Financial fear is now a public health issue—and a workplace one, too. A new white paper from MASA® exposes a disturbing trend: employees are hesitating, or outright refusing, to call 911 during medical emergencies because they fear the ambulance bill more than the crisis itself.
The paper, titled “The Hidden Cost of Hesitation: Why Fear of Calling 911 Should Worry Employers,” argues that this isn’t just a personal decision—it’s a systemic threat to workforce health, productivity, and employer finances.
When Cost Fear Becomes a Health Risk
Ambulance rides in the U.S. can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. For millions of working Americans, that’s a deal-breaker—even when every minute counts.
According to MASA’s national survey data:
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1 in 4 Americans have avoided calling an ambulance due to cost concerns.
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Even insured employees face high out-of-pocket expenses for emergency transport.
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3 in 4 adults worry about affording unexpected medical bills. Nearly half can’t cover a $500 surprise bill without going into debt.
The downstream effects are severe. Delayed emergency care leads to worse health outcomes, longer recovery times, and increased absenteeism—all of which quietly erode productivity and inflate healthcare costs for employers.
“Every minute counts in a medical emergency, but financial fear is forcing employees to make impossible choices—sometimes with tragic consequences,” said David Harris, CEO of MASA. “Protecting your workforce from the hidden costs of hesitation is not just the right thing to do—it’s a critical component of your company’s healthcare strategy.”
The Employer’s Blind Spot
While employers have expanded mental health, wellness, and telemedicine benefits in recent years, emergency transport coverage has remained a blind spot. MASA’s analysis suggests that supplemental ambulance and emergency transport benefits could be the next frontier in workforce well-being—especially as companies strive to reduce preventable medical crises and absenteeism.
In essence, the paper reframes emergency preparedness as a benefits strategy issue, not just a safety concern. If workers are too afraid to seek help, even the best wellness programs fail at their most critical moment.
The Bigger Picture
The findings arrive amid growing attention to the financial toxicity of U.S. healthcare. Surprise billing laws have curbed some abuses, but ambulance services often remain outside those protections—leaving patients exposed. As employers shoulder the consequences through lost productivity and turnover, the case for expanding emergency benefits is strengthening.
For HR leaders, MASA’s message is clear: the next evolution of workforce well-being might start with something as simple—and as lifesaving—as removing the financial hesitation to dial 911.
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