I'm on Original Medicare with no supplement, and I'm wondering how much I'd pay if I need an ambulance ride to the hospital tomorrow.

Question

Jay Carlton · Accepted Answer

You will have a charge of the Part B deductible first which as of 2025 will be $257 and then 20% of the charge of the ambulance company charge in your area (state/city) you live.

John Stagner · Answer

Without a Medicare Supplement, it falls under Original Medicare, Part B. 
The key thing is that it be considered medically necessary.

That can even include transport from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility - not just transportation toma hospital.

Michael Ryan · Answer

With Original Medicare and no supplement, you'll pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for a medically necessary ambulance ride after meeting your Part B deductible, which is $257 in 2025.

Randall Taylor · Answer

You would pay 100% of the ambulance cost since Medicare does not cover that. But also know that Medicare supplements don't cover ambulance either. You need a separate policy. Some cities and/or municipalities offer reasonable plans.

Answered by Randall Taylor on April 7, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, MI & WI

Answered by Randall Taylor Medicare Insurance Agent

Jose Solis-Flores · Answer

Original Medicare generally covers ambulance services when they are medically necessary. This means that transportation in any other vehicle could endanger your health. This coverage applies to both emergency and certain non-emergency situations.

Your Potential Costs:

- If Medicare covers your ambulance trip, you'll typically be responsible for 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.   
- You'll also need to meet your Part B deductible for the year before Medicare begins to pay its share.   

The actual cost of an ambulance ride can vary significantly depending on factors such as:
- The distance traveled.
- The level of care provided during transport (e.g., basic life support vs. advanced life support).   
- Your location.

Dana Dane · Answer

I would call your local ambulance company and ask what their charges are. Often, they will have a base fee and add mileage. You might want to contact a licensed agent to talk about how much you would also pay for hospitalization, major diagnostic tests, etc. Please consider getting a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan as soon as possible or maybe Medicaid is an option for you.

Answered by Dana Dane on April 23, 2025

Agent Licensed in OR, AZ, CA & 6 other states

Answered by Dana Dane Medicare Insurance Agent

David Silver · Answer

If you have not reached your Part B deductible it should cost you between $350.00-$400.00

If you have already met your Part B deductible than it should cost between $100-$150.00

Diana Salisbury · Answer

Medicare always pays 80% first.  You must always ask the provider if they accept Medicare and if so you will pay for the remaining 20%.

Cleo Martin · Answer

You would pay 20% of the approved amount. It would be hard to k ow exact amount because it would depend on what was billed by provider.

Bruce Kern · Answer

You would have to pay the full ambulance bill. Original Medicare doesn’t pay for any ambulance services

Steve Brauer · Answer

If someone has Original Medicare without any secondary insurance, they will be responsible for 20% of any covered services under Medicare. Also important to note is that there is NO limit to the amount of money you're responsible for, if you don't have secondary insurance. A "guess" of how much it would cost you for an ambulance ride with just Original Medicare, would be in the range of about $400-$600, roughly speaking

Answered by Steve Brauer on April 13, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ & CA

Answered by Steve Brauer Medicare Insurance Agent

Gary Henderson · Answer

Well there's no exact way to tell that 
But you'd have a $257 annual deductible. If you haven't paid that you have to pay that out of the bill 
Then you would be responsible for 20% 
, so it depends on what Medicare pays for an ambulance ride time and distance. Ultimately you're responsible for 20% 
To get a supplement plan and be covered at 100% only have to pay your annual $250 $7 deductible

Randy Hill · Answer

Thanks for your question!

If you're on Original Medicare without a supplement and need an ambulance tomorrow, here's the simple version:

First, you have to pay your Part B deductible if you haven’t already. In 2025, that’s $257.

After that, Medicare pays 80%, and you pay 20% of the approved ambulance cost.

So for example, if the ambulance ride costs $1,000 (the Medicare-approved rate), you’d pay $257 (deductible) plus about $148 for your 20% share — a total of about $405 out of pocket.


Medicare will only pay if it’s medically necessary and takes you to the closest hospital that can treat you. If it’s not an emergency or you ask to go farther away, you might have to pay more.

Hope this makes it super clear! Let me know if you have any other questions — happy to help!

Curtis Stoner · Answer

It cost 20% after your Part B deductible has been met. The deductible for 2025 is $257. I hope this helps

Lisa Stansbury · Answer

The easy part of the answer is this:  

Ambulance services are covered by Medicare Part B.  You will be responsible for 20% of the total charges of the Medicare approved amount after you meet your Part B deductible.   

What is still unknowable about the charge (until after the event) is based on the total charges billed by the ambulance provider and how much Medicare has agreed to pay for depending on how the trip is "coded."  

There is a Medicare fee schedule and coding system depending where you live (zip code),   how far you need to travel, what facility you are going to (hospital? SNF? Dialysis center?) and what your medical condition is during the trip.  There are adjustment values that get included such as how much more EMT personnel may need to be reimbursed in your area, are you in an official rural area?  

Charges usually range in the thousands of dollars.   

I advise my clients to get a medigap plan to cover these costs.  If monthly premiums are a consideration, try a high deductible plan.  Then you know exactly how much out of pocket you are exposed to each year.