Montgomery County Ambulance Fee

[Anonymous]

Are you voting for or against it? Does anyone outside of County government even care about it?

[Anonymous]

I'm voting for it. Can someone explain to me why the volunteer FF are against it?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm biased because I work for the County. But I think their primary concern (in private) is that having an ambulance fee would reduce individual donations to the volunteer service. Publicly, they say people will hesitate to call ambulances if they know they will be charged a fee.

It won't, in reality, cost anyone other than insurers any money. And most surrounding jurisdictions have been doing this for years. I am just curious about whether people will have a gut reaction to vote no for it, since those referendum questions always seem vague if you aren't familiar with the issue (at least they do to me).

[Anonymous]

I'm voting for it. We've got neighbors down the street who seem to call an ambulance for any and everything. I tend to think if people weren't getting this service for free, maybe they'd save the ambulances for true emergencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm voting for it. We've got neighbors down the street who seem to call an ambulance for any and everything. I tend to think if people weren't getting this service for free, maybe they'd save the ambulances for true emergencies.

That's pretty harsh. Unless you live with them, I think it would be hard to judge whether or not your neighbors need the ambulance.

[Anonymous]

It is only the insurance companies which would pay for the ambulance service, not individuals. . .so I don't quite understand how it would deter people from calling an ambulance when they don't really need one.

The issue is that your insurance rates include payments for ambulance service. Montgomery County does not currently bill the insurance companies for ambulance service so the insurance companies keep that money.

Please vote for this amendment - the County needs the money - every other jurisdiction in the region bills the insurance companies except Montgomery County. We pay the same insurance rates as surrounding counties and currently let the insurance companies keep the money the county should get to pay for ambulance service. Check out the endorsement lists - groups from every part of the political spectrum say VOTE YES - please do.

[Anonymous]

I don't know whether this affects the debate, but wouldn't the insurance companies reject frivolous ambulance calls just like any other unapproved medical procedure?

I am guessing that is true, which means that a fee could be a deterrent on one hand. And on the other, it could mean that real people are stuck with bills and have to fight their insurance companies in some cases.

[Anonymous]

what happens when a person without insurance calls an ambulance? who pays? Also, will the county negotiate rates with the insurance company? what happens when the country charges more than insurance is willing to pay?

[Anonymous]

I voted for it, I voted early. Here is why - There is talk it will deter people from calling for an ambulance yet many many jurisdictions have a fee already. Let's say you are visiting a friend in Fairfax and you have an accident and need to call 911, are you going to ask if there is a fee before you call? No, vote for it. And don’t vote for any incumbents.

[Anonymous]

Ambulance calls are just like the emergency room - they can not refuse to pick up an uninsured patient just like an emergency room can not refuse to treat an uninsured patient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what happens when a person without insurance calls an ambulance? who pays? Also, will the county negotiate rates with the insurance company? what happens when the country charges more than insurance is willing to pay?

I think the fee gets waived if you don't have insurance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I voted for it, I voted early. Here is why - There is talk it will deter people from calling for an ambulance yet many many jurisdictions have a fee already. Let's say you are visiting a friend in Fairfax and you have an accident and need to call 911, are you going to ask if there is a fee before you call? No, vote for it. And don’t vote for any incumbents.

Oh, yes, brilliant strategy! Elect all the know-nothing opponents!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm biased because I work for the County. But I think their primary concern (in private) is that having an ambulance fee would reduce individual donations to the volunteer service. Publicly, they say people will hesitate to call ambulances if they know they will be charged a fee.

It won't, in reality, cost anyone other than insurers any money. And most surrounding jurisdictions have been doing this for years. I am just curious about whether people will have a gut reaction to vote no for it, since those referendum questions always seem vague if you aren't familiar with the issue (at least they do to me).

Yes, I have a gut reaction to vote no because the question is so poorly written and not explained at all that I cannot vote yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is only the insurance companies which would pay for the ambulance service, not individuals. . .so I don't quite understand how it would deter people from calling an ambulance when they don't really need one.

The issue is that your insurance rates include payments for ambulance service. Montgomery County does not currently bill the insurance companies for ambulance service so the insurance companies keep that money.

Please vote for this amendment - the County needs the money - every other jurisdiction in the region bills the insurance companies except Montgomery County. We pay the same insurance rates as surrounding counties and currently let the insurance companies keep the money the county should get to pay for ambulance service. Check out the endorsement lists - groups from every part of the political spectrum say VOTE YES - please do.

If it passes you can count on your insurance premium increasing to include this extra fee.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PP, youd be payig for it one way or another.