Unprotected Consumers Face Unexpected Costs for Ambulance Rides

A noteworthy legislation called the No Surprises Act, established to safeguard Americans from most surprise medical bills, fell short in covering one crucial area: ambulance rides. Startling statistics reveal that more than half of insured patients who require an ambulance ride end up with an unexpected bill, resulting in a staggering cost of around $130 million annually, as reported by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). David Feng and Christy Shum, a couple currently grappling with a bill exceeding $7,000, found themselves in this unfortunate situation after their 1-year-old son, Theo, required an ambulance transfer shortly after being born prematurely."He was breathing, but very heavily," recalled Feng. "So he wasn't getting all the oxygen he needed." Without hesitation, the couple agreed to the transfer to a specialized children's hospital with life support. However, weeks later, while Theo was still hospitalized, the couple received a bill totaling over $7,000 for the ambulance transfer. Nearly $1,000 was covered by Christy's insurance, UnitedHealthcare, leaving them responsible for the remaining amount. Their insurance provider classified the service as "out-of-network," resulting in the hefty bill. Feng expressed his shock, stating, "It's totally shocking when you see the bill and to me, it's really unfair." Although the No Surprises Act eradicated numerous surprise medical bills, including life-saving helicopter flights, it failed to address these unexpected expenses associated with ground ambulances.Patricia Kelmar from PIRG criticized Congress for evading the issue and suggested implementing a pricing system tied to costs to protect individuals from exorbitant out-of-network bills. Unfortunately, there is no clear timeline for the development of a new system, leaving families like the one above struggling.Shum attempted to appeal their $6,000 ambulance bill but received a denial from UnitedHealthcare, which also rescinded the $1,000 initially paid. The family spent endless hours on the phone with both insurance companies, seeking resolution but to no avail. The ambulance company claimed the bill had been stuck in the system, while Blue Cross Blue Shield of California, Feng's insurance provider, declined comment due to privacy laws. Although Blue Cross Blue Shield expressed intent to resolve the issue, there has been no resolution as of yet. UnitedHealthcare acknowledged that primary coverage for Theo fell under his father's insurer and has reached out to both the ambulance company and Blue Cross Blue Shield of California to aid in resolving the bill. Despite the stress caused by mounting bills, the family rejoices in Theo's return home after two and a half months at the hospital. He is now in good health. If you would like to share information regarding the costs of medical procedures, please email us at healthcosts@cbsnews.com.