A new state law is cracking down on surprise ambulance bills. It comes with new protections for consumers. Here’s how it could affect you.
Under the
, patients can’t be charged more than their in-network cost.
“So the consumer will know what that charge is going to be when they call that ambulance,” said Katie Van Deynze, a policy and legislative advocate for
.
For those who don’t have insurance, the bill also caps what consumers can be charged at the Medi-Cal or Medicare rate.
RELATED: ‘I had no choice’: SJ couple billed more than $2,200 to take ambulance next door
A San Jose couple says they were billed $2,255 after an emergency room visit led to an unnecessary ambulance ride – approximately 100 yards away.
Last year, if you called 911 an ambulance would show up, but consumers didn’t necessarily know if that ambulance was going to be in-network or out-of-network. Out-of-network costs tend to be much higher, often tied with unexpected fees.