Membership FAQ

The membership program gives individuals and families an opportunity to join EmergyCare, on an annual basis. If medically necessary, EmergyCare emergency transport services are used, we bill the patient’s insurance company, and accept as “payment in full”, whatever the insurance company pays.

In a medical emergency, your EmergyCare ambulance expenses are covered. Without a membership, you will be billed for any co-pays, deductibles or remaining balances after your insurance is billed - even good insurance rarely covers 100% of your ambulance bill.

Your Membership also includes:

• Medically necessary emergency ambulance transportation

• Medically necessary non-emergency stretcher ambulance transportation; please refer to the terms of agreement for
  details

• Discounts on select courses offered by the EmergyCare Training Institute

• Subscription to our newsletter

Anyone may purchase a membership. However, it is most valuable to individuals who live and/or work in the City of Erie, Millcreek Township, Erie County, Warren, Titusville, Corry or Kane.

Each plan can be purchased for one year, or save by purchasing a two-year plan option. One year memberships are valid for one year from the date payment is received and two-year options are valid for two years from the date payment is received.

Membership funds are especially important to our organization as these dollars are used to purchase life saving medical equipment, technology and vehicles needed to carry out our mission.

Memberships become effective as soon as we receive the completed application and annual membership fee.

No, EmergyCare provides service to everyone equally, whether you are a member or not.

No, unfortunately, we do not have agreements with ambulance services in other states.

Your EmergyCare membership covers you only when you are transported by EmergyCare.  The dedicated volunteer EMTs serving your community are able to provide basic care. EmergyCare partners with these agencies to provide advanced care with
paramedic response units. Paramedics are equipped with a higher level of training, more advanced equipment and multiple medications they are able to use to save your life in an emergency.

In some areas, ambulance response is also provided by fire departments and other EMS Agencies; because they are separate agencies, an EmergyCare membership MAY NOT cover the fees of the other agencies.

Your EmergyCare membership includes reciprocal agreements with West County Paramedics Association and most of the fire departments in Warren County with ambulance membership programs.  Reciprocal agreements are for emergency services only.

Additionally, if you receive a bill from Millcreek Paramedic Service for a medically necessary emergency ambulance trip, contact EmergyCare’s Patient Services Department to have the out-of-pocket portion of the bill covered by your EmergyCare membership.

EmergyCare is the region's most experienced provider of emergency medical services. When the health and safety of a loved one is on the line, you deserve the skills and experience EmergyCare delivers. In addition to the highest level of care, your EmergyCare membership also provides the largest coverage area of any ambulance provider in the region. You will be covered not only in Millcreek Township but the City of Erie, Corry area, Warren County, much of Crawford County, Kane and beyond. In all, parts of seven counties are covered by EmergyCare. Only EmergyCare gives you so much value for your membership dollar.

Because you want the best care and service, you have a choice in doctors and hospitals. Likewise, we believe Millcreek Township residents deserve to have a choice in the ambulance service they would like to respond to their emergency. Unfortunately Township supervisors have decided that when a Millcreek resident dials 911, they are not permitted to request EmergyCare. In order to serve our members in Millcreek who wished to continue using EmergyCare, we instituted the 870-1000 option. Anyone in Millcreek can dial 870-1000 in a medical emergency to have an EmergyCare ambulance respond.

Emergency medical technicians (EMT) are basic level care providers whereas paramedics are advanced care providers. What this means is EMTs are trained in providing important treatments including: bandaging wounds, splinting broken bones and performing CPR. EMT training is 156 hours in length. Once this level of training is completed, an EMT can then go on to become a paramedic, an advanced level care provider. After an average of two years of additional training paramedics are able to deliver more advanced treatments such as starting IVs, administering medications and evaluating cardiac activity. Serious injuries and illnesses require this advanced level of care.

Most insurance plans do not cover the entire cost of ambulance transport. If you are a member, no matter how much or how little your insurance pays, the insurance payment will be accepted as payment in full for covered services.  However, non-members are responsible for the costs not covered by their insurance.

Your insurance information and signature authorization is needed for us to bill your insurance. We must be able to bill your insurance in order to receive reimbursement for our services when they are rendered. This helps cover our expenses. If we did not bill your insurance when service is rendered, the membership fee would have to be significantly higher.

What you receive from Medicare is an Explanation Of Benefits (EOB), not a bill. Medicare automatically sends this. If you are a member, you are not responsible for the unpaid amount shown on this form for emergency calls.

No, Medicaid recipients will not have any out of pocket expense for medically necessary emergency transportation.

No, the regular membership fee is not tax deductible. As a non-profit charitable organization, EmergyCare accepts tax-deductible donations. When a charitable contribution is sent in with the membership fee, the difference between the membership fee and the contribution is tax deductible as a charitable gift. Should you choose to support our mission with a donation, we will send you a thank you letter that you may retain as proof of your donation for tax purposes.

Yes, if you already purchased a Household Membership, any additional family members or people residing at the residence during the membership year will be covered. If you have an Individual membership, you will need to pay the additional fee to upgrade to a Household membership. To help us keep your membership record up to date, please call (814) 870-9999 with any changes.

No, we will include in a senior couple membership one spouse residing in a skilled nursing facility.

No need to worry, you never need a card to show proof of membership. We have all your membership information stored electronically. Please note that your membership card is attached to the bottom of your renewal notice. If you are a new member, a card will be mailed to you.

• Membership benefits include unlimited medically necessary emergency EmergyCare ambulance transport with no out-of-pocket expenses, even if you have no insurance, your insurance does not cover emergency ambulance transport or your insurance includes co-pays or deductibles for these services. EmergyCare will bill all available insurances and accept any reimbursements as “payment in full.”
• Membership also includes EmergyCare’s non-emergency stretcher ambulance transportation within a 150-mile radius of Erie or divisional headquarters (Corry, Kane, Warren, and Titusville stations), if it is medically necessary and a reimbursable service as defined by your insurance provider and/or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
• For members that do not have non-emergency ambulance transportation insurance coverage, any non-emergency ambulance service will be provided in accordance with CMS coverage requirements.
• For members who are CMS recipients, the membership fee is applied to any coinsurance and deductibles that you would otherwise have to pay if you did not have a membership.
• Memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable.
• Membership covers you for EmergyCare Ambulance transport to the closest most appropriate facility. Ambulance transportation strictly for patient preference may not be covered.
• A one-year membership is valid for one year from the date we receive payment and two-year plans are valid for two years from the date we receive payment.
• Membership does not apply to 911 calls where a patient refuses care and/or transport.
• The Membership program may be subject to modification without prior notice.