We have been citing the reluctance of insurance companies to revise their payment charts, in keeping with the time and also several air ambulance companies that simply refuse to budge down when it comes to the pricing.
This time around, Missouri Insurance Department has come up with a report that reveals, on an average, people of Missouri are paying about USD 20,000 for an air ambulance services. Of course, this is a whopping price for a common person, not just in the state but anywhere in the world. The report further said that close to USD 26 million was billed by air ambulance companies in the year 2017. Of this, 12.4 million is what people had to bear, taking into consideration deductibles and co-pays.
Does the Report Vilify Air Ambulance Companies?
This was a question that air ambulance industry advocates would raise without a doubt and not for any frivolous reasons. Balance Billing, which forces patients to pay the amount when insurance companies refuse to clear the air ambulance bills, had no mention in the report. The reason stated for this was ‘insufficient data’. One could even say that the lack of this data, sort of makes the report a little lopsided.
High Fixed Cost was Cited by Air Ambulance Companies
One aspect that should be appreciated about the air ambulance companies is that they have not shied away from saying the amounts charged to the patients are pretty steep. They have also expressed their helplessness in containing this, as the fixed costs of maintaining a medical flight is very high. However, what goes against the favor of some air ambulance companies is the fact that they are unwilling to come in the network of insurance providers.
As we have always stated, the air ambulance industry and the insurance industry need to come together to find a middle path, so that the common person does not have to bear the burden of huge bills.
