedics arrive but don’t take you in the ambulance, no bill.

• Medicare Part B covers ambulance transportation in medically necessary emergency cases for Medicare beneficiaries.

• Medicaid covers emergency ambulance transportation for beneficiaries in participating states.

• Veterans may qualify for ambulance fee coverage through the VA health program.

• Workers compensation programs often cover ambulance fees for work-related injuries.

In these cases, the ambulance company will seek payment from the alternative payer and cannot bill the patient directly.

Avoiding Ambulance Bills Altogether

To avoid potential ambulance bills, be aware of situations when an ambulance ride may not be totally necessary:

• Minor injuries – Cuts, scrapes, or sprains may not require ambulance transport to the ER. Have someone drive you or take Uber/Lyft.

• Stabilized conditions – If a medical issue has stabilized with treatment from paramedics on scene, ambulance transport may not be required.

• Clinic visits – If going to a clinic or doctor’s appointment, arrange your own transportation instead of ambulance.

• Hospital discharges – When being discharged to go home, see if a family member, friend, or taxi can transport you.

• Across state lines – If you need transport to a facility in another state, look into medical transport services rather than ambulance.

Ambulances are for medical emergencies. Evaluate the situation and explore other options when it’s not a life-or-death scenario. Getting a separate ride can prevent a costly ambulance bill.

The Bottom Line

Ambulance rides are often medically necessary. But the bills that follow can be a nuisance. If you’ve received an ambulance bill, first negotiate the charges and seek discounts. Then establish a payment plan if needed. Assistance programs can also help cover costs. Just try to pay it off within 6 months to avoid collections. With the right approach, you can handle that ambulance bill without too much stress.