Vital Ride Ambulance Membership
Emergencies are scary and mere minutes can mean the difference between life and death. When you call 911 and paramedics transport you to the hospital by ambulance, your chance of survival can be increased dramatically.
Ada County Paramedics believe upstanding pre-hospital healthcare should be available to all Ada County residents regardless of their financial situation— that’s why we created the Vital Ride Ambulance Membership program. When Vital Ride members are transported to the hospital, instead of billing them for our services, we simply waive their ambulance bill.* We recognize unexpected medical emergencies can be a financial hardship, but we never want that to hinder someone in our community from receiving the healthcare they need. Vital Ride Ambulance memberships offer peace of mind starting at just $75 a year.
How Vital Ride Works
Choose Your Membership Level
We offer memberships to fit any budget. Choose from a 1-year, 5-year or lifetime membership. One membership covers your whole household. Select our 5-year membership level for the best value.
Call 911 During Your Emergency
When you or your covered household members have an emergency, dial 911. We’ll respond quickly and ensure you get the best pre-hospital healthcare available.
We’ll Take Care of the Rest
Come billing time, we’ll apply your Vital Ride Membership to your ambulance bill. After your insurance kicks in, you’ll owe us nothing.* There’s no paperwork for you to do!
Why Vital Ride?
We’re Linked to 911
Ada County Paramedics is the only ambulance service linked to 911 in Ada County. When you call 911, we’ll be there for you.
Vital Ride Will Save You Money
Vital Ride will keep more money in YOUR pocket. Members have saved over $2,000 with Vital Ride.
Your Peace of Mind
Your family deserves the best care. Vital Ride makes it more affordable. If you have an emergency, you don’t have to think twice with Vital Ride.
*Once a Vital Ride Members’ insurance pays $150 towards their bill, Ada County Paramedics will waive the remaining balance. If the Vital Ride Member does not have insurance, Vital Ride Members will be billed no more than $150. Memberships cover primary Vital Ride enrollees, their spouses and anyone the Vital Ride Member claims as a dependent.
FAQs
If you call 911 and use our service, as a Vital Ride member, we will invoice you for the service and then bill your insurance. When your insurance company pays at least $150 toward your claim, we will waive the remaining balance. If you do not have insurance, or your insurance will not pay on the claim, then the member will only be responsible for $150, regardless of how much the bill is.
Yes, you will receive a bill for your records. After your insurance pays at least $150.00, Ada County Paramedics will waive any remaining balance your insurance leaves as patient responsibility. If you do not have insurance, you will only owe Ada County Paramedics $150.00 of the total bill.
If your insurance did not pay at least $150.00, Vital Ride members will owe a co-payment up to $150.00. For example, if your insurance only paid $100.00 of the claim, the Vital Ride member will owe $50.00 to satisfy the $150.00 minimum. If you believe that your insurance paid more than $150.00 and you are still receiving an invoice, please contact our billing office at (208) 287-2950.
No. At this time, the Vital Ride Ambulance Membership only covers emergency treatment provided to a covered member by Ada County Paramedics, within Ada County. Ada County Paramedics is the only ambulance service affiliated with the 911 system in Ada County, and thus, Ada County Paramedics will be the only responding ambulance when you have an emergency within Ada County (with the exception of Kuna, who provides their own emergency ambulance service through Kuna Rural Fire District.)
No. The Vital Ride Ambulance Membership only covers emergency treatment provided to a covered member by Ada County Paramedics. We are not affiliated with Life Flight or Air St. Luke’s. These air ambulance agencies are private businesses, and as a government agency, we cannot reciprocate their membership programs. Both Life Flight and Air St. Luke’s offer similar membership programs available for purchase separately from your Vital Ride Ambulance Membership.
Yes. Ada County Paramedics is the only ambulance service affiliated with the 911 system within Ada County (with the exception of Kuna, who provides their own emergency ambulance service through Kuna Rural Fire District.)
No. The membership is effective at the time of purchase and cannot be retro activated.
No, there is no cap on the number of transports covered by your membership.
Yes. The most you would ever pay us, per incident would be $150. The Vital Ride Ambulance Membership typically saves uninsured members several hundred dollars per incident.
Yes. The membership benefits apply after all possible insurance payers have been billed. The Ada County Paramedics’ billing office needs medical insurance information, as well as any liability coverage that may be in effect for the emergency service Ada County Paramedics provide you.
You may include anyone who can be claimed on your taxes as a spouse or dependent.* Caregivers/dependent situations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact our office at (208) 287-2950 for additional information about who may be included on your membership.
*“Spouse… shall be interpreted as referring to a marriage relationship.” – IDAPA 35.01.01 63-3022
https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title63/T63CH30/
Yes. Ada County Paramedics will mail you a Vital Ride Ambulance Membership welcome packet within 2-3 weeks of purchasing your membership. You will receive a card for each covered adult. The membership card is for your records and you will not need to present the card at the time of your emergency. Your membership is effective at the time of purchase, not when you receive the welcome packet.
No. The membership card is for your records only and you will not need to present the card at the time during your emergency. Ada County Paramedics has your membership and insurance information in our billing software and we will apply your membership benefits to your bill after all of your insurance payers have been billed.
If you purchase an annual membership, it is effective through the end of the month of the following year. For example: An annual membership purchased on 08/10/2017 will be effective until 08/31/2018. A five-year membership will be effective through the end of the month five years after the purchase date. A lifetime membership is effective for the lifetime of the primary member.
Yes. The $75 annual membership dues cover the primary member as well as any family members who can be claimed on their taxes, including their spouse and dependents. If someone living in your home cannot be claimed on your taxes, they will need to purchase a separate membership in order to have coverage. Caregivers/dependent situations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact our office at (208) 287-2950 for additional information about who may be included on your membership.
While investing in any of our membership levels will help protect you and your household from unexpected ambulance bills, many members prefer the 5-year membership level. Selecting the 5-year membership level ensures your whole household is protected for a full five years, without having to worry about renewing your membership annually. It’s also the best value, essentially giving you 5 years for the price of four!
Please make your checks out to “Ada County Paramedics.”
No. Vital Ride is a membership program that helps bridge the gap if you are uninsured or underinsured. While the Vital Ride Ambulance Membership may provide peace of mind for your Ada County Paramedics ambulance bill, it will not cover any services provided by other medical providers.
We will send you a renewal notice 45 days before your membership expires, and then again 15 days before the membership expires. It is important for active members to keep their mailing address updated with our office so these renewal notices are received.
Yes! We offer a 5% discounted membership rate to recognized organizations or employer groups when 5 or more memberships are purchased at once. Contact our office at (208) 287-2950 for more information.