Modern Health Insurance May Be Leaving You Exposed

There are over 27,000 ambulance companies operating in the United States and your health insurance may only cover a limited amount of in-network providers. The truth is, there’s no guarantee that you will be picked up by an in-network provider. In fact, Consumer Reports reported that 79% of ground ambulance rides could result in an out-of-network bill. Essentially, that means you have an almost 80% chance of being left responsible for a majority of your bill.

MASA Plans cover all emergency transportation providers within the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and while traveling in Canada, so you never need to worry about which ambulance company picks you up.

Source:
IBIS World, Ambulance Services Industry in the US – Market Research Report
Consumer Reports, Your Ambulance Ride Could Still Leave You With a Surprise Medical Bill

Medicare and health insurance may only pay for an ambulance if your trip is deemed “Medically Necessary.” Medical necessity is established when any other method of transportation (besides an ambulance) would endanger the patient’s life. For example, let’s say you’re experiencing symptoms commonly associated with a heart attack and end up taking an ambulance to the hospital. If your health insurance decides that the cause of your symptoms (perhaps indigestion, heartburn, or a panic attack) doesn’t meet their requirements for an ambulance, they could deny your claim and leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars.

If you are lucky enough to get picked up by an in-network ambulance and your claim is accepted by insurance, they will only pay a set amount based on the Usual, Customary and Reasonable Rate. Basically, if your emergency transport is billed at a higher than usual rate, insurance companies are only required to pay a set amount based on normal rates.

MASA MTS functions as your very own team of financial defenders. We take your emergency transportation bills, negotiate with providers and work to leave you with complete peace of mind.

Even if your bills fall within the Usual, Customary and Reasonable Rate, many insurance plans feature copays and deductibles. Copays are set fees attached to certain medical services. A deductible is a set amount you must pay before insurance begins to cover your medical charges. Depending on your health insurance plan, some deductibles can be as high as $8,000. So, regardless of other variables, you could automatically be on the hook for hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars just to fulfill the requirements of your insurance plan.

MASA MTS will take care of out-of-pocket costs, including copays and deductibles.