Lake Zurich to increase ambulance costs 60 percent

The cost to get ambulance service in Lake Zurich is going to increase by 60 percent next year following a vote by the village board Monday night.

The cost of an ambulance ride for residents will increase from $750 to $1,200 and for nonresidents it will increase from $900 to $1,350.

Village Manager Ray Keller said residents pay less because a portion of their tax payment to the village goes toward the day-to-day operation of the ambulance services.

According to the village, the price increase should net Lake Zurich around $100,000 in revenue for fiscal year 2018 and beyond.

According to one expert consulted by the village, their increased rate isn't as high as many other villages. Pat Mannix from Andrea Medical Billing, the company that handles the village's ambulance billing, said he has seen a trend of communities adjusting fees to between $1,500 and $1,800 per transport.

Keller said they didn't feel comfortable raising their rate that high.

"The (new) fee doesn't fully cover 100 percent of the cost," Keller said. "We felt comfortable justifying the increase."

The increased prices will be mostly paid by private medical insurance companies, according to the village.

The price increase does not apply to people on Medicare or Medicaid, a group that makes up around 52 percent of people who need ambulance services, according to village documents. Their reimbursement rates are set by the federal government.

For people whose insurance doesn't fully cover their ambulance bill, the village has the option to cease billing them.

The increases will take effect on Jan. 1, 2018.