Montgomery County’s emergency medical services (EMS) are world class and it is important that we do everything possible to keep them that way. Unfortunately, it’s not easy as we are facing increasing resource demands and decreasing revenue due to current fiscal constraints.
County residents will not pay anything under the new fee. The fee will be billed directly to residents’ insurance companies, which have already factored the cost of patient transport into their rate schedules. The fee will be waived for uninsured residents.
To Learn More:
Proposed Emergency Medical Services Transport Fee (Watch EMS Fee PSA )-
Maintains and Strengthens Services at No Cost to Residents - Frequently Asked Questions- Facts About Emergency Medical Services Transport Fee
I have a better idea than blanket exemption from EMS fees for the uninsured. Why not tie the state income tax or county land tax information to a database to determine if the uninsured individual is uninsured due to a recent loss, ie, job or illness, or if the uninsured user chooses to be uninsured. Why should my neighbor be exempt when she is fully capable of paying such a fee simply because she is uninsured? I do not wish to pay for her, via my taxes.
ReplyDeleteThank you katie, Also If they get money back in income taxes, they should have to pay some of the past due. I pay enough insurance and do not mind helping those who really do need help..
ReplyDeleteI understand that there will be no fee to those individuals with health insurance, because their insurance company will be charged that fee. Is that correct? I am still weary about this because this year there is no fee. Next year as money becomes tighter or in a few years, the cost will increase and it will be above and beyond what insurance companies will pay. That's when we will begin paying. Will there be a cut off for people with health insurance but a limited source of income? When will this taxation stop against us citizens?
ReplyDeleteKatieSilverSpring: thanks so much for your comments! Good idea and one that can possibly be explored down the road if the fee is voted in.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: thank you also! Yes, those insured will not see anything as the bill goes straight to their insurance company.
Understand that this is not a tax at all. Right now, by not collecting, we are subsidizing the insurance industry since you are already paying for this (as am I as a county employee) in your premiums.
We will only charge those on fixed incomes whatever the Medicade/ Medicare going rates are. We will not go above that so those on fixed incomes need not worry. Likewise, we will only be able to collect whatever the insurance companies will pay so there is only so much we will be able to go up at any point in the future.