Should Americans pay for ambulance rides?
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Most likely, we will all need an ambulance ride to the hospital at least once in our lives. Whether you hurt yourself playing sports or had a heart attack, ambulances are the key sources to your welfare. They provide a safe and fast way of getting to people that can help you. But, should ambulances cost money? I mean, we need a safe and fast way of getting to the hospital, but should Americans really pay for it? Here is my opinion.
Stats
According to NAEMT, there are almost 50,000 ambulances with almost 900,000 EMS persons. There are roughly 1,000 to 10,000 calls for ambulances a week. So its clear Americans need ambulances. Ambulance fees are very high. For a resident residing in that city, it ranges from city to city. $400 to $500 is what you will be paying if you are a resident of that city. If you are not a resident, the charge goes up around $100 bucks. It also depends on how far you are going. If you are going down the street, it will be less money then going across town. The mileage is 10 dollars a mile. Other things you might get charge for include CPR or chest decompression.
Is it fair?
So Americans need ambulances. Say you are inside of your residence having a heart attack. You call 911 and the ambulance arrives to rush you to the hospital. You arrive at the hospital, get medicated and go home soon thereafter. You get home and get slapped with a bill over $500!
Now, you needed that ambulance. You could have been in the process of having a heart attack and just decide to die there because you cannot afford the ambulance fees. Now how bad would that look against ambulance fees?
I think Americans should not pay for ambulances. My goodness, they are having an emergency and should be able to get to help QUICK and FREE. Especially during this tough economy, Americans cannot afford the service!
So how do we solve this problem? Well, you must first ask the question, why am I being charged for in the first place and what for? I would guess that they charge you money for the salary of the EMS technicians, gas money, earn revenue for the city, and also to buy equipment or medicines they used on you. This is all I see them charging you for. There might be other reasons, though.
Ambulance Insurance
Some programs do offer Ambulance insurance, meaning they will pay for the ambulance. But it doesn’t stop here. Look for your monthly payments to increase!
Should the City of Irving, Texas do this?
See results without votingOne Way of Fixing it
The City of Irving, Texas has founded a way to stop these high ambulance fees. The City will simply tax its citizens for ambulance rides on their water bill. Even if they don't need an ambulance ever, they will still have to pay the taxes on their bill. The chances of never using an ambulance are slim, but is this a correct way of fixing the problem. Now, the tax amount is 1 dollar to 1.50. Its not a big payment at all. Most can afford it, but should those people who never use ambulances be able to be exempt? I think not. Those people need to pay the dollar taxes because it may not be them that need an ambulance, it might be friends, parents, grandchildren, husbands, wives, etc.
So all in all, Americans should not pay for ambulances. They are having an emergency and should get the respect of being transported to the hospital completely free and quick. This is my opinion, lets hear yours!
JohnB0127
My website: www.NorthTexasLuxury.com
Twitter: @JIBurg4
Should Americans pay for ambulance rides?
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Maybe whenever I need an ambulance I will just call a friend that I know is willing to drive like a nut with his horn blasting, flashing his high beans with his hazards on and is willing to go through red lights. I bet it would be cheaper to pay for the ticket and if a police officer stops us to give us a ticket I bet he will help us get to the hospital anyway. I have my solution.
But, for everyone else on the road it might be safer for an ambulance to be provided for free. Shouldn't our ridiculously high health insurance be covering something. I feel like I am paying a fortune and am not getting a damn thing out of it. If I didn't have a wife and kids and didn't live in MA I would be more than happy to go without. To be honest I prefer to eat healthy and exercise than need to go to the doctors for anything other than a broken arm.
We live in England, which has a National Health Service. The ambulance service is free at the point of delivery, but of course everybody pays for it through their taxes.
I agree with you all. Thanks for the interesting comments.
John, my friend, I hate to be contrary but I think people should pay. The reason is the same as why we have deductibles on various types of insurances and why we have co-pays with our health insurance—to curb abuse. If there is no cost, will not people call a free ambulance when they are well enough to have their spouse drive them? Why not it's free! Having a fee in place means nobody is going to use the ambulances—which are in limited supply—except when it is absolutely necessary.
This is a good Hub, though!
You have a good point from the other side from the other side of the table. So by putting ambulance fees in place, people will just drive to the hospital? I think it would be safer, quicker, and easier to ride in an ambulance.
Thanks
I work in ems and i think you should pay. If there is no fee everyone and there mother will call to be checked out for the small things and get a refusal or if they want to go to the hospital they will just say hey its free why not! I dont know how many calls i have ran that the did not need a rig, so making it free will turn the maybe 2 hrs of sleep i get a shift to a stand up 24.
Well its good we get a perspective from an actual EMT, thanks
Regard Chris (EMT) comment. Most of us believe it's free as we are supprised when we get a bill. In my state ambulance rides were funded by general fund. Then they started charging. There was no return of the tax monies that were once sent to the EMS dept. only the additional funds recovered by charging! There is no mention in the emergency that there will be a charge. If that occured many would for go the $500-$1000 ride to the hospital. Does this make the populas safer? Thought EMS was for health, safety & wellfare!
Sciantel 2 years ago
You make a great point. Lets say I needed to call the police cause of an emergency. Like someone was breaking into my house. It doesn't cost for the cops to arrive and assess the situation. It should be the same about an ambulance.