Insurance Does Medicare Cover an Ambulance? Will Medicare pay for an ambulance trip if you need it? By Lorraine Roberte Lorraine Roberte Lorraine Roberte is an insurance writer for The Balance. As a personal finance writer, her expertise includes money management and insurance-related topics. She has written hundreds of reviews of insurance products. learn about our editorial policies Updated on April 5, 2022 Reviewed by Samantha Silberstein Fact checked by Gina LaGuardia Fact checked by Gina LaGuardia Gina LaGuardia has more than 25 years of experience in senior editorial roles, and is an expert in personal finance topics, including banking and lending. She has created content for financial powerhouses such as Chase Bank, American Express Canada, First Horizon Bank, BBVA, and SoFi. learn about our editorial policies In This Article View All In This Article What Ambulance Services Does Medicare Cover? How Much Does Medicare Cover? Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage Ambulance Coverage How To Dispute a Denial of Coverage Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: ER Productions Limited / Getty Images Ambulance rides can get you to the hospital quickly. But, that type of medical transport is expensive, sometimes costing several hundred dollars or more. If you need to be transported further or need more advanced care along the way, this number can easily surpass $2,000. If you have Original Medicare, your ground ambulance ride is most likely covered. However, there are some limitations on medical transports, and you’ll probably have some out-of-pocket expenses after your ride. Here are more details about what ambulance services are and aren’t covered by Medicare. Key Takeaways Medicare Part B covers ground ambulances for emergency transport, while Medicare Part A doesn’t. Medicare Advantage plans provide the same essential benefits, but rules, costs, and other details vary by plan. Your coinsurance and deductible apply to ambulance transports, so you have some out-of-pocket expenses. If Medicare denies your ambulance claim, you have the right to appeal the decision. What Ambulance Services Does Medicare Cover? Under Original Medicare, only Medicare Part B covers ambulance transport in emergencies when it’s unsafe to transport you in a different type of vehicle. While Medicare Advantage and other Medicare plans should provide ambulance services, cost, rules, and coverages vary by plan. Here’s a look at some common types of ambulance services, so you can see what kinds of emergency transportation Medicare covers. Note Medicare is best known as the government-backed health insurance program for people 65 and over. It also covers others who are on Social Security disability benefits or those who have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Emergency Ambulance Transport Medicare Medical Insurance, or Part B, typically covers standard ground ambulance transport for emergencies. This coverage allows you to be transported to a hospital, critical access hospital, or skilled nursing facility for medically necessary services. Medicare takes the seriousness of your medical condition into account before paying the bill. If you could have safely been taken to the hospital by car or taxi, your costs might not be covered. So, if you cut yourself and are bleeding profusely, Medicare will likely approve your emergency transport. When you’re losing a lot of blood, it’s a medical emergency, and you need to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. However, if you fall and injure your knee, it's possibly you could get to the hospital on your own. In this case, if the ambulance wasn’t medically necessary, it probably wouldn't be covered by Medicare. Note Medicare only covers transport to the closest appropriate medical facility that can provide you with the treatment you need. If you ask to go to a different facility, you’ll be responsible for the difference in cost. Emergency Air Transport In certain situations, Medicare may pay for emergency air transport. However, this type of emergency transportation only gets approved if certain criteria are met. First, your health must require immediate transport that can’t be provided by ground transport. Then, at least one of these conditions must be met: You’re in a location that can’t easily be reached by a standard ambulance.You’re a long way from the hospital, or other obstacles such as traffic prevent the standard ambulance from reaching the hospital quickly. For instance, if you’re hiking in a remote location and fall off the edge of a cliff and have internal bleeding, your air transport might be covered. In this case, you’re in a spot where a ground ambulance can’t easily get to you. In addition, your health condition is serious enough to require critical care quickly. Some Non-Emergency Transport Typically, Medicare only covers ambulance services for emergency transport. However, there are particular circumstances when non-emergency transportation is allowed. To have non-emergency transport covered, the following conditions must be met: Your doctor must write an order for the ambulance transport. You have a medically necessary reason to use an ambulance instead of a different type of vehicle. Someone with end-stage renal disease who must be transported to a dialysis center by stretcher is one example of when non-emergency transport may be approved. Another is for a patient with severe obesity who cannot safely be transported in a car or van. Note Eight states and the District of Columbia have additional rules about scheduled, non-emergency ambulance transport. In Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, patients who schedule three non-emergency ambulance transports in a 10-day period must have prior authorization before the fourth trip. If prior approval isn’t granted and you continue using ambulance transport for non-emergency situations, Medicare denies the claim and you’ll be responsible for the bills. If the ambulance crew doesn’t believe Medicare is going to cover your transportation because it’s not an emergency, they must give you an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) to charge you for the ride. This form typically has option boxes that allow you to check if you want the service. The form also explains your payment responsibility if you opt for the transport knowing Medicare may not cover it. If you sign, you must pay the bill if Medicare denies the claim. How Much Does Medicare Cover? If Medicare approves your ambulance transport claim, it covers 80% of the Medicare-approved amount, leaving you responsible for the other 20%. The Medicare-approved amount is a fee schedule that varies based on your location. However, ambulance transport counts toward your annual Part B deductible. So, if you haven’t yet met your deductible, you’re responsible for paying the remaining amount plus the standard 20% coinsurance. Note The Medicare Part B deductible is $203 in 2021 and projected to be $217 in 2022. Many Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policies can help pick up the tab left behind by your Original Medicare copayments and deductibles. Compare plans and benefits on Medicare.gov. Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage Ambulance Coverage Original Medicare is Medicare Parts A and B. But some people opt for a Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) as a way to receive their Part A and B benefits. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, it’s important to note that while your plan has the same basic benefits, each plan has its own rules and many have in- and out-of-network providers. To make sure you don’t get hit with unexpected ambulance bills, make sure you read your plan materials or call your plan to discuss its expenses. How To Dispute a Denial of Coverage If Medicare denies your ambulance transport coverage and you think it should have been approved, there are some steps you can take: Review your copies of the claim paperwork, as there may be procedural errors that could be corrected. For instance, the ambulance company didn’t file the right form or didn’t fully record why ambulance transport was necessary. Once the ambulance company corrects these errors, ask it to resubmit the claim to Medicare. Note You can use CMS Form 20027 to file your appeal. File an appeal if your claim still gets denied. Appeals are part of your rights. To start the appeal process, review the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) to gather more information about this claim. You’ll see on this form how long you have to file an appeal and what steps you need to take to do so. Then follow the directions on the MSN and submit it along with a letter explaining why you think the service should be covered. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Why am I getting an ambulance bill after Medicare paid? If Medicare approves your transport, you may still get a bill for your remaining 20% plus your remaining annual deductible if you haven’t met it yet. How do I submit bills to Medicare? If you need to file a claim, you’ll need to fill out the Patient Request for Medical Payment Form. Then, send this form, the bill, and any supporting documentation to the address on the form. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. City of Chicago. "Ambulance Bills." U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Medicare Coverage of Ambulance Services," Page 5. Medicare.gov. "Ambulance Services." U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Medicare Coverage of Ambulance Services," Page 6. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Medicare Coverage of Ambulance Services." Page 7. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Medicare Coverage of Ambulance Services," Page 9. Medicare.gov. "Part B Costs." CMS.gov. "2021 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees Annual Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds," Page 210. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 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