ambulance service/lakes region

[fatlazyless]

My information here is old, like about ten years old, not very well informed and not too reliable, but none the LESS, here goes.

It is my understanding that the ambulance policy for the Town of Meredith and most other lakes region towns is run like so: An ambulance, either the town fire department ambulance or an ambulance contractor such as Stewart's Ambulance Service will be dispatched to a residence via a phone call to the 911 operator, and there is no charge for this service to go to a residence or business. The ambulance with probably two emt's inside will arrive at your house, take a look-see, and provide on-the-scene medical care without any charge. A billable ambulance service charge starts when someone gets transported in the ambulance to the hospital emergency room. So the key word's are "get's transported in the ambulance." If there's no transport, then there's no charge.....at least that is my understanding. Now, I wonder if this is indeed the way it really works? Is this true and am I correct?

Years ago, maybe in 1995, while unloading a large bookcase from the roof-racks on a car, a gust of wind blew it over and the bookcase smacked me on my head leaving me dazed and hurting. A call to Meredith 911 had Stewart's Ambulance there in about 15-minutes. They cleaned up the bruise, took a look, and offered me a ride to Lakes Region General Hospital emergency room in Laconia. I cannot recall why I said "no thanks," but I turned down their offer, and only later learned that their ambulance rides come with a price. I know that probably sounds very naive! How much of a price, I have no clue?

It would be interesting to hear some real life stories concerning the cost for ambulance transportation, particularly for people who do not have insurance coverage such as health insurance.

...thanks in advance!

[fpartri497]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

My information here is old, like about ten years old, not very well informed and not too reliable, but none the LESS, here goes.

It is my understanding that the ambulance policy for the Town of Meredith and most other lakes region towns is run like so: An ambulance, either the town fire department ambulance or an ambulance contractor such as Stewart's Ambulance Service will be dispatched to a residence via a phone call to the 911 operator, and there is no charge for this service to go to a residence or business. The ambulance with probably two emt's inside will arrive at your house, take a look-see, and provide on-the-scene medical care without any charge. A billable ambulance service charge starts when someone gets transported in the ambulance to the hospital emergency room. So the key word's are "get's transported in the ambulance." If there's no transport, then there's no charge.....at least that is my understanding. Now, I wonder if this is indeed the way it really works? Is this true and am I correct?

It would be interesting to hear some real life stories concerning the cost for ambulance transportation, particularly for people who do not have insurance coverage such as health insurance.

...thanks in advance!

Well FLL, you are correct on this one. Two years ago I required the services of the Gilford NH ambulance services at the Ellacoya bar and grille (outside ) and the emt`s three of them said we wont charge unless we transport you to the hospital witch I declined.

[Yosemite Sam]

FLL,

I don't know the answer to your question, but Stewart's needs a Wheelchair Van Driver.....You like to drive don't you?

[Argie's Wife]

Residents without medical insurance are not charged for transport. Period.

Residents with medical insurance - the insurance is billed appropriately.

Another reason I love my town!

[ITD]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

My information here is old, like about ten years old, not very well informed and not too reliable, but none the LESS, here goes.

snip

This has never stopped you before, why should it now......

[BroadHopper]

Back in the 90's, my daughter broke her arm skiing at Gunstock. Can't recall the ambulance company at the moment, but anyway it was customary that the mountain calls for an ambulance. They did not consult me and I told them to cancel the ambulance. I will take my daughter to the hospital, I have EMT training and also a member of the PSPA. Even though I did not use the ambulance, I was sent a bill for $3,000. They even charge me for the use of oxygen! I called my insurance company and they said they will take care of it.

I wonder if anyone had similar experience.

[Lakesrider]

I had to call the ambulance for my father once. He passed out in a restaurant in Hudson, MA. He had COPD and heart issues. They took him in an ambulance to a football field where they then Life Flighted him to UMASS Amherst by Helicopter. Take a wild guess what that 20 minute flight cost...

$3K....Nope!....$4k.....Nope....$6K....Nope!...$10 K.....Nope!

$12,000.00 it cost for that ride......I can fly around the world from Manchester in first class for that. Thank God he had insurance as well as being a Retired Veteran. The Pilot was a Vietnam Vet to boot....

[tis]

Yep, it is very expensive. A family member was lifted to Dartmouth on one and I believe it was $17,000.

[karen47]

I can tell you that i got a ride by ambulance during the summer and they charged me $1000 and I dont have insurance, plus I spent about 4 hours in the hospital and they couldnt find anything wrong but I got a bill for $10,000.00. It cost way to much to get sick.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Residents without medical insurance are not charged for transport. Period.

Residents with medical insurance - the insurance is billed appropriately.

Another reason I love my town!

And the insurance billing proceeds are put into a special revenue fund out of which all related ambulance expenses are paid: equipment, supplies and labor. At no expense to Alton taxpayers we all get great service when needed.

[riverat]

one way trip from frisbee to portsmouth (about 20 minutes) twice this year, cost 2500,00 each trip, and that is in those van-like transport vehicles.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Residents without medical insurance are not charged for transport. Period.

Residents with medical insurance - the insurance is billed appropriately.

Another reason I love my town!

You know, for the people of Alton without health insurance, that sure sounds like one heck of a good fire department ambulance system. It probably helps build a lot of good will between the Alton residents and the Alton town government.

In Meredith, going back at least to 1992, Meredith has never had its' own fire department ambulance and has always contracted out with Stewart's Ambulance Service. Stewart's is located about one mile away from the large, new Meredith Fire Dept building, and is out behind the former Jackson-Star Market store.

Keeping the Alton Fire Dept ambulance staffed w/ an EMT on a 24-hour basis must be very costly for the town. I know that Meredith has one and only one salaried firefighter, the fire chief, and everyone else is an on-call, paid firefighter. Everyone in New Hampshire today is faced with the same high costs for electricity, gasoline, heating fuel, food, clothing, and either property tax, mortgage, or rent; so finding a volunteer EMT to work for free is in all likelihood a total no-go in New Hampshire-2010, and understandably so.

[Argie's Wife]

...dead horse beating coming in...

...3...

...2...

...1...

In Meredith, cash is king, and............

[upthesaukee]

When my in-laws were at Sunbridge in Wolfeboro, my father-in-law had some internal bleeding, and was rushed to Huggins. Distance is about 1 mile. Cost by ambulance: $1,000.00. Next day return from Huggins to Sunbridge. Distance still about a mile. Cost by ambulance: $1,000.00.

When did we find out the cost? When we received the bill a couple of weeks later. Called for an explanation. Told it was for the ambulance and two EMT's (one driving). Cost for the one night stay at Huggins was just over one fourth the cost of the transportation to and from the hospital.

Bad news (or worse news) was that Medicare covered the hospital stay, but not the ambulance cost because it was not "an emergency".

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

When my in-laws were at Sunbridge in Wolfeboro, my father-in-law had some internal bleeding, and was rushed to Huggins. Distance is about 1 mile. Cost by ambulance: $1,000.00. Next day return from Huggins to Sunbridge. Distance still about a mile. Cost by ambulance: $1,000.00.

When did we find out the cost? When we received the bill a couple of weeks later. Called for an explanation. Told it was for the ambulance and two EMT's (one driving). Cost for the one night stay at Huggins was just over one fourth the cost of the transportation to and from the hospital.

Bad news (or worse news) was that Medicare covered the hospital stay, but not the ambulance cost because it was not "an emergency".

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

It may be too late now to dispute this, but you can appeal decisions with Medicare and there's a process for that... If you ever find yourself in this position again, contact the hospital's Care Management Department, or ask to speak with a Social Worker about the bill. Either can direct you through the process - some hospitals have someone on staff who assists with appeals, but all will be able to give you information on how to appeal decisions yourself. This is your right (not to say your appeal will be in your favor - but you can try it.)

[SIKSUKR]

AW has been thanked over 4 billion times!Wow!

[jerseyonbear]

We did use the ambulance service this past summer. The emt's came out to Bear Island at 1am and rode on a fire boat from YLanding to Bear and back from there in the ambulance to Huggins. The only bill received was from Stewarts which was covered by medical insurance. Everyone involved was wonderful and we felt in good hands. The emergency room would receive an Aplus rating from us.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

It may be too late now to dispute this, but you can appeal decisions with Medicare and there's a process for that... If you ever find yourself in this position again, contact the hospital's Care Management Department, or ask to speak with a Social Worker about the bill. Either can direct you through the process - some hospitals have someone on staff who assists with appeals, but all will be able to give you information on how to appeal decisions yourself. This is your right (not to say your appeal will be in your favor - but you can try it.)

...We did the appeal thing to no avail. It was not the Hospital...just the ambulance company. they were not very sympathetic at all.

We would have taken him ourselves, but he had Alzheimer's and could be difficult to deal with when taken from his familiar settings. For a couple of hundred bucks, we thought the ambulance could be a good thing. Trying to get him up into a Blazer or Trailblazer was going to be difficult. If we had to have done it a second time... yup, would have done it ourselves.

[Argie's Wife]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

AW has been thanked over 4 billion times!Wow!

Maybe I should run for President?

(I can almost see Canada from my living room and I can be a pitbull with lipstick... would I be a good candidate?)

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Maybe I should run for President?

(I can almost see Canada from my living room and I can be a pitbull with lipstick... would I be a good candidate?):D

Yes ! Your already more qualified then the man who's in there.
I know I couldn't help myself.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

If we had to have done it a second time... yup, would have done it ourselves.

Yup. Me too.

Just four miles from town, my neighbor (with breathing difficulties, and Cadillac health insurance) waited a ½-hour!