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Cost guide

How much an ambulance costs

For people with employer insurance, the median base rate for a ground ambulance ride was $718 in 2022, plus $17 a mile, about double what Medicare pays 1. Many people are billed more, because ambulance services are often out of network and federal surprise-billing protections generally don’t cover ground ambulances 2. Cost should never stop you from calling 911 in an emergency.

Updated November 15, 2026. Every figure links to its source below.

Photo of a person opening a bill, with an ambulance parked outside the window

Ambulance prices

RideBilled chargePaid with insurance
Ground, emergency, advanced life support (2020, base fee)$1,277 average 3$758 average, in network 3
Ground, base rate (2022)—$718 median, plus $17 a mile; Medicare $365 1
Helicopter (2017)$36,400 median 4—
Fixed-wing plane (2017)$40,600 median 4—

Commercial insurance claims unless noted. Base fees don’t include mileage.

Why surprise ambulance bills are common

You usually can’t choose the ambulance, and many aren’t in your plan’s network. In 2022, 59.4% of ground ambulance claim lines were out of network 5, and in 2018, 51% of emergency ambulance rides for privately insured patients included an out-of-network charge 6.

The No Surprises Act protects you from most surprise bills for ER care and air ambulances, but ground ambulances are generally not covered unless a state law says otherwise, and they can still charge out-of-network rates 2.

As of March 2024, 14 states had laws that specifically address ground ambulance balance billing: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Texas, Vermont and West Virginia 7. A federal advisory committee recommended capping what patients pay for an emergency ground ambulance at $100 or 10% of the rate, whichever is less; in its March 2024 report that was a recommendation to Congress, not a law 7.

With Medicare

Medicare Part B covers ground ambulance transport when traveling any other way could endanger your health 8. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible 8, which is $283 in 2026 9.

If you get an ambulance bill

  • Check whether your insurer has processed the claim, and whether the ambulance was in or out of network.
  • Ask your insurer to review the claim if it was an emergency and the ride was out of network.
  • Check whether your state has a ground ambulance billing law.
  • For an air ambulance bill or other surprise-billing questions, call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059 2.
  • Ask the ambulance service about financial assistance or a payment plan.
Common questions

How much an ambulance costs, answered.

General information, not medical, legal or billing advice.

How much does an ambulance cost?
For people with employer insurance, the median ground ambulance base rate was $718 in 2022, plus $17 a mile 1. Billed charges are often higher: $1,277 on average for an emergency advanced life support ride in 2020 3.
Does insurance cover ambulance rides?
Usually for emergencies, but ground ambulances are often out of network, and federal surprise-billing protections generally don’t apply to them 2. Medicare Part B covers medically necessary ground ambulance rides 8.
How much does an air ambulance cost?
The median charge in 2017 was about $36,400 for a helicopter and $40,600 for a plane 4. Since 2022 the No Surprises Act protects insured patients from surprise air ambulance bills 2.
Should I drive to the ER instead of calling an ambulance to save money?
Not in an emergency. If someone may be having a heart attack, stroke, serious injury or trouble breathing, call 911. Don’t let cost decide.

More cost guides

How much urgent care costs · How much an ER visit costs · ER vs urgent care cost · Does insurance cover urgent care? · Urgent care or the ER? · Urgent care near you

Sources

  1. Health Care Cost Institute: Commercial prices for ground ambulance are double Medicare rates (Dec. 16, 2024; 2022 data)
  2. CMS: Know your medical bill rights (No Surprises Act; updated Oct. 1, 2026)
  3. FAIR Health: Average in-network amount for advanced-life-support ground ambulance transport rose 56 percent from 2017 to 2020 (Feb. 23, 2022)
  4. U.S. GAO: Air ambulance: available data show privately-insured patients are at financial risk, GAO-19-292 (Mar. 20, 2019; 2017 data)
  5. FAIR Health: Nearly 60 percent of ground ambulance rides were out of network in 2022 (Sept. 21, 2023)
  6. KFF: Half of emergency ambulance rides lead to out-of-network bills for privately insured patients (June 24, 2021; 2018 data)
  7. Advisory Committee on Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing: Report to the Secretaries (dated March 29, 2024; published by CMS Aug. 2024; PDF)
  8. Medicare.gov: Ambulance services
  9. Medicare.gov: Medicare costs (2026)

Last updated November 15, 2026. Prices vary by state, clinic, insurance plan and what care you need; the figures above are averages and ranges from the cited sources, not quotes. Ask the clinic or your insurer for your own cost. General information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER whatever the cost.

This is not for emergencies.

For life-threatening symptoms, severe chest pain, trouble breathing, or immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.