What is a Life Flight Balance?
In a medical emergency, every second counts. Sometimes, the fastest way to get to a hospital is by air ambulance, often called a Life Flight. While this service can be a lifesaver, it frequently comes with a shocking price tag, leaving patients with enormous bills. These bills can be especially confusing when your insurance covers only a fraction of the cost, leaving you with what’s known as a “Life Flight balance.” The personal injury attorneys at Bill Easterly & Associates will explain what these balances are and how new laws protect you from them.
The No Surprises Act: Your Shield Against Surprise Bills
Historically, if an air ambulance was not in your insurance network, the provider could bill you for the entire portion your insurance didn’t cover. This practice, called balance billing, resulted in unexpected and often overwhelming medical debt.
For context, the median charge for an emergency air ambulance flight can be tens of thousands of dollars. Since patients have no choice in which provider responds during an emergency, many were left vulnerable to these surprise bills.
To address this, the federal government enacted the No Surprises Act, which took effect on January 1, 2022. This law provides critical financial protections for patients needing emergency air transport. Under the Act, out-of-network air ambulance providers are banned from balance billing patients.
This means you are only responsible for paying your regular in-network cost-sharing amount, such as your deductible or copayment. The law ensures that in an emergency, you won’t be punished financially for receiving life-saving care from an out-of-network provider.
How an Attorney Can Help You
Even with the protections of the No Surprises Act, dealing with a massive air ambulance bill can be intimidating. If you’ve received a bill that seems incorrect or are being pressured to pay more than your in-network costs, a lawyer can be a powerful ally.
A personal injury or medical debt attorney can help in several ways:
- Negotiate Reductions: Lawyers are skilled negotiators and can often secure significant reductions in your bill, sometimes by as much as 20-80%.
- Audit the Bill: They can meticulously review your bill for errors or overcharges that you might have missed.
- Challenge Claim Denials: If your insurance company wrongfully denies your claim, an attorney can help you appeal the decision.
- File Lawsuits: In some cases, a lawyer may file a lawsuit to force the provider to accept a lower, more reasonable payment.
Hiring an attorney ensures your rights under the No Surprises Act are upheld and protects you from aggressive collection tactics while they work to resolve your debt.
Get the Legal Help You Need
At Bill Easterly & Associates, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers is dedicated to helping people who have been harmed by the negligence of others. While our primary focus is on injury claims like car wrecks and workers’ compensation, we understand the financial devastation that can follow a medical emergency. Our goal is to secure the compensation our clients need to get their lives back on track.
If you are facing overwhelming air ambulance costs or a confusing Life Flight balance, we can help you understand your rights and explore your options. Contact Bill Easterly & Associates today. Our team is ready to review your case and fight to ensure you are treated fairly.
