Since the inception of St. Charles County Ambulance District in 1975, the District has utilized multiple revenue streams to cover operational expenses. About 63 percent of the District’s revenue comes from property taxes paid by residents, user fees for ambulance service account for about one-third, and the remainder comes from a variety of small sources (fees for education classes, state/federal grants, interest income, etc.)
User fees are largely paid by government and commercial insurance companies following a patient’s trip to the hospital via ambulance. Insurance plans vary greatly in terms of coverage level, and each is processed individually by patient accounts representatives to ensure insurance covers as much as possible.
Currently, if there is a remaining balance after insurance is applied to the trip, patients are responsible for the difference. If Prop. Paramedics is approved by voters, residents of St. Charles county would no longer be responsible for any remaining balance – the trip would still be submitted to commercial or government insurance for payment, but any uncovered amount would be written off by the District.