Service Fees

The cost of ambulance services is not and has never been an insured service. Each province determines the amount and the circumstances under which it will subsidize its services.

For Nova Scotia residents, that is, individuals with a valid Nova Scotia Health Card, the government covers all costs associated with the care given by paramedics during an ambulance transport between approved facilities, i.e., between hospitals.

For medically essential transports, with a valid Nova Scotia Health Card, from place of residence to an approved health facility or scene to an approved health facility, a service fee of $142.30 is charged.

In those instances where an individual does not have a valid Nova Scotia Health Card; is eligible for third-party payment (insurance); or the ambulance trip is not medically essential, an unsubsidized rate is charged. The following fee schedule outlines the service categories and corresponding fees.

EHS Ground Ambulance Service Fees (As of April 1st, 2013)
  Medically Essential Transportation Inter-facility Transportation
Most Nova Scotians with a valid health card $142.30 $0.00
Non-Nova Scotians $711.60 $0.00
Non-Canadians & New Canadians $1,067.35 $1,067.35
People who are third party insured
(This includes people covered by motor vehicle insurance, Worker’s Compensation, or the federal government.)            		$711.60 $711.60
Nova Scotians who are mobility challenged $105.80 N/A
Fee to transport nursing home and residential care facility residents to hospital $52.90 $0.00
For additional information regarding Ground Ambulance Service Fees please consult the Ambulance Fee Regulations

EHS Service Fee Brochure
Learn more about EHS Service Fees by reading our EHS Service Fee brochure.

 

Ambulance Fee Assistance Program
Effective September 1, 2012 (this process will not apply retroactively).

If the payment of the total amount of your invoice will create a financial hardship, a repayment schedule will be offered. If you are unable to pay your bill based on your level of income, you can apply to have the invoice waived under the Ambulance Fee Assistance Program.

To determine eligibility, the Ambulance Fee Assistance Program will use net household income less taxes as the primary assessment, with income thresholds based on the Statistics Canada produced Low Income Measure.

For more information please call the EHS billing office at (902) 832-8337 or toll-free 1-888-280-8884.

Ambulance Fee Assistance Program- Eligibility
  • The applicant must be a resident of Canada.
  • The applicant must not be a recipient of Employment Support & Income Assistance through the Nova Scotia Department of Community Service.
  • The applicant must not be eligible for other Federal/Program government programs that cover the cost of ground ambulance transportation.
  • The applicant must not be covered by third party insurance that covers the cost of ground ambulance transportation.
  • The applicant must have filed income taxes for a tax year within the two years preceding the date of the ground ambulance invoice.

Low Income Measures, 2010 (Statistics Canada)

Income Source

Household size

2010

 

Assessed income:
Net income less total taxes payable as reported to the Canada Revenue Agency (line 236 less line 435) on the Income Tax and Benefit Return.

 

1 person

19,161

2 persons

27,098

3 persons

33,188

4 persons

38,322

5 persons

42,845

6 persons

46,935

7 persons

50,695

8 persons

54,195

9 persons

57,483

10 persons

60,592

Service Fee Appeal Committee
A Service Fee Appeal Committee meets to review individual invoices using the Ambulance Fee Regulations. Persons wishing to appeal an invoice are asked to submit an appeal in writing to the committee. The committee reviews the appeal letter, the invoice and if necessary, the patient care record to assess whether or not the service fee was appropriate based on the Ambulance Fee Regulation and EHS Policies. For more information regarding this process please contact the EHS Billing Office at (902) 832-8337 or toll-free 1-888-280-8884.