300 dollars to call 911?
- Thread starter Dekka
- Start date
I get it. Some people may really need medical attention but really, they are in good enough shape to get a ride to the hospital even if they need to call a cab. Maybe if they have to pay that much they will rethink it and call a cab or bother a friend rather than take up an ambulance that is really NEEDED somewhere else.
My friend was really really sick and vomited so much that she was very dehydrated and really, really weak. I agree that she needed to get to the ER asap but she called an ambulance and I really thought that was overkill. She had stopped vomiting for an hour or so(mostly cause there was nothing left to vomit) and there was enough warning when she needed to vomit that someone could have pulled over. There were like, 3 people @ her house, I just dont see why she needed an ambulance. IMO the situation needs to be very serious to call an ambulance.
My friend was really really sick and vomited so much that she was very dehydrated and really, really weak. I agree that she needed to get to the ER asap but she called an ambulance and I really thought that was overkill. She had stopped vomiting for an hour or so(mostly cause there was nothing left to vomit) and there was enough warning when she needed to vomit that someone could have pulled over. There were like, 3 people @ her house, I just dont see why she needed an ambulance. IMO the situation needs to be very serious to call an ambulance.
Depends on how much the insurance pays for. All out of pocket, no. If the insurance covers it all (which they did on mine), then sure. I've essentially already payed for it anyhow.
But I highly doubt it costs the hospital only $100 to send out an ambulance.
Also sometimes you're not only paying for yourself, but also those that can't afford to pay for the ambulance themselves (people from past calls) or the ones they can't get to pay (IE the idiots who call for little things and refuse to pay so it's just turned over to collections). That's another reason the price is so high. Just a small taste of how wonderful socialized medicine is.
Oh and we have high markups on other 'essentials' such as milk, but no one complains about that. The government has to subsidize the farmers because the milk can be produced so very cheaply that pure competition drives the price into the shitter. We get crazy markups on milk. Grain too, and you can't get much more basic than that.
But I highly doubt it costs the hospital only $100 to send out an ambulance.
Also sometimes you're not only paying for yourself, but also those that can't afford to pay for the ambulance themselves (people from past calls) or the ones they can't get to pay (IE the idiots who call for little things and refuse to pay so it's just turned over to collections). That's another reason the price is so high. Just a small taste of how wonderful socialized medicine is.
Oh and we have high markups on other 'essentials' such as milk, but no one complains about that. The government has to subsidize the farmers because the milk can be produced so very cheaply that pure competition drives the price into the shitter. We get crazy markups on milk. Grain too, and you can't get much more basic than that.
The first and only time I've ever needed to call an ambulance...my cell phone charged me something like $1.50 for the call.
The ambulance ride was 6 miles - the bill was $867 for just the ambulance ride. My insurance covered it all.
However, this was because my 3 year old ate half a bottle of prescription medication of mine (put on top of the fridge with a child locking cap) and I was not comfortable with driving him to the hospital in case something happened, would much rather have paramedics there if he had a bad reaction.
The ambulance ride was 6 miles - the bill was $867 for just the ambulance ride. My insurance covered it all.
However, this was because my 3 year old ate half a bottle of prescription medication of mine (put on top of the fridge with a child locking cap) and I was not comfortable with driving him to the hospital in case something happened, would much rather have paramedics there if he had a bad reaction.
Most calls involve no medical equip. So they drive say 15 min, talk to the people and leave. Think about it, if they figure they will make money on a flat rate of 50 (which most people won't do) then it can't cost that much.
I have no issue with them charging for what they do. Ie if they use X units of saline, charge of x units of saline. If they just pick someone up and take them to the hospital it should cost less than if they have to perform a lot of first aid and use a lot of supplies.
In that township they are also going to charge for fire calls. So you have a fire do you call? They figure it will make the fire dept ~600 000 a year with the new fee. Will your insurance company cover that too? If so will insurance rates go up (cause they make money off you too)
I have no issue with them charging for what they do. Ie if they use X units of saline, charge of x units of saline. If they just pick someone up and take them to the hospital it should cost less than if they have to perform a lot of first aid and use a lot of supplies.
In that township they are also going to charge for fire calls. So you have a fire do you call? They figure it will make the fire dept ~600 000 a year with the new fee. Will your insurance company cover that too? If so will insurance rates go up (cause they make money off you too)
But thats the laughable part.
I am fine with paying for what you use. But you are seriously fine with paying a HUGE mark up so the hospital can make more money?
So if grocery stores start charging 10 dollars for a loaf of bread (and 20 for flour so you don't make your own) that just fine, cause those using it are paying for it. And you just don't eat unless you need too.
Its not the charge I am shocked by. Its the mark up. But hey if you are fine with gouging thats great. I mean our economy is doing fine and I still don't think I would be cool with all these extra charges from monopolies.
I am fine with paying for what you use. But you are seriously fine with paying a HUGE mark up so the hospital can make more money?
So if grocery stores start charging 10 dollars for a loaf of bread (and 20 for flour so you don't make your own) that just fine, cause those using it are paying for it. And you just don't eat unless you need too.
Its not the charge I am shocked by. Its the mark up. But hey if you are fine with gouging thats great. I mean our economy is doing fine and I still don't think I would be cool with all these extra charges from monopolies.
I was originally thinking how stupid! But the more I think about it why not? If you listened to the majority of 911 calls they are not things people would be calling about if they knew it would cost 300$. And I bet there will be a low cost program/forgiveness or something like that.
Here we have an ambulance program where we pay 50$ a year per household and if we need the ambulance its covered.
I personally would not pay the 911 fee. I also have the sheriff on my cell though
Here we have an ambulance program where we pay 50$ a year per household and if we need the ambulance its covered.
I personally would not pay the 911 fee. I also have the sheriff on my cell though
Sparks did a great job explaining that emergency services are ALWAYS marked up. Vet services, ER visits, ambulances, anything that happens on a moments notice costs more. Does it actually COST more to provide that service? No--but you're paying to insure that you can see a doctor immediately.
It costs more because my $300 insures that 911 isn't going to tell me "I'm sorry, the ambulance is all booked up until Monday, call back for an appointment then." A hospital is a private business, just like any other. The free market will generally regulate itself, and settle upon a fair price. If no one likes the $300 price tag, people won't use the ambulance as often (good or bad, depending why you're calling 911 in the first place...) and it will adjust.
It's not the same as bread. You can plan bread consumption. You don't need to be "on call" to make bread. You're grasping at straws with that analogy. My argument would still be the same though--if they charged $10 for bread, no one would buy it anymore. Economics says we'll look at substitutions--we'd buy bagels, crackers, or go without. Eventually bread would have to come down in price to a fair market value, where people are willing to pay for it.
It costs more because my $300 insures that 911 isn't going to tell me "I'm sorry, the ambulance is all booked up until Monday, call back for an appointment then." A hospital is a private business, just like any other. The free market will generally regulate itself, and settle upon a fair price. If no one likes the $300 price tag, people won't use the ambulance as often (good or bad, depending why you're calling 911 in the first place...) and it will adjust.
It's not the same as bread. You can plan bread consumption. You don't need to be "on call" to make bread. You're grasping at straws with that analogy. My argument would still be the same though--if they charged $10 for bread, no one would buy it anymore. Economics says we'll look at substitutions--we'd buy bagels, crackers, or go without. Eventually bread would have to come down in price to a fair market value, where people are willing to pay for it.
the bread works if you take it in the context I meant.
The mark up is huge. THis is a money making scheme. ANd you are all ok with it. (which is great for them.. convince you its justified and then charge you through the nose) I am glad you are for it. I wouldn't buy a car with a 200% mark up, nor anything else. Just when calling an ambulance its not like you can shop around for a cheaper rate.
This is one area where capitalization fails the system. Treatment in the US is some of the most expensive in the world. Because so many people are making money off of it. Why can they do that? Cause they tend to have monopolies over their area. I remember going to a talk that was far more fascinating that I was expecting on capitalism. (I happen to be a fan of capitalism btw) and much was discussed about the inherent checks and balances in such a system-except when it comes to monopolies.
But Hey if you guys are all down with it, then thats good.
The mark up is huge. THis is a money making scheme. ANd you are all ok with it. (which is great for them.. convince you its justified and then charge you through the nose) I am glad you are for it. I wouldn't buy a car with a 200% mark up, nor anything else. Just when calling an ambulance its not like you can shop around for a cheaper rate.
This is one area where capitalization fails the system. Treatment in the US is some of the most expensive in the world. Because so many people are making money off of it. Why can they do that? Cause they tend to have monopolies over their area. I remember going to a talk that was far more fascinating that I was expecting on capitalism. (I happen to be a fan of capitalism btw) and much was discussed about the inherent checks and balances in such a system-except when it comes to monopolies.
But Hey if you guys are all down with it, then thats good.
Which is why monopolies are regulated. Heck, Oligopolies are usually regulated, to prevent them from becoming unwanted monopolies.
And I'll bet you do pay 200% markup on lots of stuff. Ever bought anything from a retail store? Look at the employee discount (usually 30-40%). The company still makes money, even on the discounted price. My BIL works at best buy, and the $70 HDMI cables he gets for $4.30. Best buy STILL makes money on them at the $4.30 price. That's a...bazillion percent markup. Movies cost pennies to make per dvd. People pay $20-30 to buy them.
And in service professions too--the fee for a mover for an hour was $100 + mileage + truck rental fee. He has no costs. Should he not be allowed to charge more? (The actual mover only got about half that--the company got the rest for overhead). The guy who came out to install my satellite dish cost $200 just for the service fee (I still had to buy the equipment). It took 45 minutes. Your cell phone data packages cost how much per month? Guess what, text messages are FREE for cell companies to send.
So yeah, we all pay 200% markups all the time without even thinking about it. I'm not sure why, just because a company is in a health service industry instead of a technology service industry, they shouldn't be allowed to make a profit.
And I'll bet you do pay 200% markup on lots of stuff. Ever bought anything from a retail store? Look at the employee discount (usually 30-40%). The company still makes money, even on the discounted price. My BIL works at best buy, and the $70 HDMI cables he gets for $4.30. Best buy STILL makes money on them at the $4.30 price. That's a...bazillion percent markup. Movies cost pennies to make per dvd. People pay $20-30 to buy them.
And in service professions too--the fee for a mover for an hour was $100 + mileage + truck rental fee. He has no costs. Should he not be allowed to charge more? (The actual mover only got about half that--the company got the rest for overhead). The guy who came out to install my satellite dish cost $200 just for the service fee (I still had to buy the equipment). It took 45 minutes. Your cell phone data packages cost how much per month? Guess what, text messages are FREE for cell companies to send.
So yeah, we all pay 200% markups all the time without even thinking about it. I'm not sure why, just because a company is in a health service industry instead of a technology service industry, they shouldn't be allowed to make a profit.
Not if I can help it I don't. I have options. I don't have to have a tv etc.
I never said (will say for at least the 3rd time) I don't have an issue with them making money.
I repeat, I don't have an issue with them making money.
But I do have an issue with marking up things like emergency services to boost profits. Why not over charge for things that are more optional?
I mean why can't you want a company to be ethical. Just cause you can financially fleece your customers doest' mean you automatically should.
I never said (will say for at least the 3rd time) I don't have an issue with them making money.
I repeat, I don't have an issue with them making money.
But I do have an issue with marking up things like emergency services to boost profits. Why not over charge for things that are more optional?
I mean why can't you want a company to be ethical. Just cause you can financially fleece your customers doest' mean you automatically should.
I'm saying if a company is price gouging, the free market system should get it back down to a reasonable rate. Hospitals are regulated, as stated before. They can't suddenly charge horribly outrageous fees just to get more money.
I think your approximations of the cost to constantly have ambulances on call for all the dozens of false-alarms and true emergencies is low. I have no real basis for that assumption, I just can't imagine being able to run a successful ambulance service with a driver and multiple paramedics being available 24/7 for $100/trip without going into the red.
I think your approximations of the cost to constantly have ambulances on call for all the dozens of false-alarms and true emergencies is low. I have no real basis for that assumption, I just can't imagine being able to run a successful ambulance service with a driver and multiple paramedics being available 24/7 for $100/trip without going into the red.