200 S. Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92805 |
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 Dial 311 or (714) 765-4311 |
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 Anaheim Fire Department Paramedic Membership Program
As the costs of medical care rise, it is important to make sure your family is covered in the event of an emergency. The City of Anaheim has a program that is designed to help you during such emergency situations. The Paramedic Membership Program is an official program of the City of Anaheim Fire Department, which offsets the cost of emergency medical responses. Without the Paramedic Membership Program, one emergency call can cost you hundreds of dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the Paramedic Membership Program?
To help offset the costs of providing emergency medical service responses, the fire department charges $300 per response, per person for each medical aid response. As an alternative to paying this charge, the Paramedic Membership Program, provided by the City of Anaheim, allows residents and business owners the option of paying $3 a month ($36 a year) rather than being charged the $300 per fire department medical response.
We think of our program as similar to car insurance; you hope you never need it, but if you do have a need to use it, you’re glad you have it. We feel this program is an exceptional value and benefit for our community at a cost of less than a dime a day.
2. Who is covered by the Paramedic Membership Program?
For a residential account, the program covers fire department emergency medical response costs for all who reside in your home anywhere in the city of Anaheim 24 hours a day. It also covers those who have a medical emergency while visiting your home.
For the business program, it covers fire department medical response costs for you and your employees while working in the city of Anaheim. Customers to your business are not covered by the business program, but their individual residential program may cover them if they reside in the City of Anaheim.
3. How do I sign up for the Paramedic Membership Program?
You have several ways to sign up. You may:
4. How do I pay for the Paramedic Membership Program?
If you receive a residential or commercial City of Anaheim Utility bill, we conveniently add the $3 a month fee to your bill (for residential accounts, $6 every two months). If you do not receive a city utility bill, call us for billing options at (714) 765-4060. An annual payment of $36 can be made, payable to the City of Anaheim. To ensure proper enrollment, please note “Paramedic Program” on your check or money order.
5. Why aren’t my taxes paying for this service?
After the passage of Proposition 13 in 1974, and more recently as part of the state budget crisis, cities experienced a significant drop in revenue, which forced us to create alternate methods of revenue to offset our costs. The actual dollars received from property taxes is minimal. Providing emergency medical services is expensive. To continue providing outstanding services, high costs are associated with life-saving equipment and training. The revenue from this program helps offset some of these costs so that we can include a paramedic unit in each neighborhood.
6. Why does the Paramedic Membership Fee appear on my utility bill?
Since July 1985, for those participating, billing for the Paramedic Membership Program has been included on the municipal utility bill as directed by the City Council.
7. Doesn’t my insurance carrier cover emergency responses by the Fire Department?
Every insurance carrier is different. You will need to check with your carrier to see if fire department medical emergency responses are a covered benefit. Many times the ambulance charge is covered, but not the fire department charges. We have noted that fewer insurance carriers in recent times are including this charge in their covered benefits.
Also, if your insurance carrier does cover it, there may be a deductible that is higher than the $36 annual fee you would pay for our program.
8. Are ambulance services covered by this program?
No. The city contracts with a private ambulance company to provide ambulance transportation to the hospital when needed. The associated costs for ambulance transportation are billed separately. The ambulance company will bill for basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) transport. The Paramedic Membership Program covers neither BLS nor ALS transports. ALS transport requires the presence of an Anaheim Fire Department paramedic because of the advanced care being provided.
9. Do other cities programs cover me if I am enrolled in Anaheim?
No. We do not have reciprocity with other cities’ programs.
10. What if I can’t afford the $36 a year membership fee?
An exemption program is available for those who earn less than $25,000 a year. To request an exemption application, please call (714) 765-4060. Once we process your application and verify your income, we will exempt you from paying the annual fee. It should be noted that your exemption must be renewed annually.
11. I have a business at one location that uses several utility meters. Do I have to pay for more than one membership?
No. As long as only one business is involved (one business license only), we will bill you only once. We can reference your secondary accounts to the account, which shows your current Paramedic Program Membership status.
12. How do I cancel my participation in the Paramedic Membership Program?
You may cancel your membership at any time. Please contact us any of the following ways: CALL US AT (714) 765-4060 WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. Visit us on the City of Anaheim website at Address: |