EMSAcare FAQ

There are two ways to join EMSAcare – through a fee added to your city water/utility bill, where available, or directly with EMSA.

To enroll directly with EMSA, simply complete a membership agreement, complete the application and send it to us with your payment — Eastern Division – $65, Western Division – $45.

Eastern Division EMSAcare enrollment period is held August 1- August 31.

Western Division EMSAcare enrollment period is held September 1-September 30.

Individuals who apply after the deadline will have a 30-day waiting period before membership begins. Remember, one membership covers you and all permanent members of your household.

To request an application for an EMSAcare membership direct with EMSA or questions about an individual’s eligibility, please call the EMSAcare hotline at (918) 396-2888 or (405) 396-2888 or contact us to request a brochure.

Where available, a small monthly fee is or can be added to your residential water/utility bill. To participate in EMSAcare through a fee added to your city water/utility bill, you are automatically enrolled when you establish your water/utility services account. In some communities, there is an available option to opt OUT of EMSAcare via a city water/utility fee. That program year option, where available, also differs by location.

If you have questions about your city water/utility bill membership fee, please call your local city utility provider.

Medicare and insurance companies deny about 30% of all ambulance claims they receive. When they refuse to pay, the entire bill – usually totaling more than $1,300! — becomes the patient’s responsibility.

Even if Medicare/your insurance provider approves your claim, it’s likely that you’ll still be responsible for meeting a deductible or providing a co-payment. Plus, insurance companies often pay a reduced amount when they approve a claim – leaving patients to pay the remaining balance.

But EMSAcare members never have to pay out-of-pocket for EMSA emergency care or for covered non-emergency service. Members are charged a significantly reduced rate (40% savings off the standard rate) for uncovered non-emergency service.

Yes. EMSA has and will continue to bill any third-party insurance payers. More than 80% of EMSA’s revenue comes from third-party insurance payments, such as Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance and others. It would be unfair for taxpayers to bear the burden of healthcare costs that could be otherwise covered by insurance providers.

The utility fee is a convenient way to cap an individual’s expenses on ambulance costs. It covers out-of-pocket costs you would normally have to pay beyond what your insurance pays, such as deductibles and co-payments.

You will have no out-of-pocket costs regardless of whether you have insurance coverage or not. If you pay the city utility fee and notify EMSA that you do not have Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance, you owe nothing.

Every patient will receive a statement from EMSA after an ambulance transport. Please read the statement carefully.

You may not owe anything and it is simply notifying you of the amount EMSA will bill your insurance provider. In many cases, EMSA is requesting your insurance information, if you have it. You must submit your insurance information, if you have it, to EMSA as soon as possible.

If you do not have Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance, please notify EMSA as soon as possible.

If your ambulance transport will be covered under another policy, such as a motor vehicle policy (in the case of motor vehicle accidents), the Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund or other third-party, please notify EMSA as soon as possible.

All emergency transports in EMSA’s service area are fully covered. An emergency is defined as an unforeseen condition that requires urgent and unscheduled medical attention. Emergency transports always result in the ambulance taking the patient to a hospital emergency room.

The cause or location of your emergency does not matter as long as it is in EMSA’s service area (see below). If you pay the utility fee, you are covered for all your emergency transports regardless of where the ambulance picks you up.

EMSAcare benefits on non-emergency transports can vary, depending on insurance coverage and destination. Before requesting non-emergency service, please call (918) 396-2888 or (405) 396-2888 to determine the transport’s eligibility.

By city ordinance, your property manager must notify you annually if the property where you live is covered under your city’s utility fee EMSAcare program. If you do not know if you are covered, contact your property manager or your city utilities department.

If you are a nursing home resident, but still maintain a permanent residence (such as a spouse that still lives at home) that is opted in to a city utility fee EMSAcare program, you may be covered. Please call EMSA at (918) 396-2888 or (405) 396-2888 to verify both residences.

If you are not covered, you may purchase an EMSAcare subscription directly with EMSA by paying an annual fee. You can enroll by calling (918) 396-2888 or (405) 396-2888.

Some cities allow an individual to opt out of its utility fee program. Other cities do not allow for opting out. Check with your city utilities department to verify if opt out is available.

To verify if you are opted in to your city’s utility fee EMSAcare program, call your city utilities department.

A water customer opts in or out (if available) of the program at the time he or she establishes a water account with the city.

For cities where opt out is available, there is also an annual enrollment period each year. You can opt in or opt out of the program during that time by calling your city’s utilities department.

EMSA’s service area includes Tulsa, Sand Springs, Bixby, Jenks, Oklahoma City, Edmond, Nichols Hills, The Village, Lake Aluma, Arcadia and Valley Brook.

EMSA encourages anyone with a question or concern to call (918) 396-2888 or (405) 396-2888, or fill out our contact form.