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Will Medicare cover ambulance services?
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It’s a scary uncertainty: you never know when an unexpected accident or medical event will happen. Having access to ambulance transport can be vital during a life-threatening health emergency. If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, you may be wondering if your Medicare plan will cover ambulance services. 
Medicare Part B will cover ambulance services, but only in specific situations. Medicare Advantage plans may also cover ambulance services, but coverage will vary by plan. Coverage will also depend on the type of ambulance ride: ground, air or non-emergent. Let’s walk through the details of ambulance coverage under Medicare.
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Situations Where Medicare Will Cover Ambulance Rides
The good news is there are several situations in which ambulance services will be covered by Medicare. However, it will depend on the type of ambulance transportation—ground, air or non-emergent. The circumstances under which Medicare Part B will cover each type of ambulance transportation vary.
Ground ambulance transportation: Medicare Part B will cover a ground ambulance ride if transportation by a personal vehicle would put your health at additional risk. If you can be transported another way without further compromising your health, then Medicare will not cover a ground ambulance.
Air ambulance: For an air ambulance ride (for example, an airplane or helicopter) to be covered, the location of the emergency must be inaccessible by ground ambulance. If the location is technically accessible but has unsafe conditions for the ambulance personnel or patient, Medicare will also cover an air ambulance.
Non-emergent ambulance transport: Medicare may cover an ambulance ride in a non-emergency scenario if it is deemed medically necessary; for example, a person with end-stage renal disease needs an ambulance ride to a dialysis facility. This transport needs to be ordered by a doctor in order to be covered by Medicare.
Things You May Have to Pay for Under Medicare Part B
Even for ambulance rides covered by Medicare, you will still be responsible for certain costs. For Medicare Part B-covered ambulance services, you’ll have to pay your annual Part B deductible and 20% coinsurance. As of 2023, the Part B deductible is $226. For Medicare Advantage plans, you may not have to pay a deductible, only a copay, but this will vary by plan. Something to keep in mind is that ambulance companies cannot legally produce excess charges, so they have to accept Medicare’s approved price as full payment.
SelectQuote Can Help Answer Your Questions About Medicare-Covered Transportation
Needing ambulance care can be stressful, but it can also be the key difference in a life-and-death situation. It helps to understand if your Medicare plan covers ambulance services, and SelectQuote can help. Our licensed insurance agents will walk you through the details of your Medicare coverage and answer any questions you have about ambulance care. We have 35+ years of industry experience as well as the ability to shop and compare Medicare Advantage plans on your behalf in just minutes, saving you time and money so you can get the care you need.
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We do the shopping. You do the saving.
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