How to handle ambulance bill

[u/Deep-Examination7086]

My newborn needed a transfer from the ER to a NICU, and the hospital arranged the ambulance transfer within their system. I just received a bill for over $5,600 from the ambulance company. My insurance has an allowable amount for the service, but I’m being charged the difference between that allowable and the full billed amount.

The ambulance provider was out-of-network according to them and my insurance, and these extra charges aren’t applying toward my in-network out-of-pocket max. It’s worth noting I hit that OOP max of $6500 during the NICU stay, so I have nearly $12,000 of bills coming my way.

Since this was a medically necessary transfer arranged by the hospital, I’m confused and frustrated about this huge bill and the balance billing situation, especially since I had no choice in the provider.

My insurance is through GEHA and they had me contact ClearHealth to negotiate costs but to me it doesn’t seem like this should need to be negotiated and my insurance should cover the entire bill with in-network benefits. I have reached out to everyone I can possibly think of, ambulance company, insurance, the hospital. And everyone I talk to just points the finger at eachother. I have an appeal in process with my insurance company but do not have high hopes that they will change their decision. Shit like this just makes me want to give up.

[u/OtherwisePumpkin8942]

Yes. If ambulances don’t exist, you are looking at having no one arrive if you call 911. Would you rather that instead?

The cost is astronomical but the basis of this issue is that ambulances are not considered essential services. This determination of it being nonessential birthed private ambulance agencies and is the reason why many counties refuse to initiate a tax-based ambulance service for their citizens. Instead they contract these private agencies because it’s cheaper than buying and operating several ambulances.

So if I had to run the choice of dealing with a bill or just having ambulance not exist. I’d choose the bill through and through. Imagine calling 911 and then saying that help is 2 hours away or worse, they aren’t coming. This actual happens in some rural communities. Money isn’t everyone’s top priority. And while I do recognize that sudden bills can be burdensome I would still rather have a 911 service to turn to if I ever need it.

[u/flag-orama → u/OtherwisePumpkin8942]

hospitals total abuse patient transport. the only reason OP was forced to use an amblance was to reduce the hospital's risk. I have no doubt the patient could have been safly transported by the parents. i would never pay this bill and nobody dings credit scores for hospital bills.

[u/OtherwisePumpkin8942 → u/flag-orama]

The baby went to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A patients, child or adult, being transferred to an intensive care unit is not stable by any means. ICUs are reserved for those requiring the most intense care. The hospital could have not recommended any less transport than an ambulance. I’m sure these parents would rather have an ambulance bill and a baby rather than the other way around.

Idk where you got the information that no one dings credit for hospital bills. There’s millions of people with medical bills on their credit. There is no such law that prevents that. The Biden era attempt at a law was shot down before it could even take effect. Hospitals literally sue patients to recoup medical bills. It’s not a great practice but health care is a business in this country and is treated that way. Hospitals could care less what kind of grief they cause patients as long as they get their dime. Hospital bills and ambulance bills are separate by the way. And working for an EMS agency has taught me that they’d send anyone to collections in a heart beat.

I do feel for the parents. This is a shit situation. Americans are taxed at 33% with no government funded healthcare, 100% parental leave, full disability pay etc. Healthcare shouldn’t be a business but here we are.

[u/flag-orama → u/OtherwisePumpkin8942]

Do you really think the ambulance people did anything other than just drive the baby across town?  I would bet $20 the baby never even needed to go to a NICU. The entire US health care game is about risk reduction and extracting $.  The last thing you ever want to happen to you is to wind up in the ER with good insurance.  If you do, the hospital will give you every medical intervention known to mankind and you will wind up in a deeper health hole then you could imagine.  AVOID US hospitals at all costs.  They will either kill you or maim you while robbing you of your financial future.

This will only stop when we stop throwing our money at them.

[u/OtherwisePumpkin8942 → u/flag-orama]

I see this conversation is going no where. You’re responding based on your feelings. I’m responding based on experience and facts. Neither of which you seem interested in. Keep on keeping on. Have a good day.

[u/flag-orama → u/OtherwisePumpkin8942]

Sorry I can't give your the details but my comments are based on experience. let that soak in.

[u/Secret-Rabbit93 → u/flag-orama]

Let what soak in? You provided zero information to “soak”