Surprise bills and ambulance bills in Louisiana
If your state-regulated plan covers an emergency ground ambulance ride (not an air ambulance) from an out-of-network provider, the plan's payment is payment in full except your copay, coinsurance and deductible, and those may not be more than your in-network amounts.
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
What Louisiana adds
- State law
Louisiana out-of-network ground ambulance law (Acts 2023, No. 453)
- Which plans it covers
Health coverage from insurers regulated by Louisiana: insurance companies, HMOs, hospital and medical service corporations, risk-based provider organizations, and self-funded government plans. Most self-funded employer plans are not covered by state insurance law.
- Ground ambulance
The state protects you
If your state-regulated plan covers an emergency ground ambulance ride (not an air ambulance) from an out-of-network provider, the plan's payment is payment in full except your copay, coinsurance and deductible, and those may not be more than your in-network amounts. The ambulance provider may not bill you for anything more. The plan pays the rate set by the local government where the service started or, if none, the lesser of 325% of Medicare or the billed charges, and pays the ambulance directly. No Louisiana law limits ground ambulance bills for people without insurance.
Law: La. R.S. 22:1880.2
Itemized bills and price estimates in Louisiana
If a health care provider, hospital or ambulance service claims a privilege (a right to be paid first) on money from an injury claim, any person who was given notice of the privilege can ask in writing, by certified mail, return receipt requested, for an itemized statement of all charges for the injured person. The provider must send it within 30 days after it gets the request. If it does not, the privilege ends.
Law: La. R.S. 9:4755
Where to complain in Louisiana
- Attorney general: Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Section · 1-800-351-4889
A medical provider, collector or debt buyer charged more than 3% interest on medical debt, or another business treated you unfairly. - Health insurance: Louisiana Department of Insurance · 1-800-259-5300
Your health insurer denied a claim or did not pay an out-of-network ambulance as the law requires. - Debt collectors: Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, collection agencies
A collection agency broke Louisiana's collection agency rules.
Free tools, letters and checklist
Questions about medical bills in Louisiana
Am I protected from ground ambulance bills in Louisiana?
If your state-regulated plan covers an emergency ground ambulance ride (not an air ambulance) from an out-of-network provider, the plan's payment is payment in full except your copay, coinsurance and deductible, and those may not be more than your in-network amounts. The ambulance provider may not bill you for anything more.