ROSEVILLE (CBS13) -- Medical bills can take a toll on your bank account. So when a Roseville woman's insurance company finally agreed to pay her ambulance bill, she was relieved. But she called Kurtis Ming after struggling to get a refund for a portion she already paid.

Sarah Jedrzynski is doing fine these days, but in May 2010 a sudden illness brought her to the emergency room.

"I kept vomiting and vomiting and vomiting and one time I almost passed out," recalls Sarah.

She called an ambulance to take her to the hospital. The prognosis was either food poisoning or a virus.

The ambulance bill from American Medical Response was $1370.70. She paid it because Medicare initially denied her claim. Sarah appealed, and Medicare covered all but $82.20, which her supplement insurance paid. So she was due back her 1370.70. AMR refunded all her money, except that $82.20.

"They admitted that they had the $82.20 back," says Sarah. "I kept calling and I called at least four different times, kept getting the run-around. And they still haven't paid me to this day."

"Its a very hard road for the little guy," says Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders, a non-profit advocacy group for insurance consumers.

Bach says there's no rule or law that requires AMR to issue Sarah's refund within a certain timeframe.

"The ambulance company didn't have a contract with her, they have a contract with either Medicare or her supplemental insurance provider," sys Bach.

We contacted American Medical Response. They apologized and admitted they made a mistake. Sarah was sent her refund check immediately.

"I feel wonderful about it," Sarah says.

Bach recommends people who have issues with Medicare and supplemental insurance claims get in touch with a non-profit called Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, or HICAP.