Committee to recommend patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less

Committee to recommend patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less

A committee chartered to find ways to stop ambulances from sending patients exorbitant bills is set to tell Congress that patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less.

The recommendation, which still relies on the convoluted private insurance industry, comes as nearly half of all ambulance rides in the US result in a “surprise bill” of often hundreds of dollars.

“America has decided to use an insurance system to spread the risk among many,” said Patricia Kelmar, senior director of healthcare campaigns at US Pirg, a consumer advocacy group.

“But when it comes to ambulances, without a surprise billing protection, that risk isn’t spread – the person who needs the ambulance is paying a lot more than anyone else who has that insurance.”

  • solsangraal@lemmy.zipEnglish
    78·
    2 months ago

    “capping ambulance bills will wreck the entire economy and turn us into north korea!!!”

    -GOP

    • bolexforsoup
      33·
      2 months ago

      I’d love for them to come out against this tbh. Same way they attack school lunch programs. It alienates more reasonable people

      • kautau@lemmy.world
        4·
        2 months ago

        Depends. They won’t say anything about the actual bill here, they’ll pass a counter bill called “Ambulance Freedom for All Americans” bill and idiots will go “well duh, fucking libs trying to take away ambulances”

  • credo@lemmy.world
    21·
    2 months ago

    I suppose you first have to cap what private ambulances can charge. No?

    It’s either that or force every ambulance service to negotiate pricing with every insurance provider. Just like ERs you don’t really have a choice where you go (or who picks you up), nor exactly have the time to ask, “Are you in network?”

    Our system is a mess.

  • Nastybutler@lemmy.world
    10·
    2 months ago

    Hundreds of dollars? That must be nice. If I have to be Medivaced to a hospital I’m looking at a charge of around $10k. I’ve often purchased separate insurance from the 2 companies that provide that service in my state (Alaska) when I know I’ll be doing risky things in remote areas.

    That’s right, I have to buy 2 separate policies, because I won’t get to choose which one picks me up, as it’s a matter of who’s available and even if I had a choice between them, I could be incapacitated so couldn’t make my wishes known.

    Fortunately the insurance is around $150/year for each, so not crazy expensive, but still not what I’d like to be spending that money on