Needing an ambulance during a medical emergency can be a stressful and traumatic experience. The last thing you want to worry about is how to pay the ambulance bill. However ignoring or not paying your ambulance bill can have serious financial and legal consequences. This comprehensive guide examines what happens if you don’t pay your ambulance bill.
Overview of Ambulance Bills
Ambulance services are very expensive, with the average cost of an ambulance ride in the US ranging from $300 to $2000 depending on the level of care provided. Ambulance bills consist of charges for transportation fees, medical supplies, medications given, and specialized services if required.
Ambulance services may be covered under your health insurance policy. But often there are deductibles, copays or uncovered amounts that you must pay out-of-pocket. Getting hit with a huge ambulance bill can be overwhelming for many patients.
While avoiding or delaying payment of any medical bill is ill-advised, not paying an ambulance bill promptly can have more severe repercussions than other medical debts. Here’s what you should expect.
Debt Collection
If you don’t pay your ambulance bill within the stipulated time the ambulance service provider will engage debt collection agencies to recover the unpaid amount.
The debt may be sold to a collections agency for a fraction of the original amount owed The agency will then aggressively pursue payment through letters, emails, and phone calls demanding the past due balance.
At this stage, the ambulance company no longer has claim to the debt. Any negotiations for reduced settlement or payment plans will have to be made with the collections agency directly.
Credit Score Impacts
An unpaid ambulance bill that has been handed over to collections will also show up on your credit report. This can cause as much as a 100-150 point drop in your credit score depending on your credit history.
A negative mark will remain on your credit report for 7 years from the date the debt first became delinquent. A poor credit score can hurt your ability to secure loans, credit cards, mortgages, insurance plans, apartment leases, and even jobs.
Legal Actions
If the collections agency is unable to recover the ambulance debt, they may pursue legal action and file a lawsuit against you to garnish wages or put liens on your assets.
You will have to defend yourself in court and prove inability to pay if that is the case. If you lose the lawsuit, the court can order repayment by seizing your bank accounts, paychecks, or property.
Wage garnishments typically allow creditors to take 25% of your disposable earnings. Liens on property prevent you from selling the asset until the debt is settled.
Additional Penalties
Apart from hurting your credit and finances, not paying your ambulance bill can open you up to additional penalties:
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Late fees and interest charges that increase the size of the debt.
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Suspension of ambulance membership if you didn’t qualify for insurance coverage.
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Potential issues being approved for new ambulance service in the future, even in case of emergencies.
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The unpaid bill being reported to the local state health department in some cases.
How To Avoid Non-Payment Penalties
If paying your ambulance bill in full is absolutely impossible due to financial hardship, take proactive steps to minimize consequences:
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Contact the ambulance company immediately and negotiate a reasonable payment plan. Make good-faith partial payments until the debt is settled.
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If already in collections, negotiate with agency for reduced payoff settlement.
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Provide written proof of income/expenses to demonstrate inability to pay full amount.
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Consider debt management programs and financial counseling to assist with medical debt payoff.
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If legal action is initiated, be sure to respond within prescribed time and request hardship provisions.
Paying off an ambulance bill may involve some financial sacrifices for a few months. But it’s certainly better than damaging your credit, getting wages garnished, or facing liens for years to come.
When You May Not Have To Pay
There are a few limited cases where patients may not be obligated to pay for ambulance transportation per state laws:
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The ambulance was called unnecessarily or against your wishes.
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The ambulance response time was unreasonably long.
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You were not given the option to refuse the ambulance.
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You were overcharged for services/level of care provided.
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You truly cannot afford to pay the bill without extreme hardship.
However, you will need to provide documentation and proof to invoke these provisions for non-payment. The ambulance company may still send the debt for collections, leaving you to dispute directly with the agency instead. Don’t ignore communication – be proactive to resolve the issue.
Getting hit with surprise ambulance bills can be frustrating. However, not paying them is not a prudent option given the financial and legal consequences. Damage to your credit score and creditworthiness alone can set you back significantly on current and future plans.
Explore payment plans, insurance coverage, financial assistance resources, and negotiate reduced payoffs where possible. With persistence and good-faith efforts, you can settle ambulance debts without sabotaging your finances long-term.
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What Happens If You Don’t Pay Ambulance Bill? – CountyOffice.org
FAQ
What happens if my ambulance bill goes to collections?
What is the new law for ambulance in California?
What should I do if I can’t pay my ambulance Bill?
If you’re unable to pay your ambulance bill, request deferred billing or set up a payment plan from the company. Most ambulance companies are willing to work with patients who can demonstrate an inability to pay for 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?
“In the course of an emergency, sometimes the ambulance doesn’t get your insurance or the hospital is not forthcoming, so you want to verify that the bill has been run through insurance. Sometimes the ambulance bills you the very next day, so verify that this is the final bill,” Kelmar said. 4.
Who is responsible for paying an ambulance bill?
If you have health insurance, use it to pay for the ambulance bill, as you are most likely responsible for it because it was for your safety. If you don’t have insurance, consider negotiating with either the person who called for the ambulance or the ambulance company itself.
Should you pay for an ambulance if you don’t need one?
1. When the ambulance was not medically necessary. If you didn’t require medical assistance and called for an ambulance, you may not have to pay the bill. For example, if you fainted at work and your coworkers called an ambulance, but you were fine by the time they arrived, you should not have to pay for the ride.
What should you do if your ambulance bill is out-of-network?
Ambulance providers are often willing to cut a deal, such as 40% off in a person pays by the end of the day, said Kelmar, who advised putting such charges on a high-interest credit card. 3. Make sure the bill went through insurance. Even out-of-network, insurance plans would pay a portion akin to a negotiated rate, so make sure that has occurred.
Could a no surprise bill still be a problem for ambulances?
It may still happen: The No Surprises Act called for an advisory committee with government officials, consumer advocates, insurers, and ambulance providers to study how consumers could be better protected from surprise bills for ground ambulances. Medicare and Medicaid, which already ban balance billing on ambulance services, may also play a role.