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 as a member, you will receive a membership discount applied to any coinsurance, deductibles, and uncovered costs for medically necessary emergency EmergyCare ambulance transport.

In a medical emergency, your EmergyCare ambulance transport expenses are discounted. Without a membership, you will be billed for the full cost of co-pays, deductibles, or remaining balances after your insurance is billed.

Your Membership also includes:

• Medically necessary emergency ambulance transportation

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

• Subscription to our newsletter

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

Each plan can be purchased for one year. One year memberships are valid for one year from the date payment is received.

Membership funds are vital to our organization as these dollars are used to purchase life-saving medical equipment, technology, and vehicles needed to carry out our mission.  The cost of readiness to respond to emergencies around the clock, 24/7/365, is expensive.  Expenses include fully equipped ambulances ($350,000) each).  Additional costs associated with operating an EMS service include insurance, vehicle and equipment maintenance, repairs, telephone, fuel, radio equipment, utilities, and payroll associated with staffing.

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.   You never need a membership card to receive services.

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

Your EmergyCare membership covers you only when EmergyCare transports you. The dedicated volunteer EMTs serving your community can 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 can 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 other agencies' fees.

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 discounted 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 are 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, the Corry area, Warren County, and much of Crawford County, Kane, Greenville,  and beyond. In all, parts of eight 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 814-870-1000 option. Anyone in Millcreek can dial 814-870-1000 in a medical emergency to request an EmergyCare ambulance response.

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, you will receive a membership discount for the costs not covered by your insurance.  Non-members are responsible for the total costs not covered by their insurance.

• EmergyCare Members will receive a membership discount for coinsurance, deductibles, and noncovered costs.
• Membership benefits include unlimited medically necessary emergency EmergyCare ambulance transport with a membership discount applied to any coinsurance, deductibles, and noncovered costs
• Membership includes EmergyCare’s non-emergency stretcher ambulance transportation within a 150-mile radius of Erie or divisional headquarters (Corry, Greenville, Kane, Warren, and Titusville stations). The transport must be medically necessary and reimbursable as defined by your insurance provider and/or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicare). A membership discount is applied to coinsurance, deductibles, and noncovered costs.
• EmergyCare will bill all available insurances. Members without insurance or noncovered ambulance services charges will receive a membership discount.
• Membership covers you for EmergyCare emergency ambulance transport to the closest, most appropriate facility as defined by Medicare.
• A one-year membership is valid for one year from the date we receive payment.
• Memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable.
• The membership program may be subject to modification without prior notice.

What Is Not Covered Under A Membership?

• Membership does not apply to 911 calls where patients refuse care and/or transport.
• Membership does not apply to Paratransit services, wheelchair van /medical taxi transportation.
• In some areas, ambulance response is also provided by fire departments and other EMS agencies; because they are separate organizations, EmergyCare membership MAY NOT cover their fees.

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 medically necessary EmergyCare emergency transports.

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 any other level of membership other than household,  you will need to purchase a new Household membership.  EmergyCare does not allow for upgrades. 

To help us keep your membership record up to date, please call (814) 870-9999 with any changes.

No, if the two spouses are 65 years or older, and have a Senior Couple membership, it covers 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.