# Can I negotiate my ambulance bill or should I dispute it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-negotiate-my-ambulance-bill-or-should-i-dispute-it/817011>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 29, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-negotiate-my-ambulance-bill-or-should-i-dispute-it/817011 "2018-06-29T18:59:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-negotiate-my-ambulance-bill-or-should-i-dispute-it/817011/41 "2018-07-03T02:31:59Z")

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> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> He was having a stroke. He couldn’t stand; you think he could be arsed to make phone calls & understand answers at that point?
> 
> .

No, I’m talking about NOW. Go back and read my example. The ambulance ride was mis-coded as non-emergency and thus went to out-of-network. That’s an entirely different deductible.

The op has since established that this is covered under in-network. If the full amount isn’t met then it doesn’t help the current situation but it’s a big deal if another event takes place this year.

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**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-negotiate-my-ambulance-bill-or-should-i-dispute-it/817011/42 "2018-07-03T14:04:45Z")

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> [@vivalostwages](#):
>
> The claim is on my insurer’s web page which is linked in the email they sent me.
> 
> The allowed and deductible amounts from CARE ambulance are: 2108, 57, and 27, totaling $2192.00.
> 
> As of the date of service of June 1, I had met 2410.92 of my 6300 deductible.

So, if these are “allowed amounts”, they are the contracted rates that your insurer usually pays for this service, not just gouge prices that the ambulance company has made up. You should check with the insurer that what they are showing on the claim corresponds to the service you actually received. But if the coding is correct, I think your scope for negotiating these rates is limited, since they are the best rates that the insurer has negotiated with providers for the service.

I don’t want to worry you, but you really should try to work out if this is an in-network ambulance. Ask your insurer if it’s not clear on the explanation of benefits. If it is out-of-network, you may find that you get a balance bill for a larger amount direct from the ambulance company. In which case, refer to comments above about balance billing for out-of-network emergency services.

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