Comments on: EMS Fees May Scare Sick Into Skipping Life-Saving Treatment

By: David - Business Loans Expert

David - Business Loans Expert — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:40:08 +0000

LOL! your drawings rock! great article too

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By: Maria @ Frugal Homesteading

Maria @ Frugal Homesteading — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:07:42 +0000

I agree, Joe. My brother-in-law went on quite a few ambulance runs as an volunteer emergency responder, and he had some stories to tell. He actually responded to a 911 call from a lady who sprained her finger. Tax money should not be paying for such idiocy.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:41:34 +0000

I liked the cartoon. Good points brought out in the article. To assume that all ambulance services are subsidized by tax dollars is just wrong. Many people think they are but the truth is that many County Ambulance Services are run by private firms with no county subsidy. The ONLY way these Emergency Medical Services are brought to the residents is by these private EMS firms, and the ONLY way these people can stay in business is by charging residents for services rendered.

You would be amazed at how many people call 911 for a non-emergency situation. Restless leg syndrome … come on. With diesel at $4.75 per gallon somebody needs to pay for the response with no transport, and I can’t think of who better to charge than the person receiving the services.

The day WalMart allow you to walk out their door with $500 of product without paying, or the day you can call a plumber to fix your toilet leak without paying, is the day EMS should be a non-charged patient right. Just my opinion.

By: A1 Medical Supplies

A1 Medical Supplies — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:55:42 +0000

I think the cost of an ambulance ride is a factor for many people. I know a lot of times they kind of pressure you into getting into the ambulance.

By: Maria - Frugal Homesteading

Maria - Frugal Homesteading — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:44:18 +0000

I agree with this statement completely:

On the one hand, I wouldn’t mind seeing all taxes based on the services people use when logistically feasible (e.g. if you send your kids to private school, you don’t pay taxes to send others’ children to public schools).

In fact, it has completely distracted me from the topic of EMS, since I am so far out in the country we’d drive ourselves in most emergencies b/c we’d be dead before help arrived.

But I am so mad that my taxes go to the public schools, even if I choose to send my kids to private schools or alternative schooling options.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:55:28 +0000

I see this playing out much like emergency rooms currently work: you can’t be refused treatement (or an ambulance ride in this case) due to an inability to pay, but they will hound you for a while after the fact for payment. If they can’t get money from you, they’ll write you off and the hospital/county/state will pick up the tab.