Opt out for TotalCare begins Sept 1

(September 1, 2009) - The City of Oklahoma City will begin billing for TotalCare Ambulance service for Oklahoma City residents on October 1. 

Households in Oklahoma City will automatically be enrolled in the program, and the $3.65 charge will show up on residents’ water and trash utility bill beginning in October. 

Residents who do not want to take advantage of TotalCare benefits can opt out September 1 through 30 by calling Utility Customer Service at 297-2833. Residents can also opt out through their online utility account at www.okc.gov. 

By opting out, residents may be responsible for out of pocket expenses associated with treatment.   Utility customers will have the opportunity to opt out or back into the program each September.

Participants won’t have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for EMSA emergency ambulance rides given to permanent members of their home, regardless of their age or relationship to the utility account holder.   

EMSA will collect payment from residents’ insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, but not bill residents for co-payments, deductibles or other out-of-pocket charges.  The current charge for an emergency ambulance transport starts at $1,100.

The program covers EMSA emergency transports within the entire EMSA service area, which includes Oklahoma City, Edmond, Bethany, Mustang, Nichols Hills, Piedmont, The Village, Warr Acres, Yukon, Arcadia, Lake Aluma and Valley Brook.  Transports in Tulsa, Sand Springs, Bixby or Jenks (cities also served by EMSA) are also covered.

Generally the ambulance ride has to end at a hospital’s emergency room to be considered an emergency transport. TotalCare does not cover non-emergency transports to and from doctors’ offices, dentists’ offices, physical therapy centers, pharmacies and other facilities.

Apartment, duplex and mobile home park owners will also be automatically enrolled in TotalCare, but at a discount. The cost of participation depends on the number of units on the property.  The number of occupied and unoccupied units will be divided in half to reflect variances in occupancy.  A property with 75 units will only pay for 37 units at $3.65 per unit - $135.05 monthly.   

 Landlords are required to notify their tenants if they choose to opt out of the program.  A tenant notification form and details specifically for apartment owners and other types of landlords can be found at www.okc.gov/totalcare.

If the landlord opts out of the program, tenants can call 396-2888 to sign up at the same rate homeowners pay.

Program details are available on the City’s Web site, www.okc.gov/totalcare.