Why haven’t you submitted this bill to Medicare, or my insurance company?
If you are receiving this bill more than 30 days after your transport, it is possible that your insurance has denied our claim, in which case you may want to contact your insurance company for additional information. Also, we may not have received enough insurance information to send a claim to your carrier. If you have insurance coverage for this medical service, please click the Submit Insurance Information button (left of screen) and complete the form or call our billing office.
I was transported to the hospital and you have my Medicare information. Why are you sending this bill to me instead of to Medicare?
A signature is required from you or a representative in order to bill Medicare on your behalf. Medicare will not allow us to bill them for your services without a signature authorizing us to do so. (If you are a representative of the patient, signing on behalf of a patient does not make you financially responsible for any balance).
I didn’t call 911, and when the ambulance arrived, I refused transport. Why am I still getting a bill?
You are being billed for activation of the 911-system. The response of emergency medical personnel incurs significant cost even before service is rendered. A police officer or a “Good Samaritan” who calls 911 on your behalf has no legal responsibility to pay for the service provided to you. Even if you refuse transport, you were still provided with a service by the responding agency. Thus, a service charge to the patient has been authorized when the 911- system is activated.
Why doesn’t Medicare cover activation of the 911-system?
Medicare only covers ambulance when a beneficiary is transported. If you were not transported, Medicare will not cover this bill. We are not obligated to submit a claim to Medicare because Medicare does not cover non-transport charges. Therefore, we do not submit this bill to Medicare as a matter of policy.
I was transported by ambulance and Medicare still did not cover the bill. Why?
Medicare does not cover ambulance transports to a Doctor’s Office or a Clinic. Also, if you received non-emergency transport, medical necessity for the transport must be documented. If the transport does not appear to be medically necessary, Medicare may not cover the charges. And, if you are transported from one hospital to another, we also must have documentation on file that indicates that you were transported to receive services not available at the first hospital. For more information on ambulance services that are covered by Medicare, please call our billing office
I have insurance. Don’t they cover this?
Some insurance companies cover ambulance services, while others will only cover a portion of the charges. We cannot determine the exact coverage you have with your insurance company until we submit a claim to them. Please provide us with your insurance information, and we will submit a claim on your behalf and notify you of your coverage level. You may also call our toll free number if you prefer to submit your insurance information over the phone, or fill out the back of the invoice with your information and return it to us by mail.
What is the difference between a BLS and ALS emergency transport?
Basic Life Support (BLS) is an emergency transport provided by certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Advanced Life Support (ALS) is provided when a patient is in more critical condition and a paramedic is required to assist in the treatment of the patient before and/or during transport to the emergency facility.
My insurance only paid a portion of my bill, but I also have insurance with another company. Can you bill them?
Yes, we will bill the balance of your invoice to your secondary insurance carrier. Please click here to provide that information to us, including the name of your insurance carrier, the name of the insurance subscriber and their birth date, the address for the insurance claim to be mailed to, and all ID/policy and group numbers.
Medicare only pays 80% of the charge. Am I responsible for the 20% balance?
The Medicare Part B program pays for medically necessary ambulance transportation. The program requires that patients pay 20% of the fee (just like a doctor’s office visit). This 20% payment can be satisfied through any of the Medi-Gap supplemental programs, a retirement benefit plan or by the patient personally.