Transportation that's covered by Medicare

Medicare covers the following types of ambulance services:

1.  EMERGENCY GROUND (vehicle)

When is it provided? 
After you have had a sudden medical emergency, when your health is in serious danger, when every second counts to keep your health from getting worse, and when other transportation could endanger your health.  For example, severe pain, shock, bleeding or unconscious.

What conditions do I have to meet?
Coverage depends on the seriousness of your medical conditions and whether you could have been safely transported some other way.


2.  NON-EMERGENCY GROUND

When is it provided?
When you need transportation to diagnose or treat your health condition and transportation in any other vehicle would endanger your health.  For example, you are confined to your bed and you need to be transported to get dialysis treatments.

What conditions do I have to meet?
In some cases, you must have orders fro your doctor or other health care provider saying that ambulance transportation is necessary because of your medical conditions.


3.  EMERGENCY AIR (airplane or helicopter)

What is provided?
If your health condition requires immediate and rapid ambulance transportation that ground transportation can't provide.  Example:  life threatening car accident.

What conditions do I have to meet?
You must have a condition that requires immediate and rapid ambulance transportation that ground transportation can't provide.

Medicare pays 80% of the Medicare approved amount after you meet the yearly Part B deductible.  Other criteria may apply.  For more  detailed information visit www.medicare.gov to view the booklet, "Medicare Coverage of Ambulance Services."