Does Medicare Cover an Ambulance in 2023?

Medicare Ambulance Coverage

Medicare Part B covers emergency ambulance services and non-emergency ambulance services if your specific health condition meets eligibility requirements. Medicare Part B does not cover the full cost, though. You’ll have to make a 20 percent coinsurance payment, in addition to your deductible.

The determination about whether an event is an emergency is up to Medicare, and some Part B claims do get denied. Because of this, it’s important to be aware of what Medicare covers in case an emergency does arise.

Emergency Ambulance Services

Ambulance services are covered in an emergency in the following circumstances only:

• Transportation in any other vehicle would endanger your health
• You are unconscious or bleeding heavily and need medical treatment during transport

Medicare will decide after the trip whether the condition was serious enough to require an ambulance or if other transportation could have safely transported you to the hospital. For example, if you can physically walk to a vehicle, Medicare may decide that an ambulance was unnecessary and refuse to cover the trip. Additionally, Medicare will cover transport to the nearest hospital, critical access hospital, or skilled nursing facility only.

Non-Emergency Ambulance Services

Medicare Part B will cover non-emergency ambulance services in specific circumstances requiring a written order from your doctor. An example is someone with a medical condition that requires ambulance transportation to a facility for chemotherapy, radiation, or dialysis treatment.

Requirements for this kind of order for ambulance transportation include individuals who are confined to their bed or a wheelchair, or those who need medical treatment during the trip for a scheduled doctor’s appointment that emergency responders can provide, such as medication administration or specialized monitoring.

Cost of an Ambulance With Medicare

The cost of an ambulance trip is 20 percent of the Medicare-approved trip amount after you have met the yearly Part B deductible, which is $203 in 2021. This percentage breakdown may change if you are transported to a critical access hospital as opposed to a regular hospital or a skilled nursing facility.

Ground ambulance costs can vary between $200 and $2,000 per transport. If an ambulance trip costs $850, and an individual has already hit their deductible, the patient is responsible for 20 percent of the full cost, or a $170 out-of-pocket bill.

One challenge with Medicare coverage of ambulance trips, especially in emergency situations, is that Medicare may determine after the fact that the trip did not constitute an emergency and bill you directly. Individuals find out through the Medicare Summary Notice, which is sent out every three months, if their trip wasn’t covered.

Medigap and Ambulance Coverage

If you have a health condition that may increase your need for ambulance transportation, consider getting a Medigap plan to cover Medicare Part B coinsurance or deductible payments All Medigap, or Medicare supplemental insurance plans, cover all or a percentage of your emergency and non-emergency Medicare Part B 20 percent coinsurance.

Specifically, Medigap Plans C and F cover the full Part B deductible. The other Medigap plans do not cover the deductible but do help with coinsurance fees. Check out our guide to the best Medigap providers if you decide this coverage is necessary.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services did away with first-dollar coverage plans in 2020. Therefore, you can get only Plan C and Plan F if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020.

Medicare Advantage and Ambulance Coverage

Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, cover all or some of the ambulance transport costs. Advantage plans often cover the Part B deductible as well and some or all of your ambulance copay. The amount varies depending on the plan you have and what state you live in.

Does Medicare Cover an Air Ambulance?

In extreme situations, Medicare may also pay for emergency ambulance service by airplane or helicopter if ground transportation is unable to provide assistance. This service is covered in the following circumstances only:

• You need immediate medical attention, and traffic or distance makes travel to the nearest hospital by ground transportation impossible or impractical
• The aircrew is covered by Medicare
• A doctor determines air transport is absolutely necessary

Air ambulances are costly, and claims can be denied, especially if an out-of-network air ambulance provides transportation, which can leave patients with a hefty bill. If you live in a rural area and have a medical condition that may increase the need for an ambulance, consider a Medigap plan to avoid a larger medical bill.

Does Medicare Pay for Transportation to Doctor Appointments?

Medicare does not pay for transportation to standard doctor appointments. However, Medicare may cover ambulance trips if your doctor writes an order stating the ambulance is necessary for a certain medical condition. Examples of these appointments include:

• Radiation appointments
• Dialysis appointments

Some states allow individuals to schedule non-emergency ambulance transportation. Opting for this service will help patients figure out if their scheduled visits are covered by Medicare prior to the trip itself.

Bottom Line

While the cost of ambulance transportation can be high, Medicare can step in to cover much of the cost for those who are eligible.

To learn more about Medicare coverage and how it works, be sure to check out my Medicare guides:

• Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators Medicare Coverage
• Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap
• Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
• Does Medicare Cover Hospice?
• Does Medicare Cover Dental?