We recognize ambulance billing can be confusing and challenging for the patients we care for. Please scroll down to review some helpful information and frequently asked questions about ambulance bills.
Ambulance Bill Help
To pay an ambulance bill or submit your insurance information, please contact our billing provider:
Online: EMS|MC
Phone: (800) 814-5339
Notice of Privacy Practices
Patient Satisfaction Survey
Helpful Information & Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I being billed for ambulance services?
The vast majority of ambulance services across the United States are funded using a fee-for-service model. Ambulances provide services, then bill for those services after. Though local governments do provide some financial support, the majority of our revenue comes from billing for the emergency medical services we provide.
What is EMS|MC?
EMS Management Consultants (EMS|MC) is Good Fellowship’s third-party billing vendor. Though EMS|MC is based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, they have direct ties to Good Fellowship and are authorized to process billings and payments on our behalf.
You may see a LEWISVILLE, NC address on your Good Fellowship invoice. This is correct and the mailing address for EMS|MC to process Good Fellowship claims.
I received an ambulance bill but I am a current subscriber to Good Fellowship
It is possible that you received a bill for services even though you are a current subscriber. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please let us know and we will correct this immediately. You can reach us at (610) 431-8781 or info@goodfellowship.org.
Why is my ambulance bill so expensive?
Simply put: Ambulances are expensive to operate. Good Fellowship employs talented EMS personnel to provide prehospital emergency medical care. These clinicians use state-of-the-art ambulances and lifesaving equipment to provide the very best care to those in need. Staff and equipment costs, known as our “cost of readiness,” is the primary reason for the billed amount.
Even if you were only transported a mile or two, you received a fully equipped ambulance costing over $365,000 with, at minimum, two credentialed EMS personnel that provided a full assessment and care of your illness or injury.
Additionally, government healthcare plans, such as Medicare and Medicaid, are the primary payer for the majority of Good Fellowship’s patients. These plans pay fixed flat-rates to Good Fellowship and are always below the cost of actually providing the service that patients need.
I can't afford my ambulance bill
Good Fellowship does consider hardship requests from patients unable to afford out of pocket costs for ambulance services. If you feel you may qualify, please contact our billing vendor (EMS|MC) and request information on a hardship request.
Call EMS|MC at 1 (800) 814-5339
You will need information off of your Good Fellowship invoice for the request
Where can I review Good Fellowship’s Notice of Privacy Practices?
Our Notice of Privacy Practices can be found by clicking on “PATIENT PORTAL” then “Notice of Privacy Practices” on this website.
Direct Link: http://www.goodfellowship.com/notice-of-privacy-practices/
Why is Good Fellowship Out-of-Network?
Almost all ambulance services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that provide emergency (911) medical services are out of network.
WHAT’S NEXT?
You are likely to receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance, outlining the total charges, the amount covered by insurance, and any balance that the patient may owe to Good Fellowship.
Insurance may also outline a discounted rate on their EOBs. Good Fellowship’s invoice and the EOB then show the patient responsibility as much different amounts, leading to confusion on what is really owed by the patient when insurance is out of network. This is somewhat of a misnomer, as most patients have no choice when it comes to who is available to provide emergency ambulance service to them in their time of need.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Patients that find themselves facing this situation should place a call to their insurance company explaining the emergency nature of the trip and ask the insurance to reprocess the charges as most insurance will usually correct the problem and pay an additional amount towards the ambulance bill.
WHAT SHOULD I SAY TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY?
Considering telling your insurance provider that Good Fellowship Ambulance is not in network. Let them know you were not able to pick an ambulance service who is in network because of the emergent situation. Inform your insurance provider that 911 was called for a medically necessary emergency. Request that they reprocess the ambulance claim since it was an emergency situation.
Most of the time insurance is able to reprocess your claim to pay an additional amount on your ambulance bill.
Why was the payment from insurance sent directly to me?
Because Good Fellowship is Out-of-Network, your insurance may send payment directly to you, at your primary address.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Once payment is received from your insurance, either by check made payable to you or by electronic disbursement, you should immediately make payment to Good Fellowship for the amount of the insurance payment.
How to make a payment to Good Fellowship:
Online:
EMS|MC Patient Portal - https://emsmc.com/patient-portal/
You will need information off of your Good Fellowship invoice to complete online payments
By Phone:
Call EMS|MC at 1 (800) 814-5339
You will need information off of your Good Fellowship invoice to complete payments by phone.
Mail Check or Money Order:
Make check or money order payable to: Good Fellowship Ambulance
Include your Run Number and/or patient name (Found on Good Fellowship invoice)
Mail to:
Good Fellowship Ambulance
PO Box 429
Lewisville, NC 27023-0429
Drop off Check or Money Order: (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only)
Make checks payable to: Good Fellowship Ambulance
Include your Run Number and/or patient name (Found on Good Fellowship invoice)
Drop off at:
Good Fellowship Ambulance
600 Montgomery Avenue
West Chester, PA 19380
Prevent Future Out-of-Pocket Ambulance Bills
Lifesaving emergency medical transport can put a stress on your family’s finances, but with a subscription to Good Fellowship Ambulance, subscribers have NO out-of-pocket expenses if treated and/or transported by us – so you can focus on recovery, not finances.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Residents can purchase a subscription that is good for (1) one year. Good Fellowship will bill your insurance and accept whatever they pay as payment in full. Any out-of-pocket expenses are written off.
Click on "DONATIONS & PAYMENTS" on this website and scroll down to "Purchase an Ambulance Subscription." If you live within Good Fellowship's coverage area, mailers are sent out in late October of each year.
Beware of Deceptive Insurance Practices
A deceptive insurance practice is one that misleads, or is likely to mislead, a consumer. If an insurer is distributing false information about a policy to their clients, it’s performing a deceptive insurance practice. Unfair and deceptive insurance practices usually benefit the insurance company while harming the customer.
It’s important to understand the benefits of your insurance plan. Insurance companies, especially those who provide plans within Pennsylvania, are well aware that most ambulance companies that provide emergency services are out-of-network.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Suspect deceptive insurance practices? Contact the Pennsylvania Insurance Department:
Phones are staffed during normal business hours (8:00 am – 4:30 pm) Monday through Friday at 717-787-2317. The Department also has a toll-free automated consumer hotline, 1-877-881-6388. Callers can leave a message, and your call will be returned in less than two business days.
Phone: 717-787-2317
Toll-free: 1-877-881-6388
Email: ra-in-consumer@state.pa.us
