Late but USA, wanted to share a personal experience. While at work I collapsed and had to take an ambulance to the hospital. I got sent the bills for everything. Including the ambulance ride. I stayed in the hospital overnight for observation. They couldn’t figure out what happened and I didn’t have symptoms anymore so I was discharged. Whole event cost maybe $500.
Here’s the kicker, I work(ed) as a paramedic for the ambulance company that transported me. I had insurance that was not from the company so prices were reasonable relative to what one would expect in the country. Had I been insured through work, well, the insurance provided by the company doesn’t cover transport by that company’s ambulance.
This is very good advice, especially if someone has taken drugs. Please tell us. The medicine I give for chest pain can kill someone if they’re having that pain from doing a ton of cocaine and not a possible heart attack.
After the first time someone went into cardiac arrest after I started treating them after telling me they didn’t use any drugs or alcohol today - I followed up found out he survived but had in fact taken a ton of cocaine today, I’ve changed my wording to “Have you taken any drugs or alcohol recently? It’s okay if you have I’m not a cop but if you have it changes which medicine I can safely give you.”