There have been a lot of stories in recent years about people who did not want an ambulance called to an emergency injury situation because they couldn’t afford the costs. 79% of the time, the ambulance doesn’t take your insurance, so contacting an ambulance is often seen as one big financial gamble.
After all, in America, an ambulance ride can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,200. If you need more specialized transport with advanced life support, it could cost as much as $6000. If you need air transport, the costs could skyrocket even more.
Yet an ambulance can save your life, and trying to get to the ER any other way could mean missing out on critical care.
Fortunately, if you’re injured on the job, you shouldn’t have to worry about ambulance bills. Call the ambulance if you need to go to the ER, knowing workers’ compensation should cover the costs.
You just have to take a few extra steps to ensure the bill gets paid.
The ambulance company will almost always contact you first. They may not realize you were injured on the job or have access to information about the workers’ compensation insurance company.
You might think they would know because you were picked up at a workplace, but the paramedics who come to get you don’t necessarily provide that information to the billing department. They’re worried about addressing your emergency and don’t always know whether you were an employee of the place they picked you up or merely a visitor or customer.
Once you get the bill, provide the ambulance company with your workers’ compensation claim number and the insurance adjuster’s name and phone number. You should have both of these pieces of information by the time you get the bill.
You must also send your workers’ compensation insurer a copy of the ambulance bill.
Sometimes the workers’ compensation insurance company refuses to pay the bill. When that happens, it’s time to contact a workers’ compensation attorney. We can resolve the issue by filing a penalty petition to challenge the insurer’s decision to refuse payment.
It’s challenging to navigate workers’ compensation or the American healthcare system. Fortunately, the attorneys at Katz, Leidman, Freund, and Herman are here to help.
Contact us today if your workers’ compensation insurance or employer is balking at paying your healthcare costs. We can help you protect your rights and your finances.