Does Medicare cover emergency ambulance transportation?
Medicare Part B covers ground transportation when it’s medically necessary. That means an emergency ambulance ride is covered if you need urgent medical care. Medicare ambulance coverage may not include all kinds of facilities. Ambulance rides to the following kinds of facilities are covered:
- Hospitals
- Critical access hospitals (a rurally located facility for acute care patients with limited capacity)
- Rural emergency hospitals
- Skilled nursing facilities
Sudden medical emergencies
In a sudden medical emergency, Medicare will usually cover ambulance services. Ambulance rides are covered when going to hospitals (including critical access and rural emergency hospitals) and skilled nursing facilities.
Air ambulance coverage
In some cases, a medical emergency may call for air transport. Fortunately, air ambulance charges can be covered by Medicare. One of the following conditions must be met:
- You are in a place that is unreachable by a regular ambulance
- The traffic conditions or distance you must travel by ground would prevent you from getting care fast enough
Does Medicare cover nonemergency ambulance transportation?
Ambulance travel is sometimes used in nonemergency situations. Medicare coverage may even include it under certain conditions. For example, non-emergency ambulance travel can be covered if you have an order from a doctor. Your coverage may have limits on the number of rides you can take per week or month, however.
Even with Medicare, prior authorization might be needed. This means you need to get the OK before Medicare will pay for a nonemergency ambulance ride.
Learn more about where to go for medical care in different situations
Does Medicare Advantage cover ambulance rides?
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Part B coverage is still included. That means you still have ambulance ride coverage through Part B. But some Medicare Advantage plans may offer more coverage for nonemergency rides. Medicare costs for these rides vary depending on your plan. Check your plan details or contact Aetna® Member Services to learn more.
