Cost of ambulance transportation

Ambulance transportation to a hospital centre is not free. The Gouvernement du Québec covers most of the cost of ambulance transportation; however, the user must cover the remaining costs, except in certain situations.

The cost of ambulance transportation billed to the user includes:

• a basic fee of $125
• the cost of transport to the hospital: $1.75 per kilometre travelled
• a fee of $35 charged for any additional patient

There is no additional charge for someone accompanying the person being transported.

For ambulance transportation for a person who does not live in Canada, the basic fee is $400 plus $1.75 per kilometre travelled.

Rates may be indexed annually.

The fee for transportation by ambulance to a hospital centre must be paid by the person being transported, even if someone else called the 911 emergency service to request an ambulance.

Group or individual insurance policies often reimburse all or part of the cost of ambulance transportation. Ask your insurer if your insurance policy includes this coverage.

In some situations, the Gouvernement du Québec covers the full cost of ambulance transportation. Here are some examples:

• person injured in a road accident: cost covered by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
• person transported between two institutions in the health and social services network: cost covered by the two institutions concerned
• person 65 years of age or older: cost covered by the hospital centre the person was transported to, subject to the attending physician’s approval
• person receiving benefits under the Social Assistance Program or the Social Solidarity Program: cost covered by the Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, subject to the attending physician’s approval

For some people, the federal government pays for ambulance transportation:

• member of the Canadian Armed Forces: cost covered by the National Defence
• veteran: cost covered by Veterans Affairs Canada
• On-reserve First Nations and Inuit people: cost covered by Health Canada
• inmate in a correctional facility: cost covered by the Correctional Service of Canada

In the case of a work accident, the cost of ambulance transportation is covered by the employer.