EMSA's TotalCare plan deadline this weekend

No one expects a medical emergency to happen, and so many times, folks just don't have the thousands of dollars on hand to pay for one. <br><br>EMSA offers you a way to cut down those out-of-pocket

Friday, March 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

No one expects a medical emergency to happen, and so many times, folks just don't have the thousands of dollars on hand to pay for one.

EMSA offers you a way to cut down those out-of-pocket costs. News on Six medical reporter Tami Marler explains how it works.

An ambulance ride to the hospital can cost you hundreds of dollars, many can't afford that, and the last thing you want to think about is how you'll pay. â€œCome on, yeah, I'm okay." Winston is truly Bill Viseur's best friend, he's earned it. "First time this happened and he started waking me up; I thought he wanted to go outside. And he didn't want to go outside and I tested my blood and it was quite low." Viseur is diabetic. He says Winston senses when he's in danger of going into a coma. "He usually comes up if I'm on the couch pawing the couch and this sort of stuff; if I'm in the bed, coming up and barking a little bit like he's gotta go outside."

Viseur says he has a devoted medical team that starts with Winston. "When he gets me up and everything, I have an alarm system here; I just push the button and everyone's alerted." The alarm company notifies 911, and when EMSA comes through the door, they know he's a TotalCare member.

Chris Metcalf with EMSA: "And what it does is protect them from out of pocket expenses from deductibles or co-payments on insurance." Chris Metcalf says 93% of TotalCare's 37,000 members statewide are like Bill Viseur. "One of the reasons also is that most seniors are on a fixed income. And if they were to have to pay co-payments or deductibles or even worst case scenario have to pay for an entire ambulance transport then that's a significant cost."

Bill Viseur's membership fee paid itself off tenfold the very first time he used it. He says he can't imagine how much money he's saved over the years. "Oh my gosh, I, $30,000? 'Cause it's roughly $600 a trip to the hospital." Even more than that.

Viseur says EMSA has saved Winston's best friend many times. "What's so funny sometimes is they've come in the house and they'll say you've passed out on the floor, and Winston was laying on top of you."

While the majority of TotalCare members are seniors, Metcalf says some families are also enrolled; all immediate family members are covered by the same annual fee. $60 for new enrollment, $50 for existing members. Signup for this year-end on Sunday. After that you're subject to a waiting period.

For more information you can call 396-2888.