Committee to recommend patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less

Committee to recommend patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less

A committee chartered to find ways to stop ambulances from sending patients exorbitant bills is set to tell Congress that patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less.

The recommendation, which still relies on the convoluted private insurance industry, comes as nearly half of all ambulance rides in the US result in a “surprise bill” of often hundreds of dollars.

“America has decided to use an insurance system to spread the risk among many,” said Patricia Kelmar, senior director of healthcare campaigns at US Pirg, a consumer advocacy group.

“But when it comes to ambulances, without a surprise billing protection, that risk isn’t spread – the person who needs the ambulance is paying a lot more than anyone else who has that insurance.”

  • @Nastybutler
    10•2 months ago

    Hundreds of dollars? That must be nice. If I have to be Medivaced to a hospital I’m looking at a charge of around $10k. I’ve often purchased separate insurance from the 2 companies that provide that service in my state (Alaska) when I know I’ll be doing risky things in remote areas.

    That’s right, I have to buy 2 separate policies, because I won’t get to choose which one picks me up, as it’s a matter of who’s available and even if I had a choice between them, I could be incapacitated so couldn’t make my wishes known.

    Fortunately the insurance is around $150/year for each, so not crazy expensive, but still not what I’d like to be spending that money on