Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
A few weeks ago I suffered a pretty serious injury during a sporting event I was playing in. Game officials drove me to an urgent care center, but the care center decided I need to go to the hospital ER and arranged for an ambulance, a local supposedly non-profit ambulance association. It was a 7 mile trip through which I remember nothing of due to my injury. I was pretty much unconscious and was in no shape to be making healthcare decisions. I received a bill in the mail for around $1,300, which said to turn any checks received from the insurance company for the ambulance ride over to them. They are considered "out of network" by pretty much all insurance companies per their website. The insurance company sent me a check for around $450, which I signed over to them. Obviously way short of $1,300, which is a ridiculous number for a 7 mile trip through the suburbs. $450 seems fair to me.
What happens if I don't pay the remainder myself? Do they likely have my SSN so that they can affect my credit if I don't pay the balance? Their website says they sell the accounts to a collection agency if you don't pay...once again, any potential effect on credit score? Will the ambulance company even try to go after me?
Thanks
What happens if I don't pay the remainder myself? Do they likely have my SSN so that they can affect my credit if I don't pay the balance? Their website says they sell the accounts to a collection agency if you don't pay...once again, any potential effect on credit score? Will the ambulance company even try to go after me?
Thanks
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
I think you should pay the bill.
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
My guess is that you will get dunned and your credit score will take a hit.
Stay hydrated; don't sweat the small stuff
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
I think you need to wait and see what their response is after signing over the insurance check to them. They might just write off the rest, or ask you to pay another $100 or something. From your post it doesn't sound like you've had any communication with them since sending them the insurance check.tim1999 wrote:What happens if I don't pay the remainder myself?
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
I would try to find out if they have your SSN. Seems like the only way they would is if the Hospital gave it to them (Not sure they are allowed to do that). You can try to get set up on a payment plan. Tell them you can pay $10/month. Should take will take about 9 years to pay the balance. Try to negotiate a lesser amount.
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
Are you sure that you owe the "extra"?tim1999 wrote:A few weeks ago I suffered a pretty serious injury during a sporting event I was playing in. Game officials drove me to an urgent care center, but the care center decided I need to go to the hospital ER and arranged for an ambulance, a local supposedly non-profit ambulance association. It was a 7 mile trip through which I remember nothing of due to my injury. I was pretty much unconscious and was in no shape to be making healthcare decisions. I received a bill in the mail for around $1,300, which said to turn any checks received from the insurance company for the ambulance ride over to them. They are considered "out of network" by pretty much all insurance companies per their website. The insurance company sent me a check for around $450, which I signed over to them. Obviously way short of $1,300, which is a ridiculous number for a 7 mile trip through the suburbs. $450 seems fair to me.
What happens if I don't pay the remainder myself? Do they likely have my SSN so that they can affect my credit if I don't pay the balance? Their website says they sell the accounts to a collection agency if you don't pay...once again, any potential effect on credit score? Will the ambulance company even try to go after me?
Thanks
I had two ambulance trips in 2016 (unfortunately).
Although I was conscious, neither DH nor I chose to "call around for prices"
It was "who showed up after the 911 call".
The bill was in the 4 figures, much higher than yours.
For about 4 miles.
The bill was sent to our insurance company, and they paid the ambulance company a fraction of that.
We got notice of benefits paid from insurer, stating amount of bill, that mysterious "adjustment", amount insurer paid, and amount remaining (zero).
RM
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
That seems pretty absurd to me. I would call my insurance company first to see what they say and then dispute it with the ambulance company.
My mother had an ambulance ride last year. We called 911 and didn't ask any questions. It was $100 out of pocket to her and they settled the rest with the insurance company.
My mother had an ambulance ride last year. We called 911 and didn't ask any questions. It was $100 out of pocket to her and they settled the rest with the insurance company.
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
You should re-evaluate your statements - you suffered by your own admission an injury that a physician determined warranted a high level of care not found using car service. Thankfully, such a service existed and you did not suffer any long lasting effects. Since receiving such service you believe the costs to be in your words "ridiculous". There are times to negotiate pricing, when your life hangs in the balance, you have to decide which is more ridiculous - your potentially permanent incapacitation or a reduction in your replaceable assets. Those ambulances cost significantly more than a fully loaded Cadillac SUV, the staff is highly qualified and the service received is more than that of a taxi driver. Is the cost significant? sure, it's alot of money, money can be replaced, your life as you knew it before the accident is not replaceable. It's really no different than any other purchase, you have to weigh value received vs price paid. An MRI cost me more than that ride, IMO, the ride offered was cheaply priced. Worry about the bill when or if it comes, usually you can negotiate, but in the end, be thankful that such a service exists. BTW, glad you are feeling better.
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
Here is a question, IF the ambulance company won't "play nice" with insurance payments - and we do not yet know from you (OP) if that is the situation.
But if so, did the Clinic call the ambulance rather than calling 911?
Is there any possibility that they called a "partner" ambulance company, and they do this routinely... and...
RM
But if so, did the Clinic call the ambulance rather than calling 911?
Is there any possibility that they called a "partner" ambulance company, and they do this routinely... and...
RM
This signature is a placebo. You are in the control group.
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
I'm with others that you should pay the balance of the bill if the ambulance company doesn't accept the payment from your insurance as in full. You rolled the dice in your physical activity, and needed the medical expertise from the providers. The providers felt that it was in your best interest to be transported by ambulance to a facility that could better care for you. If instead, they had called an Uber of Lyft and you had a complication, your question would be how much money you could get out of them for their medical malpractice.tim1999 wrote:A few weeks ago I suffered a pretty serious injury during a sporting event I was playing in. Game officials drove me to an urgent care center, but the care center decided I need to go to the hospital ER and arranged for an ambulance, a local supposedly non-profit ambulance association. It was a 7 mile trip through which I remember nothing of due to my injury. I was pretty much unconscious and was in no shape to be making healthcare decisions. I received a bill in the mail for around $1,300, which said to turn any checks received from the insurance company for the ambulance ride over to them. They are considered "out of network" by pretty much all insurance companies per their website. The insurance company sent me a check for around $450, which I signed over to them. Obviously way short of $1,300, which is a ridiculous number for a 7 mile trip through the suburbs. $450 seems fair to me.
What happens if I don't pay the remainder myself? Do they likely have my SSN so that they can affect my credit if I don't pay the balance? Their website says they sell the accounts to a collection agency if you don't pay...once again, any potential effect on credit score? Will the ambulance company even try to go after me?
Thanks
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
In the city that I live in, we have very few private ambulances, infact I don't believe the would ever respond to a 911 call. The city firedepartment would respond. They do not charge directly for their services. That is why I pay $500/ year in property taxes to support the fire department. OP also has health insurance that is suppose to pay for these kinds of things. The issue appears that because he was already at a clinic, they called a medical transport rather than 911. The medical transporter was out of network so his insurance isnt paying the full 80% copay.
Try to negotiate the cost.
Try to negotiate the cost.
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
There was at least one recent long thread on ambulance cost and being out of network. I suggest you search around on the site. This is not an uncommon situation.
Call your insurance company and discuss with them. This is very normal.
Call the ambulance billing department and discuss with them. Try to get them to accept the insurance payment as paid in full. This is very common.
Call your insurance company and discuss with them. This is very normal.
Call the ambulance billing department and discuss with them. Try to get them to accept the insurance payment as paid in full. This is very common.
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
I am not sure about the out-of-network ambulance, but I will share my experience anyways.
Once I called 911 for my DW, and they had billed over $2K. My insurance company paid around $500 only, I called the insurance company and said that the emergencies according to my plan should be 100% covered. They said they usually pay a little piece of the invoice, waiting to see if the ambulance company would eat that and shut up forever or fight back, if they fight back they (the insurance) would pay the full bill!!
This was really silly and stressing for me with a lot of "what if's".. Anyways, the ambulance company of course sent me another bill with the renaming, I then contacted again the insurance company and they paid it full that time!
Lesson learned: always nag the insurance company, and even file an appeal if you have to.
Once I called 911 for my DW, and they had billed over $2K. My insurance company paid around $500 only, I called the insurance company and said that the emergencies according to my plan should be 100% covered. They said they usually pay a little piece of the invoice, waiting to see if the ambulance company would eat that and shut up forever or fight back, if they fight back they (the insurance) would pay the full bill!!
This was really silly and stressing for me with a lot of "what if's".. Anyways, the ambulance company of course sent me another bill with the renaming, I then contacted again the insurance company and they paid it full that time!
Lesson learned: always nag the insurance company, and even file an appeal if you have to.
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
This was our experience with American Medical Response ambulance. I think I fully documented it on the thread.
I would appeal to insurance, then appeal again. Consider BBB if there are other complaints on there with good outcomes from filing a complaint.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=196868
I would appeal to insurance, then appeal again. Consider BBB if there are other complaints on there with good outcomes from filing a complaint.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=196868
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
we have had - sadly - several emergency ambulance and ER experiences
firstly, to move from one facility to another may not be covered if it was not an emergency and the clinic did not call a 911 rescue unit. we have had that experience
if they come back to you for the remainder (possible they will accept whatever the insurance paid out) I would talk with them asking for, if not forgiving the balance, a major reduction. we have had that experience and that was successful
finally, the add ons from a medical event can get absurd, almost like a phishing frenzy, think about not responding and see if they go away. we have had that experience and that was successful
good luck and be well
firstly, to move from one facility to another may not be covered if it was not an emergency and the clinic did not call a 911 rescue unit. we have had that experience
if they come back to you for the remainder (possible they will accept whatever the insurance paid out) I would talk with them asking for, if not forgiving the balance, a major reduction. we have had that experience and that was successful
finally, the add ons from a medical event can get absurd, almost like a phishing frenzy, think about not responding and see if they go away. we have had that experience and that was successful
good luck and be well
Don't it always seem to go * That you don't know what you've got * Till it's gone
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
Yes, I am going to wait and see what happens before making any moves. Their bill was dated 5/2/17 and I just sent them the insurance check today. I'll wait a few weeks and see what happens. Other than receiving that bill, I've heard nothing from them. This incident occurred over an hour from home.alshayed wrote:I think you need to wait and see what their response is after signing over the insurance check to them. They might just write off the rest, or ask you to pay another $100 or something. From your post it doesn't sound like you've had any communication with them since sending them the insurance check.tim1999 wrote:What happens if I don't pay the remainder myself?
The clinic (big name regional urgent care provider around here) called for the ambulance once I was at their facility. They did not want the people who drove me to the clinic driving me to the hospital for whatever reason (severity of injury I'm guessing, they never told them directly). We only went to the urgent care center because was literally a block away from where the injury occurred. And this ambulance company is also located about a mile away from the urgent care place and I presume does most/all of their transports.
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
You probably should have settled with them for a reduced amount before you gave them the $450. I'm guessing that they will come after you if you don't pay the bill.
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Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
I'm surprised that the league you are playing in does not have insurance to cover injuries sustained while in play. DH was injured while playing in an adult soccer league, and the insurance through the league covered his surgery and PT.tim1999 wrote:A few weeks ago I suffered a pretty serious injury during a sporting event I was playing in.
Re: Paying balance of costly ambulance ride
Discussions of dishonest behavior or bypassing the law is totally unacceptable. The OP intentionally does not intend to pay a bill due.
This thread has run its course and is locked.
This thread has run its course and is locked.