Is it true that ambulances in America wont pick up accident victims unless they have health insurance?
by 
Luc Thiet Thuan
ANSWERS: 17
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no thats bullshit'
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No. They don't ask for insurance information when you call for an ambulance.
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Every person in the US has the right to Emergency Medical Care, even without insurance. It is illegal for an ambulance, doctor, or hospital to refuse emergency care to someone for any reason.
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Edit* No, that is definitely not true. They don't deny transportation to anyone.
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You can always ask the laywer chasing it for a loan
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Why would you wonder about this long enough to ask it? We are not a nation of barbarians. On the other hand, the cost of ambulance service is high and many low income people with no insurance will hesitate to call one.
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Nahh, what if the victim was in a coma and bleeding to death and nobody knows if he's covered...if they let him die on the assumption he wasn't covered but turns out that he was then they would feel real dumb.
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no way. have you ever heard of a 911 dispatcher asking a mother if she has health insurance when her baby isnt breathing and she is frantically calling for help? no. have you ever heard of an emt/firefighter asking a burn victim if they have health insurance before rushing them to the hospital? no. if that were true, why would rescue workers bother getting out the jaws of life and extracting a car accident victim from a wreck and flying them to a hospital? do you honestly think they would refuse care to an unconscious person because they cant verify their health insurance status? your question implies that americans are sick. you need to get your head out of your a**.
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It looks like its getting that way, more & more each day. But they still pick them up around here in my area. I have notices that those with health ins. Seem to be the first one's that gets attended to in some places tho. Its sad when I see someone come into the ER waiting room, with a bad cut or even loss of a finger or what ever. And have to go through all that paper work before being attended. As someone else may come in a few min's later with only a small cut etc: But do to them having the ins: they may get attended first. It may not happen everywhere. Lets hope it dose not. But I have seen it take place in some places ........Plus 5 for your question.
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Unfortunatly yes, some private ambulance companies and some private hospitals can and do refuse to care for you unless you have insurance. The term here is "private". In general however public ambulance service companies are paid for with public funds. Then the service bills you or the insurance company. The same with public hospitals.
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No if you're WHITE... If you look or sound "illegal" they won't bother coming at all.
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That is total bullshit! Never once as a paramedic have we EVER been told to refuse emergency care to anyone.
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No that's not true. they just bill the person for an outrageous amount that they will never be able to pay for and so the hospital forks the bill for any expenses incurred (because medical supplies do cost money for the hospital and are very expensive) then that hospital rights it off on their taxes and long story short--ultimately we pay the bill.
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If you call 911 for an ambulance, the nearest one to your location must be sent to help you. The only time that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff can refuse to treat you or take you to a hospital is if they believe you do not need emergency care; a physician must approve this decision.
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Horse manure! Ambulances are required by law to answer any call. No questions are asked, nor by the emergency station or physicians at hospitals/clinics. The finances are worked out later. Some people may have no insurance, but can pay. Some may be unable, but that can also be worked out. Nobody is refused ambulance service or emergency care.
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Here they don't refuse anyone that needs medical treatment. In fact lest time I went to the ER because my jaw dislocated I tried to hand them my insurance card and she said put it away we are not allowed to ask for that, it will be handled later.
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No, this is most definitely not true. In an emergency situation, ambulances must pick up everyone. Similarly, a hospital cannot refuse to take care of someone in the Emergency Department because of lack of ability to pay. This is the subject of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor (EMTALA) law.
- M.C.S. - Dave 
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