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.

Misty Bolt · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/im-on-original-medicare-with-no-supplement-and-im-wondering-how-much-id-pay-if-i-need-an-ambulance-ride-to-the-hospital-tomorrow#misty-bolt

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

Marsha Reiniers · Answer

If you only have Original Medicare with no supplement, an Ambulance is covered under Part B, and once you have paid your Part B Deductible - 2025 it is $257 - Medicare would pay 80% and you would pay the remaining 20%.

Answered by Marsha Reiniers on June 24, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, GA, NC, PA, SC & VA

Answered by Marsha Reiniers Medicare Insurance Agent

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

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.

Tyler Dalton · Answer

Under Original Medicare (Part B), ambulance rides are covered, but you’re on the hook for:

Your Part B deductible for 2025 ($257)

Then 20 percent of the Medicare-approved fee for that trip

So if your deductible isn’t met yet, tomorrow’s ride might look like:

$257 (deductible)

20 percent of the approved amount.
– Example: if Medicare’s fee is $300, 20 percent is $60 → $317 total due.
– Once you’ve met that $257 for the year, you’d pay only the 20 percent (about $60 in our example).

Medicare-approved fees vary by service level (basic vs. advanced life support), mileage, and locality, so it pays to ask your ambulance provider what their Medicare-approved rate is. But the structure is always the same: deductible first, then 20 percent coinsurance

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.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

You are only covered for 80% by not choosing a secondary insurance option. Since the Advantage plan is subsidized by Medicare, your only downside is the fairly steep deductible of about $3K per year. Thus, you have no monthly premium but if you are hospitalized, that is your responsibility. Picking up the 20% will save you money. Every state has a different cost for the one-way trip.

Answered by Steven Bleicher on June 9, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

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

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.

Thomas Magnus · Answer

These costs vary depending on where you need ambulance services, the type of transport required(ground or air), the condition and en route treatment needs of the patient and number of miles transported. Average basic and advanced services cost $940 and $1,277, respectively in 2025.

Answered by Thomas Magnus on June 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in CA, AZ, NV, OR & WA

Answered by Thomas Magnus Medicare Insurance Agent

Bruce Kern · Answer

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

Janet Cruz · Answer

Yes, Medicare part B would cover it. An ambulance ride costs between $200-$2000 an average cost of an ambulance ride is $1,200. 

You would pay the following:

Medicare deductible for 2025 Part B is $257
20% coinsurance on $1,200 is $240

Total for an ambulance ride is $497.

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

Vachik Chakhbazian · Answer

Medicare Part B, which covers ambulance services, has a yearly deductible that you must meet before Medicare starts to pay.
For 2025, the Part B deductible is $257. You will be responsible for this amount if you haven't already met it. 
After you meet your Part B deductible, you'll generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the ambulance ride.
Medicare will pay the remaining 80%.

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

Humara Riaz · Answer

If you’re on Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) without a supplement, you’ll usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for ambulance services after you meet your Part B deductible for the year.

As of 2025, the Part B deductible is $240. Once you’ve met that deductible, Medicare typically covers 80% of the cost, and you’re responsible for the remaining 20% out-of-pocket.

Donnie Vermillion · Answer

You will pay 20% of the "medicare approved amount" - the amount that original medicare sets for a service or item. When your provider accepts assignment medicare pays their share and you pay your share.

Answered by Donnie Vermillion on May 13, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX

Answered by Donnie Vermillion Medicare Insurance Agent

Glenn Soucek · Answer

If you have only Medicare or original Medicare Part A and Part B without a supplement, you will typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for an ambulance ride after meeting your Part B deductible.

Answered by Glenn Soucek on June 17, 2025

Agent Licensed in IL

Answered by Glenn Soucek Medicare Insurance Agent

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

Daniel Keenan · Answer

Ambulance rides can cost from $500-$2000 depending on location and distance.  However, air ambulance can cost $50-$350 per mile!!

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.