In a medical emergency, the last thing you should be thinking about is whether calling an ambulance will lead to a huge bill.
It’s unfortunately been a common occurrence for a person to not know if the ambulance they are being transported in is out of their insurance company’s network. Someone experiencing an emergency has no choice whether the ambulance that arrives is contracted with their health plan or not, which can result in a surprise bill of $1,000 or more.
In 2023, Health Access sponsored AB 716 (Boerner), a new law that will take effect January 1, 2024, to prevent surprise bills for ground ambulance rides for Californians in state-regulated private health plans. Californians should no longer be afraid to call 911 for fear of the bill, and uninsured patients will be protected from inflated ambulance costs. Other protections in the new law will allow Californians more time to address their ambulance bill before being sent to collections. Health Access will continue to push for federal laws addressing ground ambulance surprise billing to ensure protections for the millions of Californians in health plans regulated by federal laws.
Currently experiencing a surprise ambulance bill? Contact Health Consumer Alliance via their Website or Consumer Hotline: 888-804-3536. If you receive a bill over your in-network cost-sharing after January 1, 2024, contact the Department of Managed Health Care via their Website or Help Center: 888-466-2219
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