Ambulance services can be either emergency medical (EMT) or non-emergency medical transport (non-EMT or NEMT).

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Cost
Copayment and coinsurance costs vary by service and purpose, see breakdown below.
Prior Authorization Required
No, for EMT; Yes, for NEMT
Provider Referral or Order Required
No

How To Receive

Details on how to apply

  1. EMERGENCY (EMT): In an emergency situation, call 9-1-1 and request an ambulance.

  2. NON-EMERGENCY (Non-EMT or NEMT): Contact the AZ Blue BlueJourney Team at 1-800-446-8331 (TTY 711) for prior authorization before contacting the ambulance service.

    • It is best to contact the ambulance non-emergency line to arrange transport; do not call 9-1-1 in a non-emergency.

    • Remember that non-EMT or NEMT is non-emergency transport.

    • For help locating qualified NEMT services, call the AZ Blue BlueJourney Team for assistance with a local contact.

Copayments and coinsurance

IN-NETWORK

  • $275 copayment for each ground ambulance transport (one-way).

  • 20% coinsurance for each fixed wing, rotary, or water ambulance transport (one-way).

OUT-OF-NETWORK

  • $275 copayment for each emergency ground ambulance transport (one-way).

  • 40% coinsurance for non-emergency ground ambulance transport (one-way).

  • 20% coinsurance for each fixed wing, rotary, or water emergency ambulance transport (one-way).

  • 40% coinsurance for non-emergency fixed wing, rotary, or water ambulance transport (one-way).

Availability
Ongoing
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For emergency situations, whether for accident/injury or serious illness, emergency medical services may be needed for hospital transport.  A medical emergency occurs when a prudent layperson, with an average knowledge of health and medicine, believes that medical symptoms require immediate medical attention to prevent devastating illness, loss of life, loss of a limb, or loss of function of a limb.  The medical symptoms may be significant illness, injury, severe pain (including any unexplained or uncontrolled chest pain), or a medical condition that is rapidly getting worse.

Covered ambulance services include fixed-wing (airplane), rotary-wing (helicopter), and ground (truck) ambulance services, to the nearest appropriate facility that can provide care.  Emergency care is covered services that are rendered by a provider qualified to furnish emergency services and are needed to evaluate, treat, and/or stabilize an emergency medical condition.

Ambulance services are covered for those whose medical condition is such that other means of transportation could endanger the person’s health or is otherwise authorized by the plan.  This is known as non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) and is only appropriate if it is documented that the member’s condition is such that other means of transportation could endanger the person’s health and that transportation by ambulance is medically required.

*Note that emergency medical services do not transport anywhere other than hospitals and, in some cases, freestanding emergency departments.

Also note that family is generally not permitted to accompany loved ones in an ambulance unless the transport is a minor (aged 17 or younger).

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