Why American ambulance rides are so expensive
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Ambulance rides are expensive because Medicare pays per ride, not for readiness.
The article argues that ambulance billing in the US is broken because of a 1965 Medicare decision to pay per ride, treating ambulance transport like any other medical procedure. This ignores that most ambulance costs now come from standing ready 24/7 with trained paramedics and equipment, not from the ride itself. The result: high, unpredictable bills for patients, including surprise out-of-network charges for half of the 3 million privately insured Americans who take emergency ambulances yearly. The author rejects greed as the explanation, noting ambulance providers are often unprofitable.
What commenters are saying
Commenters largely praise the article's clarity. Many reject the 'private equity' explanation, noting the article explicitly argues against it. Several point out that the solution is obvious: fund ambulance services like fire departments, through taxes or broad premiums, as done in other countries. One commenter shares a practical tip: asking for itemized documentation can stall collection. Another notes that California has banned balance billing for emergency transport, but some providers circumvent it by billing emergencies as 'non-emergency.'