Storey County Fire Protection District has offered an ambulance subscription program for years now, but not many people are enrolled.
The program's intention is to help neighbors save money in the event of a medical emergency.
Storey County residents either pay $75 a person or $125 for a household.
The Fire Chief for Storey County says this can save people a lot of money, since an average ambulance ride is roughly $2,400.
If you need an ambulance multiple times in a year, it's still covered under one charge.
If you enroll in this program and need an ambulance, Storey County will write off whatever your insurance doesn't cover.
You're still responsible for health care costs once you get treated.
"Hopefully they don't have to use the service, but if they do hopefully, we can also help them apply what they would've spent on the ambulance on their long-term health care," said Jeremy Loncar, Fire Chief for the Storey County Fire Protection District.
The program is not something to take advantage of.
"So, this isn't if you just need to get down to your doctor's office for an appointment. This is only when it is medically necessary for you to go to a hospital," Loncar said.
Storey County is in a rural part of the silver state, where travel to a hospital is longer than if you live in a bigger city, and those miles add up.Â
"So, in rural counties we've got a lot further to drive to get you to the hospital and mileage is part of the bill," Loncar said. "So, here it just helps you when we have so far to drive you so far to a hospital and keep those costs down."
Storey County has a population of about 4,000 people and only 375 are enrolled in the subscription, which is less than 10 percent.
In 2021, they had 424 people enrolled, so they have seen a decrease in memberships.
"We need to be better at getting the word out and letting everyone know that they're eligible," Loncar said.
Carson, Douglas, Lyon, and East Fork Fire Departments also offer a similar service, and if you're treated by any of these counties, they will accept your subscription as well, and vice versa for Storey County.
REMSA has a similar ground ambulance plan that serves Washoe County.
"There's lots of programs like this out there. It's just really important for the residents within your communities to see what's available to you," Loncar said.
