Holy moly! I had no idea how expensive EMS services were-

[piglet too]

When my son almost drowned, it was $1,500 for the fire department ambulance. They did all the first tests and stuff like that. It was over $3,000 for the private ambulance that transfered him to a hospital just over an hour away. Both trips were considered ALS (Advance life Support)

ETA ~ Our insurance covered all of it, minus a co-pay of $100 for each ambulance.

 

[mytwotinks]

It seems high, but what we are also paying for is the down time. They have to make enough to cover the cost of the ambulance sitting for hours on end with no calls. They can't just charge a small amount just because each call may only take a few minutes. They have to charge enough to keep themselves in business. Unfortunately, we who pay are also paying a much higher amount because of the enormous number of calls they run that they never get reimbursed for.

 

[corie161]

I do billing for our volunteer ambulance service. Our BLS base rate is $450.00 (includes supplies) + $9.38 a mile. I generally don't have a problem with Medicare paying (or other insurance for that matter), but for most it does have to be deemed medically necessary. Since we are in a elderly community, ours rates are somewhat based on what Medicare will pay. They pay $9.38/mile to our closest facility (13 miles away) and they pay almost 70% of the base rate.

We do charge a fee for those calls out that patients decide not to be transported. Found too many times that volunteers were being called out for something that could have been handled by other means.

 

[JVL1018]

I had no idea that one was charged for an ambulance(besides ALS from a hospital or a private company for transporting).
We have a volunteer ambulance corp and there is no charge at all, I don't think any town in this area charges.

For those of you who have to pay for a volunteer ambulance, do you also have a volunteer fire department and is there any cost to you?

My husband is on the fire dept(we have a paid/volunteer combo..and the ambulance corp is a separate entity) and the only time anyone ever gets charged for a fire call is if they have an obscene amount of false alarms due to malfunction and they don't fix it. Then they can get fined(but it's rare that they even bother).

 

[Camicar]

It seems high, but what we are also paying for is the down time. They have to make enough to cover the cost of the ambulance sitting for hours on end with no calls. They can't just charge a small amount just because each call may only take a few minutes. They have to charge enough to keep themselves in business.

If they are running a business, then like any business they should post their prices and get your agreement to paying those prices before using them. I am speaking, of course, of non-emergency situations such as when my dd was transported 8 blocks with no services rendered beyond that of a taxi. I don't blame the city ambulance for doing what the doctor ordered, but I do think the doctor needs to think twice about incurring a taxi bill of several hundred dollars. and that the ambulance/doctor needs to be upfront about the cost.

 

[ducklite]

My DH is an EMT for an all volunteer rescue squad. Their county charter only allows their squad to provide rescue, BLS, and transport, for more serious situations paramedics and/or life flight are dispatched as far as injuries and some illnesses. His squad handles all extractions, water rescues, and coordinates with the FD for HAZMAT.

On some weekdays the squad DH is affiliated with doesn't have enough coverage to operate BLS, and in that case ambulance BLS calls are handled through mutual aid by a neighboring squad with paid EMS or by paramedics through the local hospital. (They can always cover rescue, they have several members who are trained in rescue but are not EMT-B's who can respond to rescue calls around the clock.)

Now onto costs.

If the call comes in to DH's squad and the squad volunteers respond, there is no charge, be it for anything from bringing the rescue rig to provide additional support for the fire department to responding to a major MVA with extraction and transport to a kid who breaks his arm while skateboarding. When the squad is asked about billing or payment the person is told that there is no charge, although if they'd like to make a donation to the squad it will be gladly accepted.

If the squad isn't manned and the paid squad from the next town responds, that squad sends a bill for $250.

If the injury or illness is severe enough that ALS is warranted and the medics respond either via ambulance or life flight, a bill will be sent--the charge varies but life flight starts at $5000.

In most cases the patients insurance pays the bill, but DH knows of a few times when the paid crew responded to what was not an emergency but someone wanting a ride (yes, unfortunately that happens), and their insurance refused coverage.

When my son was injured while playing football (sprained arm and shoulder dislocation that "fixed itself"), we RMA'ed and transported him to the ER ourselves, and never got a bill, even though the local rescue squad had responded. We sent a donation, because we felt it was the right thing to do.

Anne

 

[Disneymaniacs]

There was an article in the paper a few weeks ago about a man having chest pains calling 911. The ambulance arrived at his house but because he was having chest pains they wanted to save time and take him by helicopter to a hospital 45 minutes away that had a better heart center than the one a few miles from his house. His wife waited at home for the helicopter to arrive, kissed her husband, and left in her car for the hospital. She arrived at the hospital before the helicopter. The bill arrived 2 days later for $15,000 for the helicopter ride.

 

[kidzmom3]

this is just about how long it can take for EMS to arrive at the hospital. In our area, family members often reach the ER before the patient because the EMS crew is actively working on the patient. Administering life saving medications/procedures/iv's etc.... They have also been in touch with the ER and many times have received advice and instructions from the ER doctor (med control) Many times family members are angry that they arrive before the patient, but in actuality its a good thing. Also, unless the patient is critical, our local ambulances are obliged to follow the rules of the road. Family members rarely do so.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Geez, no professional courtesy, huh?

Glad your DH is okay. I just read the backstory.

 

[mytwotinks]

If they are running a business, then like any business they should post their prices and get your agreement to paying those prices before using them. I am speaking, of course, of non-emergency situations such as when my dd was transported 8 blocks with no services rendered beyond that of a taxi. I don't blame the city ambulance for doing what the doctor ordered, but I do think the doctor needs to think twice about incurring a taxi bill of several hundred dollars. and that the ambulance/doctor needs to be upfront about the cost.

If I were the patient and I knew that it was not an emergency situation, I would be the one responsible for finding out the cost and deciding if I was going to use the service. Once the ambulance is called they are assuming that you have already decided to use their service. I do agree however that there should be a way to find out upfront what the charge will be when the situation is not an emergency. You would probably need to call the office though because the paramedics are not involved in the billing.

 

[aprilgail2]

I had no idea that one was charged for an ambulance(besides ALS from a hospital or a private company for transporting).
We have a volunteer ambulance corp and there is no charge at all, I don't think any town in this area charges.

For those of you who have to pay for a volunteer ambulance, do you also have a volunteer fire department and is there any cost to you?

My husband is on the fire dept(we have a paid/volunteer combo..and the ambulance corp is a separate entity) and the only time anyone ever gets charged for a fire call is if they have an obscene amount of false alarms due to malfunction and they don't fix it. Then they can get fined(but it's rare that they even bother).

Wow I had no idea that people paid for ambulances either. Ours is connected with the fire dept, you call, they come get you and take you to the hospital. Thats that.

 

[HelenePA]

for a .6 mile trip for me and my dd#1 back in 2002 they charged EACH of us a cool 1000$ we were in the SAME truck!... our life flight cost 15k EACH again SAME helicopter! Our car insurance paid both of those bills.. thank you State Farm and no our rates did NOT go up! LOL!

 

[solferino]

Wow I had no idea that people paid for ambulances either. Ours is connected with the fire dept, you call, they come get you and take you to the hospital. Thats that.

That;s how it works here in our little town- which is why I was so surprised with the amt that showed on the bill.

The upside is we got the insurance information to ambulance service and they said they'd take care of it from there. I guess now it's just wait and see.

 

[delilah]

If they are running a business, then like any business they should post their prices and get your agreement to paying those prices before using them. I am speaking, of course, of non-emergency situations such as when my dd was transported 8 blocks with no services rendered beyond that of a taxi. I don't blame the city ambulance for doing what the doctor ordered, but I do think the doctor needs to think twice about incurring a taxi bill of several hundred dollars. and that the ambulance/doctor needs to be upfront about the cost.

Speaking as a doctor who sees nursing home patients and occasionally needs to transport patients from one facility to another, I don't think "doctors" make the decision about what service is used. Usually, there is a nursing protocol involved. I can specify what services will be needed in transit--whether ALS or simply a van, etc, but what is actually used depends on what the nurse/unit clerk is able to arrange. (I personally get tired of doctors taking the heat from every bad decision made by any medical paraprofessional).

We recently got a bill for when my MIL was transported from the nursing home to the hospital in March 2003. The total bill was 450, and our portion was 250. So, medicare pays very poorly for tranportation. Usually, the doctor's input into transporting a patient is to order the transport for an appointment or ER visit. If it is for an appointment, the family has the option of bringing the patient to the office if the patient is ambulatory. We live in Indiana, MIL is in Florida, so, that was not an option in our case.

 

[tiggerlover]

We called 911 last year because DH was experiencing chest pains. After they came and DH was stable (no transport was needed) I asked the driver how much this was going to run us (so I could be prepared) and he said it was free for all city residents. I was very surprised, but pleasantly so.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Where I grew up the Fire Dept/EMS always had a membership drive every year. You'd pay something like $20.00(don't remember the real amount) to join the club. The if you needed an ambulance or the fire truck that year then you wouldn't get charged anything above what your insurance covered. Since you never know when you might need it my parents always joined. I always think its too bad that my local fire dept. doesn't do this. Seems a small price to pay since you never know what might happen.

ETA: ours was a mostly volunteer dept.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I'm a FF/paramedic, and also do some of the billing for our fire department. We do bill for any transports: $350 for BLS runs, $450 for ALS runs, and $10/loaded mile. We do not charge if we do not transport someone.

As far as the crews being able to quote a bill before transport, no one other than the chief or myself would be able to do that. I think for an interfacility transfer, it should be done. On a 911 response, it would be a bit more complicated.

I don't know about other areas in the country, but around here, a lot of the volunteer departments are starting to charge for transports. I don't know of many departments, however, who are truly aggressive about their billing (like sending people to collections agencies and such)

 

[Scornelius]

Wow

Just...WOW!

I have to scrape my jaw off the floor. I cannot believe these outrageous costs!! I don't want to open that particular can of worms, but I wonder how people can see such blatent price gouging and not question things.
Here it costs $75 dollars for a ride in an ambulance, no matter how far the distance. If they're transferring you between facilities, be it by bus or helicopter, there is no cost. If you have additionally insurance, they'll generally cover the $75 bucks.

 

[jemiaule]

Has anyone had to use the ambulance service at Disney provided by Reedy Creek? My son was in an accident at MK the beginning of the month and Reedy Creek was needed to take him to Celebration hospital.

I got the bill from Celebration Hospital this weekend but have not seen anything from Reedy Creek yet. Thankfully our insurance told us that it would be covered; I am just curious about the cost.

 

[HelenePA]

Wow

Just...WOW!

I have to scrape my jaw off the floor. I cannot believe these outrageous costs!! I don't want to open that particular can of worms, but I wonder how people can see such blatent price gouging and not question things.
Here it costs $75 dollars for a ride in an ambulance, no matter how far the distance. If they're transferring you between facilities, be it by bus or helicopter, there is no cost. If you have additionally insurance, they'll generally cover the $75 bucks.

in my area everything (except police) is done with volunteers .. NONE of the workers get paid for it.. to even buy the equipment they have they have to buy it themself.. that is why its SO much where I am. Also our ambulance's do local fund drives for "neighbors" IF you send them I think 45$ for a family "memebership" the cost of the ambulance is 0$ if you never need to use it.