Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 22, 2025 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller Does Medicare Cover Ambulance Rides? Dear Savvy Senior, A few months ago, I took an ambulance to the hospital emergency room because I had a nasty fall at home but just received a hefty $1,050 bill from the ambulance company. Doesn’t Medicare cover ambulance rides? Frustrated Beneficiary Dear Beneficiary, Yes, Medicare does cover emergency ambulance services and, in limited cases, nonemergency ambulance services too, but only when they’re deemed medically necessary and reasonable. So, what does that means? First, it means that your medical condition must be serious enough that you need an ambulance to transport you safely to a hospital or other facility where you can receive care that Medicare covers. If a car or taxi could transport you without endangering your health, Medicare won’t pay. For example, Medicare probably won’t pay for an ambulance to take someone with an arm fracture to a hospital. But if the patient goes into shock, or is prone to internal bleeding, ambulance transport may be medically necessary to ensure their safety on the way. The details make a difference. Second, the ambulance must take you to the nearest appropriate medical facility. If you choose to be transported to a facility farther away because the doctor you prefer has staff privileges there, expect to pay a greater share of the bill. Medicare will only cover the cost of ambulance transport to the nearest appropriate facility and no more. Medicare may also pay for an emergency flight by plane or helicopter to the nearest appropriate medical center if the trip would take too long on the ground and endanger your health. Nonemergency Situations Medicare may also cover ambulance transportation in some cases when you’re not facing a medical emergency. But to receive this coverage, your doctor needs to write an order stating that an ambulance is medically necessary because other ways to get you to an appointment could endanger your health. For example, if you’ve been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, Medicare may pay if you have a doctor’s order stating that it is medically necessary for you to use an ambulance to take you to and from a dialysis center. You also need to know that in nonemergency situations, ambulance companies are required to give you an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage or ABN if they believe Medicare may not pay. This lets you know that you will be responsible for paying if Medicare doesn’t. Ambulance Costs Ambulance rides can vary from several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on where you live and how far you’re transported. Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of the Medicare-approved ambulance rides after you’ve met your annual Part B deductible ($257 in 2025). You, or your Medicare supplemental policy (if you have one), are responsible for the remaining 20 percent. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, it must cover the same services as original Medicare and may offer some additional transportation services. You’ll need to check with your plan for details. How to Appeal If an ambulance company bills you for services after Medicare denies payment, but you think the ride was medically necessary, you can appeal – see Medicare.gov, click on “Providers & Services” followed by “Claims, Appeals, and Complaints.” To help your case, ask the doctor who treated you for documentation that you needed an ambulance. If you need some help, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), who can help you file an appeal. Go to ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675 for contact information.. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. On Aug. 22, 1485, what wars named after a flower ended? 2. K2 is the tallest mountain in what country with many elaborately decorated vehicles? 3. Which song is oldest: “Java Jive,” “Coffee Blues” or “Black Coffee”? 4. On Aug. 23, 1928, Richard Halliburton obtained a Guinness World Record for lowest toll (36 cents) for traversing what manmade waterway? 5. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier started with remains from what war? 6. What is an Angeleno? 7. August 24 is National Waffle Day; in 1964, Brussels Waffles were served at the Belgian Village at the World’s Fair in what city? 8. What dance event is in “Die Fledermaus,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Romeo & Juliet”? 9. On Aug. 25, 2005, what hurricane — the costliest in U.S. history — made landfall? 10. The term “nuke” means what cooking method? 11. In August 2025, Tennessee’sMLB Speedway Classic set what record for regular-season game attendance: 55,010, 91,032 or 115,300? 12. The Massachusetts flag has blue, gold and what other color? 13. On Aug. 26, 1920, was the certification of the 19th Amendment, which does what? 14. Isle Royale is the only national park in what state? 15. What does “bageled” mean in tennis? 16. On Aug. 27, 1963, civil rights activist William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, who was a Great Barrington, Mass., native, died; what is he more commonly called? 17. The term nirvana is derived from what language: Arabic, Sanskrit or Tamil? 18. What are basenji dogs known for? 19. What is an umbilicus usually called? 20. August 28 is National Bow Tie Day; what cartoon animal (since 1934) wears a bow tie? ANSWERS 1. The Wars of the Roses (named after heraldic badges: House of York’s White Rose and House of Lancaster’s Red Rose) 2. Pakistan (Trucks and buses are an art canvas.) 3. “Java Jive” (1940, recorded by The Ink Spots) 4. Panama Canal 5. World War I 6. A resident or native of Los Angeles 7. NYC (Traditionally, a “Belgian” waffle is from Brussels; Belgium has other types, including Liège and stroopwafel.) 8. Masquerade ball 9. Katrina 10. Microwave 11. 91,032 (115,300 record for a preseason game, between the Dodgers and Red Sox) 12. White 13. Gives women the right to vote 14. Michigan 15. Ending a set at 6-0 16. W. E. B. Du Bois 17. Sanskrit 18. They do not bark, due to the shape of their larynx, but do yodel. 19. Navel or belly button 20. Donald Duck
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