Free emergency San Diego County ambulance service to cost $400 plus $20 a mile starting June 14...
Adding pocketbook insult to injury, it's going to cost a whole lot more to be taken by ambulance to a hospital. You can thank your county supervisors for that one.
County supervisors voted unanimously on May 24 to charge people $400 plus $20 a mile to be taken by ambulance to the hospital. this service is free currently.
These new fees apply to Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Encinitas.
Supervisors voted unanimously to impose the fee after officials said it would provide financial stability and ensure continued emergency medical care for residents and visitors.
The services are funded by property taxes, special-benefit taxes and non-district resident ambulance transport fees. However, the service area expects to spend $250,000 more than it takes in beginning this year, depleting reserves.
Walter Ekard, county chief administration officer, who earns $286,000 per year plus perks -- more than the speaker of the House of Representatives or U. S. Senators earn -- said the proposed fee was well below the average charged by other communities. The other county service area in Santee and Lakeside charges $900 plus $14 per mile.
El Cajon charges $1,184 and $19 per mile while in San Diego it costs $865 plus $13 a mile. Elsewhere, Los Angeles County charges $929 and $15 per mile and Ventura County charges $1,251 and $23 per mile.
Ambulance services for Del Mar, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe and parts of Elfin Forest are provided by San Diego Medical Services Enterprise.
In most cases, fees and mileage reimbursements come directly from Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance companies.
Monthly healthcare premiums are not projected to increase because the ambulance fee represents a fraction of total health care costs. Last year, the service area’s citizen advisory committee supported establishing the resident fee.
The ordinance is scheduled for adoption on June 14, and would take effect 30 days later.
