AHS waives ambulance fees for people with no income or address
By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 11, 2023.
An ambulance travels down Scenic Drive South. Herald file photoWhen an emergency is at hand, and an ambulance is needed after the medical emergency has been stabilized, individuals are billed with the fee for that ambulance service.
Frequently members of the community have raised the question of who is paying the bill for ambulance calls to Galt Gardens and other areas to help individuals living on the streets who do not have the means to pay.
An Alberta Health Services representative Thursday said AHS waives the fee for individuals with no address and no income.
“In cases where an ambulance service fee is incurred and patients are uninsured, reasonably believed to have no fixed address, and collection is not reasonably assured, AHS will waive the fee and absorb the cost,” the representative said.
All Albertans pay the same rate for ground ambulance service, says the AHS. There are two rates – $250 if a patient isn’t transported and $350 if a patient is transported. An additional $200 is charged to patients who are non-residents of Alberta regardless whether the patient is transported or not.
Payment, says AHS, is the responsibility of the patient unless they are covered by private insurance or a government program. Seniors aged 65 and older who are enrolled in the Coverage for Senior’s program don’t get a bill with the province paying the entire cost.
Health Canada pays the user fee for EMS services for First Nations peoples. Albertans are also exempt for payment who receive health benefits through income support, Adult Health Benefits or Alberta Child Health Benefits.
AHS said there are benefits available to low-income Albertans through the Adult Health Benefit. According to Alberta.ca, the adult health benefit is available for low-income households.
“The Alberta Adult Health Benefits program covers health benefits for Albertans in low-income households who are pregnant or have high ongoing prescription drug needs. This health plan includes children who are 18 or 19 years old if they are living at home and attending high school.”
The Alberta Adult Health Benefits program provides coverage for dental care, prescription drugs, eye exams and glasses, essential diabetes supplies, emergency ambulance services, and essential over-the-counter medications.
Individuals eligible for this program must be one of the following are pregnant, have high ongoing prescription drug needs, leaving the income support or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) programs due to excess income from employment, self-employment, or CPP-D benefits.
Eligible applicants must live in Alberta, be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status, meet guidelines, and not be receiving health benefits from other government programs.
AHS offers both ground and air ambulance services and says more than 670,000 ground events occur each year in the province that involve more than 780 ambulance vehicles and 5,600 EMS practitioners providing care.
AHS contracts 11 fixed-wing aircraft to provide 24-hour service with bases in 10 communities. Three contracted providers deliver helicopter ambulance service.
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My niece was involved in an accident, didn’t call EMS, but was billed over $400 after refusing to go to the hospital so I am wondering where that figure came from. I think it was $480, but now sure. The point is she didn’t call but got billed and for more than the what is stated here.
I always knew the homeless didn’t get billed, yet take up over 60% or 70% of the EMS calls. EMS also needs to respond with more than one unit so most of the time a fire unit/crew respond for security reasons due to the aggression faced when addicts are revived sometimes, or others who are trying to tell EMS what to do in an aggressive manner.
Very sad that our paramedics, the lifesavers, now have to wear protective vests to protect themselves as well.
Therein lies the reason that there are no ambulances available when we really need one. So much abuse of the system.
Firefighters call the Ambulance (when dealing with this group of people “The Bus”) Turns out , it’s actually cheaper than a real bus , it’s free!