Is an Ambulance Covered by Medicare?

Situations that call for a ride in an ambulance can be terrifying to everyone involved from the individual being transported to all family and friends.  Beyond the terror of the ride itself and what it means is the thought of how expensive the ride must be.  These fears are well founded as ambulance transport can be very expensive.  The question for Medicare subscribers becomes, will Medicare pay for ambulance transport?
Medicare’s exact quote on ambulance transport is that it is covered “only if transportation in any other vehicle could endanger your health.”  This means if you can make it to the hospital without your condition deteriorating in a normal vehicle then you should do so.  You, of course, always have the option of calling 911 to get this transport, but the expenses may come out of your pocket.
The important part of this to realize is that if you take an ambulance transport to your doctor’s office or a skilled nursing facility it will not be covered.  If you take an ambulance home from the hospital or doctors office it will likely not be covered.  Remember the line “only if transportation in any other vehicle could endanger your health.”  It could be the difference in a lot of money to you.

Entry Filed under: Benefits Explained