Community Connection
Subscription Information - Frequently Asked Questions
How do I subscribe?
What does my subscription
cover?
My
insurance covers ambulance trips, so why should I
subscribe?
How long does my subscription coverage last?
What is Third Party
Billing?
What
should I do with the checks that I receive from my insurance
company?
Do
my tax dollars fund Shaler EMS?
Does my donation to my volunteer fire company
provide me with a subscription to Shaler EMS?
Is Shaler EMS a department of
Shaler Township?
Does my Subscription cover me outside Shaler?
Are wheelchair van and invalid coach service covered by my subscription?
Q: How do I
subscribe? [top]
A: You can subscribe by
returning the subscription form sent to every Township of Shaler resident
at the beginning of March of each year. If you did not receive one, please
call us at 412-487-6590 with your address and we will send you another one
right away.
Q: What does my
subscription cover?
[top]
A: Your
subscription covers the costs of all medically necessary emergency
ambulance trips, including all co-payments and deductibles. No
matter how many times you and your family may need medically necessary
emergency ambulance service, you will not be responsible for any
additional fees for medically necessary emergency ambulance
transportation. Your subscription covers you even if you are injured in
one of the communities that surround Shaler Township.
Q: My insurance covers
ambulance trips so why should I subscribe? [top]
A: It is important to remember that although
your insurance company may pay the ambulance bill, many insurance
companies require you to pay a deductible or co-payment. Subscribing will
allow you to avoid these charges. In addition, subscribing does more than
protect you from incurring an expensive ambulance trip. It also insures
that Shaler EMS can provide the best possible emergency medical care to
you and your family. Your subscription money allows Shaler EMS to hire and
retain qualified medical professionals, purchase and maintain new
ambulances, and invest in life saving medical equipment.
Q: How long does my subscription coverage
last? [top]
A: Subscription coverage last
for one year, starting April 1st and running through to March 31st of the
following year. Sorry, we cannot prorate your subscription. This means if
you renew your subscription part way through the subscription year, it
will still run out on March 31st.
Q: What is Third Party Billing? [top]
A: Third party billing is the process where
Shaler EMS recoups its operating cost by charging your insurance company
for ambulance service. Shaler EMS bills all patient’s insurance, including
subscribers. Subscribers are not responsible for any charges not covered
by their insurance for medically necessary emergency ambulance service.
However, non-subscribers will be billed for the portion not covered by
their insurance. The costs of not subscribing can be high, as the
typical ambulance bill can exceed $400.
Q: What should I do with the checks that I receive from my
insurance company?[top]
A: Any checks that you receive from your
insurance company should be sent to Shaler EMS' billing company. Their
address is:
P.O. Box 422
Ingomar, Pa 15217
These checks are for payment of the ambulance service
that you received, not for personal spending.
Q: Do my tax dollars fund
Shaler EMS? [top]
A: No, Shaler EMS does not
receive any local tax dollars. This makes your subscription a vital source
of funding for us. Without it, we could not continue to deliver high
quality emergency medical care.
Q:
Does my donation to my volunteer fire company provide me with a
subscription to Shaler EMS?
[top]
A: Your
donation to your local fire department does not provide you with a
subscription to Shaler EMS. We are independent from Shaler Township's
volunteer fire departments and we do not receive any funding from
them.
Q: Is Shaler EMS a department
of Shaler Township?
[top]
A: No,
Shaler EMS is an independent non-profit organization. Although we are a
separate organization, we do work closely with the township to strengthen
public safety.
Q: Does my Subscription cover me outside Shaler? [top]
A: Yes, your Shaler EMS subscription is honored by all of the communities that border Shaler Township and most of the communities in the North Hills. Call 412-487-6590 for a list of communities where you are covered or view them on this map.
Q: Are wheelchair van and invalid coach service covered by my subscription? [top]
A: Shaler EMS no longer provides wheelchair van and invalid coach service. The service that transports you may or may not provide a discount because you are a Shaler EMS Subscriber.
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