Ambulance Costs??

[paradisehunter1]

I keep reading that you need to pay up front for ambulance service regardless of which company you use. Is this true? What seem to be average prices? How do they accept payment? I imagine it's difficult if you're in rough enough shape to need an ambulance in the first place . . . ? Thanks in advance for the help.

[Ringo]

I don't know how much an Ambulance service costs. I guess that if I needed one, it would not matter. I would like to know how long it takes to get one, what working equipment and medical tech. would be in the Ambulance.

We try to have the medical supplies that we might need. Examples: I had a heart attack when I was 32. I keep fresh nitroglycerin on hand. I'm allergic to some hornet stings; I have Epe-pens and antihistamines. We also have taken basic medical classes that have proved very worth while to some that we have saved.

We also know Doctors and clinics in our area and what they can do to at least stabilize until we could be transported if needed.

Regards, Ringo

[Matilda]

My husband paid 40,000RD$ for an ambulance to take me from San Pedro to Plaza de la Salud when I was shot. Plus he had to pay for the diesel. It was the oldest and smallest ambulance around - a red cross one as there were no more available. I get the impression that the more urgent it is the more expensive it is. And the price reflected the fact that it was that or a motoconcho!! It came with driver but no paramedic or anything else. We had to pay for a doctor to accompany us and the oxygen - which ran out 3 mins from Plaza de la Salud!!

Matilda

[La Profe_1]

We sent a child from Mustard Seed from Montellano to Santiago back in January. The cost was 9,000 pesos, but that was a special reduction due to the fact that the diocese was involved.

[Ringo]

Originally Posted by Matilda

My husband paid 40,000RD$ for an ambulance to take me from San Pedro to Plaza de la Salud when I was shot. Plus he had to pay for the diesel. It was the oldest and smallest ambulance around - a red cross one as there were no more available. I get the impression that the more urgent it is the more expensive it is. And the price reflected the fact that it was that or a motoconcho!! It came with driver but no paramedic or anything else. We had to pay for a doctor to accompany us and the oxygen - which ran out 3 mins from Plaza de la Salud!!

Matilda

Matilda. Thanks for your response.

Costs set aside. How long did it take for the ambulance to respond after the call? Was the Doctor with the ambulance... asking for money at your house?

Have you changed your at home emergency kit or emergency health care thinking?

Respectfully, Ringo

[Matilda]

Originally Posted by Ringo

Matilda. Thanks for your response.

Costs set aside. How long did it take for the ambulance to respond after the call? Was the Doctor with the ambulance... asking for money at your house?

Have you changed your at home emergency kit or emergency health care thinking?

Respectfully, Ringo

Didin't call from house. Police called they hadn't paid their phone bill so no answer. Carried by Haitians to local private clinic. No facilities. Even oxygen. Moto concho then 'hijacked' car to San Pedro. Third hospital helped. Did tracheotomy (badly as cut vocal chords). No ambulances in San Pedro but frend of husband knew man in Red Cross so thats how we got ambulance. Docotor was with hospital - not ambulance and came with us and charged 50,000 RD$ on night but husband forgot (understandably) to get receipt so had to pay again later. Had to pay on the night, and also Plaza de la Salud asked for deposit before started emergency treatment (chest drains).

Luckily huband had cash on him plus my UK debit card and there was a machine in the hospital car park and friends of his (around 50) chipped in. They had to raise over 100,000RD$ just that night.

Stupidly I have changed nothing. I suppose I survived due to local Haitians and Dominicans helping and I know they would do again. There are no ambulances in Juan Dolio, I now know that there is a private clinic here with better equipment than the one I went to, and I know which hospitals in San Pedro can do tracheotomies - however badly.

I would recommend that everyone have a local ambulance number though, plus know where to go if there is an emergency.

I was lucky.

Matilda

[GringoCArlos]

Ambulance service is included in our family health insurance with Clinica Abel Gonzalez in Santo Domingo, but it is only good with one ambulance company, and our health insurance is only valid at Abel Gonzalez. They provide specialists under this coverage, but many of the older doctors do not accept it,a nd you end up paying them directly for their consultations.

There is a sticker on the back of my Insurance carnet with the ambulance company's telephone number. Not a bad deal, family health coverage is about RD$19,000 a year, and has normally paid about 60-65% of total costs when I have been hospitalized in the past.

(SORRY - forgot this is the Travel section- I am a resident here)

See my post in Living about the evacuation service through DAN - they pay up to US$5,000 for emergency services before evac)

[GringoCArlos]

Just to make it easier, I will cut and paste the same information here, so its easier to find:

I finally found what I was looking for - a CHEAP emergency medical evacuation policy - US$59 a year for medical evacuation coverage up to US$100,000, plus $5000 emergency medical coverage for local treatment before evacuation, and family member travel coverage to assist you. You do need to be a member of DAN, but not a scuba diver, and it covers both diving AND non-diving emergencies. This is a cheap way to CYA if you had to get to the US for emergency medical treatment. They also offer coverage in the Caribbean.

(one note - it covers you if you are more than 50 miles away from your permanent residence, so it may be different for those who have DR residency, but even then - if you had a problem in Sosua, just make them take you to Santiago or Santo Domingo before evac I guess.) It also provides for the return of "remains", if you need it.

Here is more info: DAN Divers Alert Network : Membership - Services No Scuba Diver Should Be Without

Also benefits explanation: DAN Divers Alert Network : Membership : TravelAssist