Optional ambulance insurance available

DOWNEY - Each year the city of Downey offers all residents an opportunity to enroll in the Fire Department Emergency Medical Transport Program. Once enrolled in the program, all residents of apartments, condos and single-family homes are covered for their emergency transport originating in the city.The Emergency Transport Subscription Program is a supplemental insurance program that eliminates additional "out of pocket" expenses for residents who find themselves in need of emergency medical transportation. Without the supplemental insurance coverage, the cost of each Advanced Life Support (paramedic) transport starts at $1476.75. Basic life support transportation fees begin at $981.25. The annual subscription fee is just $48.00 and covers all permanent residents of your household from March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013. Every year the Downey Fire Department transports 4,500 residents to the hospital. The fees collected from the Emergency Transport Subscription Program help to offset the costs of providing two Fire Department paramedic squads and a basic life support ambulance. Residents will receive the same level of service regardless of whether or not they are a "subscriber." Beginning Nov. 17, 2011, you may have noticed an additional fee of $48.00 for the Subscription Program added to your City of Downey water/trash bill.To enroll, simply include that amount with your water/trash bill payment. If you do not receive a City of Downey water/trash bill, please stop by the City Hall cashier window for an enrollment form or call (562) 904-7254 and a form will be mailed to you. -Contributed by Downey Fire Department

********** Published: November 24, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 32