Taking an ambulance to the hospital can be a scary and stressful experience. You’re likely focused on getting medical care, not worrying about how you’ll pay the bill. But a few weeks later, you get an expensive bill from the ambulance company. What if you can’t afford to pay it or simply don’t want to pay it? What happens next?
Ambulance Bills Can Be Very Expensive
Ambulance rides are surprisingly costly. The average cost for an ambulance ride is $450 to $1000 for a relatively short distance. Longer trips or those needing advanced life support can cost $2000 to $5000 or more.
Ambulance services know many people can’t easily pay these steep prices. Often insurance will cover most or all of an ambulance ride. But if you don’t have insurance or your plan pays only part of the bill you could be stuck with a huge bill you can’t afford.
Some people may refuse to pay on principle because they think ambulance prices are unfairly high But failing to pay an ambulance bill can have consequences you need to understand
The Ambulance Company May Send Your Unpaid Bill to Collections
When you don’t pay your ambulance bill the company will likely go through several steps
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They’ll send you invoices and reminders asking you to pay. They may offer payment plans to help you pay over time.
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After a period of time, such as 90-180 days without payment, they’ll send a final demand letter. This says you must pay the overdue amount or they may take further action.
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The next step is writing off your debt as bad debt. This means they’ve exhausted efforts to collect from you. At this point, many ambulance companies stop pursuing payment.
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But some ambulance companies send unpaid bills to a collections agency. Debt collectors then take over trying to get you to pay.
Having an account in collections hurts your credit score. The ambulance company sells the debt for pennies on the dollar, accepting a loss. The collections agency keeps hounding you to pay so they can make a profit.
Debt Collectors Have Powerful Tools to Pressure You to Pay
Third-party debt collectors may use aggressive tactics to get you to pay the ambulance bill:
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Harassing phone calls – They may call repeatedly, even calling your work, friends, and family.
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Threatening letters – Letters may threaten legal action, though a lawsuit is rarely cost-effective.
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Credit damage – The collector will report the unpaid debt to credit bureaus, tanking your credit scores.
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Garnishing wages – They can get a court order to have debt payments deducted from your paycheck.
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Property liens – They can put a lien on your home or other property so when it sells, they’re paid.
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Bank levies – The collector can seize money from your bank accounts.
These tactics pressure and scare many people into paying, even if they can’t really afford it. Collectors want to collect quickly before selling the debt again.
Strategies to Deal with Ambulance Debt Collectors
If an ambulance bill goes to collections, don’t panic. Take proactive steps to protect yourself:
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Ask for proof of the debt – Collectors must provide written proof you owe the specific amount claimed. If they can’t, they legally can’t try to collect.
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Challenge improper/inaccurate info – If they report to credit bureaus, you can contest errors.
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Stop contact – Send a letter demanding they stop contacting you. Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, they must comply.
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Negotiate a settlement – Offer to pay a reduced lump sum to settle the debt, often 20-50% of the amount. Get this deal in writing before paying.
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File for bankruptcy – Medical debts like ambulance bills can often be discharged in bankruptcy so you don’t have to pay.
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Wait out the statute of limitations – If enough years have passed, the collector legally can’t sue you. Times range from 3-6 years depending on your state.
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Formally dispute – You can send a written dispute letter challenging the validity of the debt. This makes the collector prove it’s accurate and owed.
Ignoring Ambulance Debt Has Risks
Some people hope debt collectors will eventually give up pursuit of an unpaid ambulance bill. But you never know if the collector will sell it to a different agency who may aggressively come after you. The debt can also remain on your credit history for up to 7 years, damaging your credit.
It’s better to be proactive and use strategies like negotiating a settlement or filing for bankruptcy. This gives you control over the situation. Dodging debt collectors becomes stressful and can affect your finances.
What If You Can’t Afford Your Ambulance Bill?
Don’t panic if you get a huge ambulance bill you have no way to pay. First call the ambulance company and explain your financial hardship. Ask if they have financial assistance, charity programs, or payment plans.
If that doesn’t work, contact the hospital where you were transported. Because they benefits from ambulance services, many hospitals will pay or write off ambulance bills for patients who can’t afford them.
Some other options include:
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Search for ambulance financial assistance in your state. There are charities and programs to aid low-income patients.
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Contact your city or county to ask if they have an ambulance assistance program for residents.
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Setup a GoFundMe online fundraiser asking friends and family to contribute to pay the ambulance bill.
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Negotiate with the ambulance company and collectors to pay only a small percentage as a settlement. Get any deal in writing first before paying.
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As a last resort, consider filing for bankruptcy if the debt is overwhelming.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Address Unpaid Ambulance Bills
It’s common to avoid dealing with medical bills you can’t afford. But ambulance bills should be a priority because failing to pay can quickly send the debt to collections. This damages your credit and leads to harassment from collectors.
Act quickly to request bill reductions, setup payment plans, or apply for financial assistance. If the ambulance company won’t work with you, be ready to dispute the debt and halt collections calls. Don’t allow an unpaid ambulance bill to spiral out of control – know your rights and take action.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Ambulance Bill? – CountyOffice.org
FAQ
What happens if my ambulance bill goes to collections?
Once medical bills enter collections, they are often reported to consumer credit reporting companies. It may be harder to find a job and buy or rent a home if you have medical debt collections on your credit report. The costs of car insurance and rent may also go up.
What is the new law for ambulance in California?
These new California laws take effect in 2024. The new law says that patients will only have to pay as much as they would have for an in-network service. The ambulance and health insurance companies will have to pay the bill directly, even if they don’t have a contract with the hospital.
What should I do if I can’t pay my ambulance Bill?
If you can’t pay your ambulance bill right away, ask the company to delay billing or set up a payment plan. Most ambulance companies will work with people who can show they can’t pay for their services in full at the time of service (5). When you can’t afford to pay the bill ).
What if the ambulance doesn’t get my insurance?
When you need help right away, the ambulance company might not be able to get your insurance or the hospital might not be open, so you want to make sure that your insurance has paid the bill. “The ambulance company may send you a bill the next day, so make sure this is the last bill,” Kelmar said. 4.
Who is responsible for paying an ambulance bill?
You should use your health insurance to pay for the ambulance bill if you have it, since it was sent there for your safety. If you don’t have insurance, you might be able to work out a deal with the person who called the ambulance or the ambulance company.
Should you pay for an ambulance if you don’t need one?
1. When the ambulance was not medically necessary. You might not have to pay the bill if you called for an ambulance but didn’t need medical help. If you passed out at work and your coworkers called an ambulance, but you were fine by the time they got there, you shouldn’t have to pay for the ride.
What should you do if your ambulance bill is out-of-network?
Companies that offer ambulance services are often willing to make deals like 20% off if the person pays by the end of the day, according to Kelmar. He suggested putting these charges on a credit card with a high interest rate. 3. Make sure the bill went through insurance. Even if you are not in the insurance plan’s network, they should still pay a portion of what you paid, so make sure that has happened.
Could a no surprise bill still be a problem for ambulances?
The No Surprises Act asked for a committee of government officials, consumer advocates, insurers, and ambulance providers to study ways to better protect consumers from getting unexpected bills for ground ambulances. This may still happen. Medicare and Medicaid, which already ban balance billing on ambulance services, may also play a role.
