When cost fears put health at risk

When someone you love is badly hurt, struggling to breathe, or showing signs of a stroke, there should be only one priority: getting help fast. But for many families, fear of the bill creates hesitation — and those lost minutes can make an emergency far more dangerous.

This article is Part 2 of a series, following last month’s feature, “Why We Hesitate to Call 911,” and it further explores the factors that influence whether people seek emergency care.

Fear vs urgency

Hesitation isn’t just financial — it’s psychological. During an emergency, people weigh the seriousness of their symptoms against the fear of medical bills.

Research from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows:

• Nearly half of U.S. adults find healthcare costs difficult to afford.
• About three-quarters worry about unexpected medical bills.
• Lower-income households, the uninsured, and communities of color are most affected. 

Even a few minutes’ delay can be life-threatening.

Related article: The first step in emergency response

The high cost of waiting

Emergency medicine relies on tight timelines. Two critical concepts illustrate why every minute counts:

• The Golden Hour – the first 60 minutes after a traumatic injury or life-threatening illness, when treatment is most effective.
• The Platinum 10 – the first ten minutes of emergency response, when first responders assess, stabilize, and begin transport.

Delays before help arrives shrink these critical windows. Research shows that hesitation is associated with poorer outcomes, longer hospital stays, and higher mortality rates.

Common emergencies where delays can be deadly

Even short delays can worsen outcomes for these common emergencies:

• Cardiac arrest: Survival rates are low without rapid intervention.
• Choking: Oxygen deprivation can cause brain damage or death within minutes.
• Stroke: Patients lose roughly 1.9 million neurons per minute without treatment.
• Severe bleeding: Survival drops about 10% for every 15 minutes of delay.
• Anaphylaxis: About half of fatal reactions occur within the first hour.
• Severe burns: Delays increase risk of infection, sepsis, and organ failure.
• Animal bites and stings: Early care significantly reduces infection and complications.

The takeaway? When symptoms feel severe, frightening, or unusual — the safest choice is to call 911 immediately.

Related article: Why timely care is important

MASA benefit spotlight: Treat and No Transport

Some MASA plans now include Treat and No Transport, a feature designed to reduce hesitation caused by cost concerns.

With Treat and No Transport, MASA will reimburse eligible out-of-pocket expenses for emergency medical treatment provided by a summoned first responder, even if no ambulance transport occurs. This is limited to two reimbursements per consecutive 12-month period beginning from your plan’s effective date.

When in doubt, call

Delaying care in an emergency can make problems worse, increase costs, and ultimately put your life at risk. The 911 system exists to remove uncertainty. Dispatchers assess the situation, determine the appropriate response, and guide you through what to do next. You don’t have to judge the severity alone.

Your primary health insurance and protections like MASA are designed to help you in these exact moments, providing financial support so you can confidently access care when you need it most.