300 dollars to call 911?

[ACooper]

I wanted to mention there is a $1.80 charge on my water bill (from the town) for Public Fire (fire department) there is also a similar charge for garbage pick up per month. That's a little more than $20.00 a year to be sure we have a fire department if my house catches on fire and I need them. Firemen don't work for free, they are on call like doctors.........there are a certain number STAYING at the fire house at all times. Sometimes they play cards, cook dinner, watch movies......but they are STILL on duty, get paid for that time, and come when called.

Same with paramedics and EMTs. They have to be at the station. They are getting paid even if all they do for their 24 hour shift is play cards. That isn't free for the hospital, neither is insurance, gas, the actual STATION with property tax, utilities, etc. I would highly, highly doubt the cost to send out an ambulance is in the $100.00 range, noway, no how.

 

[Dekka]

No but they don't get to spend much time sitting around. Its not like they sit there all day for one call.

The number I worked out was for an average of 8 calls in a 24 hour period which I think is likely quite low.

To me it still looks like a high profit when its JUST paying for 2 paramedic's wages (and they don't make a ton) the fuel, insurance, standard reusuable equip) and vehicle

 

[ACooper]

Well there is quite a difference in Paramedic wages and EMT wages, at least to my knowledge. A paramedic is more highly trained than a nurse, and an EMT usually knows a bit more than basic first aid and first responders cpr, etc.

But that still doesn't account for the building, property taxes, insurance on the building, and when we say 'insurance for the vehicle' I am more than sure it isn't like getting our cars insured, LOL..........there's a much higher risk to that so the premiums are bound to be more expensive.

But anyway, yes, I am sure the hospital makes a profit.......they are after all a business. And I also highly doubt that $300.00 is the entire ambulance charge minus medical care.........IMO, that is the flat rate they are going to charge JUST to have it leave the garage for you. There will be plenty of other charges tacked onto that bill, not even counting any medical service you are provided during the ride

We called an ambulance YEARS ago for my grandmother, we lived way far out and they ended up sending an ambulance and then helicopter right behind. I have no clue what the bill for that looked like, I was a teenager at the time. I'm sure it wasn't pretty, LOL We live MINUTES away from a hospital at the moment, can't see us calling for a ride unless one of us were home alone and needed help. In that case, no matter the cost I'd be happy to know they were there..........otherwise, no. We'll be driving ourselves thanks

 

[GlassOnion]

n 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)

Where are you getting this? It doesn't mention fire in the article.

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.

If my insurance was paying for it, then sure. Out of pocket, no.

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.

Problem here is you're just focused SO very much on the mark up. Mark up that you yourself made up. Do you have ANY idea how much the ambulance costs to actually run beyond what your friends say? What's happening beyond the scenes is often a lot more than what the people in the machine deal with straight off. Insurance, taxes, lawsuits, etc. It's likely NOT a huge mark up.

Not if I can help it I don't. I have options. I don't have to have a tv etc.

You don't HAVE to have an ambulance either. You're paying them because they're there for you. You can drive yourself or have someone else drive you. When I broke my leg, they could've moved me (though it would've been painful for me) into a car and driven me themselves (though it's better for the healing process that they don't). It is an option, just not a pleasant one.

But again, the insurance payed for it, and we'd already paid for the insurance.

 

[Dekka]

I said it was in a different article. I assume those arguing actually do some of their own research.

Thats very interesting that as long as your insurance covers it its ok.

You do realize insurance companies are out to make money too?

 

[CaliTerp07]

You do realize insurance companies are out to make money too?

*gasp* You're kidding!

Of course. It's a cost/benefit analysis on the part of the consumer.

 

[GlassOnion]

I said it was in a different article. I assume those arguing actually do some of their own research.

Why would I be researching fire fees? The original article is clearly about medical response fees. Usually when one brings something else into play, they provide some kind of source for it.

Thats very interesting that as long as your insurance covers it its ok.

You do realize insurance companies are out to make money too?

I am aware, yes. I'm also aware that when my broken leg cost $30,000 to heal, it only cost us, out of pocket, $3,000. That's including EVERYTHING, room, treatment, etc. and I was there for 2 months in traction. So 1/10 of cost? For 2 months room, board, medical expertise, etc? Sure, sign me up. I highly doubt we had put that much money into the insurance company at that point. Edit: Actually it cost us $3,060 because I had to go back 3 times (at $20 copay each) to get check-ups on the leg while it was in a cast and on the third one it was removed.

Only thing I don't like about insurance companies is they actively try to find the most negligible reasons to drop someone off their coverage.

 

[AGonzalez]

You don't HAVE to have an ambulance either. You're paying them because they're there for you. You can drive yourself or have someone else drive you. When I broke my leg, they could've moved me (though it would've been painful for me) into a car and driven me themselves (though it's better for the healing process that they don't). It is an option, just not a pleasant one.

But again, the insurance payed for it, and we'd already paid for the insurance.

Exactly my thoughts. I had a horse fall on me and roll over me when I was 14. Nobody called an ambulance. My mom flagged a car down on the highway, had them drive to my grandparents house and get grandma to drive down and get me, with a nicely broken leg. Grandma drove me to the ER, and even though it was not an idea ride for me (I got put in the bed of the truck so we didn't have to move me much) it was faster and more efficient than calling an ambulance.

So unless someone is dying or bleeding to death, or has a true emergency, they shouldn't be calling anyway.

I wouldn't pay the $300 fee myself, I'd drive myself in whatever condition or have someone else drive me to the hospital if it was necessary.

 

[Lilavati]

All I can think is what if there is an emergency with someone I don't know? Say the guy next to me on the subway has a heart attack? Who pays if I call 911, me or him? I think this would create a huge incentive for bystanders NOT to call for help when someone is in need of it, for fear that they will incur a $300 charge. For that matter, if it is the victim who pays, what about epileptics and others who don't really need an ambulance, but may be with people who don't know that?

For that matter, do we actually want to encourage people who might need an ambulance to drive themselves, or to wait until someone else can drive them? They could die waiting, or kill someone else on the way to the hospital.

Besides, I'd say I already pay to have the dang ambulance show up in a real emergency . . . its called my local and state taxes . . . if they are really that hard up, then raise the taxes slightly (and it would be only slightly) to cover it . . . and fine people for frivolous calls. 911 is there to be called when it is needed, and was designed to make it easy to get help . . . this charge does the opposite.

 

[vanillasugar]

No but they don't get to spend much time sitting around. Its not like they sit there all day for one call.

aaaactually... Matt has worked his last 4 shifts in a quieter area of the region where he works, and has not had a single call on ANY of those shifts. It happens more often than you'd think

I know healthcare and emergency medicine is totally different here than in the states (and yes, there is a BIG difference in the level of training between a Paramedic and an EMT). I'm just chiming in.