It could soon cost you to pay for ambulance services that were once free.

Volunteer fire departments across Long Island that run ambulances will now be able to bill insurance for emergency services.

Insurance could be billed for basic life support services, which is $300 to $500. If a patient requires advanced life support, insurance could be billed $1,200 to $1,500.

The patient would also be responsible to pay whatever insurance doesn't cover.

The money that fire departments will be collecting from insurance will go toward recouping their costs to respond to emergencies.

Sen. John Brooks says some of the response costs went up during the pandemic because of all the personal protective equipment that had to be used.

The EMS Cost Recovery Act included in New York state's budget is supposed to help fire departments and EMS regain some of the money they lost during the pandemic.

"The average person won't see the difference other than the service will be better and the equipment will be better," says Donald Corkery, of the Association of Fire Districts.

People used to be able to directly call their fire department knowing they wouldn't be charged a fee. Long Islanders say the new costs are "unfair."

"That should be free services, to help someone in need," says Gregory Rogers of Massapequa. "They shouldn't charge anybody for help for their physical well-being."

The measure will start to take effect in July.