City Council Approves TotalCare Program

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- EMSA had a busy morning Tuesday responding to wrecks and collisions on the road, and soon, Oklahoma City residents will all be footing the bill for the ambulance service up front.

The Oklahoma City Council voted "yes" on a fee that will be attached to your utility bill. It is a nominal fee and you will be able to opt out if you don't want to pay it. But City leaders said paying this fee is going to be a good deal, for you.

Read the Oklahoma City Council Memo

It will cost $3.65 per month to be enrolled in the TotalCare program. That way, every resident in the home will not have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for an emergency ambulance ride.

An ambulance ride in Oklahoma City costs $720. But the City Council is considering increasing it to $1,100.

The plan is similar to one adopted in Tulsa, where more than 90 percent of residential customers pay the fee.

Perhaps the fee is a small price to pay if you're ever in an emergency situation.

If you don't get a utility bill -- perhaps you live in an apartment or a nursing home, or you're on a well system -- you can still enroll in the TotalCare program with the same benefits at a similar rate.

You'll see the first fee on your utility bill in October of 2009.