Ambulance Charges

I was reviewing all my medical claims this past year, and there are a lot, when I noticed a claim for ambulance charges from the City of Orange Fire Department. I took two ambulance rides since being discharged from heart surgery, but they only filed a claim for the second occurrence. Since I participate in the Paramedic Subscription Program, I thought all ambulance services were covered. The second ambulance ride was from the dialysis clinic to the ER within the same hospital. Google maps put the drive at ~2,140 feet or ~0.4 miles. The claim was for $1,582.40.

Reading the fine print on the subscription program, I see the following:

For just $48 per year, the voluntary program Paramedic Subscription Program provides coverage for fees associated with any Paramedic services or emergency transportation that are not covered by your insurance. This coverage applies to any person at a subscribing address, whether a residence or business.

Notice the two words: subscribing address. My first ambulance ride was from home so it was covered. I’m guessing the second ride, since it did not originate from my house, was not covered. Luckily the entire amount was covered by my work insurance, even though it was classified out-of-network. I think it’s a scam that in addition to paying ~$9,000 in property tax, I still have to enroll in this program, and it doesn’t count if I get hurt outside my house.

This sets up the wrong incentive. If I get hurt near my house but not inside it, e.g., in a neighbor’s yard, I’m going to make sure I get home somehow before calling 911. The difference could be thousands of dollars in ambulance fees.