Ohio toddler’s 40-minute ambulance ride came with a $9K bill. How an exception to surprise billing rules hurts Americans

Core Insights - The article highlights the issue of surprise medical bills, particularly focusing on ambulance services, which often leave patients unaware of costs until after treatment [1][5][9]. Group 1: Ambulance Billing Issues - Patients frequently do not receive prior information about ambulance costs, leading to unexpected bills [1]. - In Ohio, uninsured patients lack state or federal protections against high ground ambulance bills, unlike those with insurance who are somewhat protected under the No Surprises Act for air ambulance services [2][9]. - A specific case is presented where a family received a surprise bill of $9,250 for an ambulance ride, which included a base rate of $6,600 and additional charges for mileage and equipment [4][5]. Group 2: Financial Implications and Patient Experiences - The family in the article, relying on a Christian health care sharing ministry, faced significant financial challenges due to their uninsured status, with limited options for managing the ambulance bill [3][8]. - Negotiations with the ambulance company resulted in a reduced bill of $5,600 if paid in a lump sum, highlighting the potential for negotiation in medical billing [7]. - The family expects reimbursement of about 75% of their total costs from their health care sharing ministry, indicating some level of financial relief despite the initial burden [8]. Group 3: Broader Context of Medical Debt - Approximately 14 million Americans owe over $1,000 in medical debt, with 3 million owing over $10,000, illustrating the widespread nature of medical financial challenges [12]. - States like South Dakota and Mississippi have the highest shares of adults with medical debt, at 17.7% and 15.2% respectively, emphasizing regional disparities in health care affordability [12].