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Modern Health Insurance May Be Leaving You Exposed

Many people assume that their monthly health insurance will cover them for ambulance rides and other emergency transportation. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. During the last 10 years, huge gaps have opened up in most insurance plans. These gaps could leave you exposed to copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums for the cost of emergency transportation.

Couple Anxious About Bill

Shocking Statistics

Average cost of medical transportation

$1,500

Ground Ambulance

$24,000

Fixed-Wing Ambulance

$30,000

Helicopter

40% of Americans only have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense.

- Bankrate

66% of people who file for bankruptcy cite medical issues as a key contributor to their financial downfall.

- CNBC

530,000 families turn to bankruptcy each year because of medical bills.

- CNBC

240 Million emergency calls are made in the United States every year.

- National Emergency Number Association

This year, over 30 million Americans will require emergency transportation.

- ACEP Now

Over 200 million medical claims are denied every year.

- AARP

Medical Bills are the #1 cause of bankruptcy.

- MetLife

4 Easy Ways You Can
End Up With a Massive Bill

There are over 27,000 ambulance companies operating in the United States and your health insurance may only cover a limited amount of in-network providers. The truth is, there’s no guarantee that you will be picked up by an in-network provider. In fact, Consumer Reports reported that 79% of ground ambulance rides could result in an out-of-network bill. Essentially, that means you have an almost 80% chance of being left responsible for a majority of your bill.

MASA Plans cover all emergency transportation providers within the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and while traveling in Canada, so you never need to worry about which ambulance company picks you up.

Source:
IBIS World, Ambulance Services Industry in the US – Market Research Report
Consumer Reports, Your Ambulance Ride Could Still Leave You With a Surprise Medical Bill

Medicare and health insurance may only pay for an ambulance if your trip is deemed “Medically Necessary.” Medical necessity is established when any other method of transportation (besides an ambulance) would endanger the patient’s life. For example, let’s say you’re experiencing symptoms commonly associated with a heart attack and end up taking an ambulance to the hospital. If your health insurance decides that the cause of your symptoms (perhaps indigestion, heartburn, or a panic attack) doesn’t meet their requirements for an ambulance, they could deny your claim and leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars.

If you are lucky enough to get picked up by an in-network ambulance and your claim is accepted by insurance, they will only pay a set amount based on the Usual, Customary and Reasonable Rate. Basically, if your emergency transport is billed at a higher than usual rate, insurance companies are only required to pay a set amount based on normal rates.

MASA MTS functions as your very own team of financial defenders. We take your emergency transportation bills, negotiate with providers and work to leave you with complete peace of mind.

Even if your bills fall within the Usual, Customary and Reasonable Rate, many insurance plans feature copays and deductibles. Copays are set fees attached to certain medical services. A deductible is a set amount you must pay before insurance begins to cover your medical charges. Depending on your health insurance plan, some deductibles can be as high as $8,000. So, regardless of other variables, you could automatically be on the hook for hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars just to fulfill the requirements of your insurance plan.

MASA MTS will take care of out-of-pocket costs, including copays and deductibles.

Money Should Be the Last of Your Concerns in Any Emergency

When emergencies happen, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not the ambulance is in-network. In many cases, you won’t have any control over who renders services.

MASA covers ALL ground and air ambulance providers within the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and while traveling in Canada. As a MASA member, you’ll never need to worry about which ambulance company picks you up. MASA MTS gives you complete coverage when it comes to out-of-pocket expenses resulting from emergency transportation.

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Person Helped Up Off the Floor

Closing the Deal

Protect Yourself
From A Financial Setback

These potential gaps in coverage may not be going away anytime soon. Some ambulance companies offer their own Plans, but again, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be available during your time of need.

MASA provides complete protection from financial setbacks caused by unexpected emergency transportation bills.

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