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This may be practically useful for those in the States and interesting to those outside:
The 911 service (the operator who answers your 911 call, their colleagues, and the 911 call center and technology) are usually paid for through the phone bill.
The city/county services accessible through 911-- police, fire, and ambulance-- are generally paid for by other taxes. In other words, if your house catches on fire, you won't be billed by the fire department for showing up to put it out; if your house is burglarized, the police won't charge you to take a report or catch the criminal.
Very basic ambulance service-- that is, sending the ambulance and paramedics TO your house-- is generally also paid for by taxes. Whatever they do at your house is again paid for by taxes (which can include coming in, taking your blood pressure, doing a portable EKG*, and many other things). The cost comes when they put you in the ambulance, give you services in the ambulance, and transport you somewhere else.
If the cost of emergency medical help is of serious concern to you, it might be good to investigate what is available for free or reduced cost, and who pays for what, so that you know what your options are in the case of an emergency. Just saying.
*No joke! Awesome stuff, that. They did one on Raven last summer.
The 911 service (the operator who answers your 911 call, their colleagues, and the 911 call center and technology) are usually paid for through the phone bill.
The city/county services accessible through 911-- police, fire, and ambulance-- are generally paid for by other taxes. In other words, if your house catches on fire, you won't be billed by the fire department for showing up to put it out; if your house is burglarized, the police won't charge you to take a report or catch the criminal.
Very basic ambulance service-- that is, sending the ambulance and paramedics TO your house-- is generally also paid for by taxes. Whatever they do at your house is again paid for by taxes (which can include coming in, taking your blood pressure, doing a portable EKG*, and many other things). The cost comes when they put you in the ambulance, give you services in the ambulance, and transport you somewhere else.
If the cost of emergency medical help is of serious concern to you, it might be good to investigate what is available for free or reduced cost, and who pays for what, so that you know what your options are in the case of an emergency. Just saying.
*No joke! Awesome stuff, that. They did one on Raven last summer.
