A Hewitt woman is battling Blue Cross Blue Shield over a $511 ambulance bill, even though she has already met her deductible and out-of-pocket maximum for the year.
Shelia Smith received the bill after calling 911 when her husband collapsed last year. She believes the cost should have been fully covered, as she had already met her deductible and out-of-pocket maximum for 2024. For Smith, the issue is more about principle than money, questioning whether insurance companies expect patients to take Ubers or use ambulances located 28 miles away during emergencies.
According to Blue Cross Blue Shield, most ambulance services do not have agreements with health insurers and do not negotiate rates. This issue, the insurer says, is not limited to Hewitt but affects many areas across the nation.
Smith is on her third attempt to appeal the charge. She hopes her fight will encourage insurance companies to put people and essential services before premiums. In her words, she fears that people may be forced to risk driving their loved ones to the hospital out of desperation, especially when they can’t afford the unexpected costs of ambulance services.
Related topics
