Careflite

The City of Alvarado

      Public Notice to All Water Customers September 20, 2013

The City of Alvarado and CareFlite have signed an agreement to allow all customers of the City's water system to become members of Care Flite for $1 per month. This includes all members of each household. The contract with CareFlite was approved by the City Council on August 19 , 2013 and is effective November 1 , 2013.

CareFlite, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit company, brings a very high quaky air and ground ambulance 911/EGIS service to the citizens of Johnson and Hill Counties. CareFlite is the oldest joint-use air rriedica1 program in the United States and is celebrating its 34th anniversary of service to North Texas in 2013. Over those thirty-four years, CareFlite has transported over 700,000 patients by air and ground ambulance. More information is available at www.careflite.org CateFlite works closely with your local Fire Department. In all emergencies, dial 911.                                                                                                                                       

As part of the agreement with CareFlite, the City will add $1.00 to each monthly water bill to provide a Caring- Heart Membership for each household. The Casing-Heart Membership protects your entire household against the out of pocket expenses of a CaleFlite ground or air ambulance transport. If you have insurance, you will not receive a balance bill. If you have no insurance, you will automatically receive a 50% discount from CareFlite. Complete details and program ru1es are available at wwwcareflite.org. The City will provide CareFlite with a list of participating households monthly once the program starts on November 1 , 2013. Failure to pay your water bill will terminate your CareFlite membership. Anyone who lives in the City but does not receive a water bill can also participate in this program by obtaining and completing a special CareFlite membership application available at City Hall in Alvarado and paying the $12 annual cost when submitting the application.

While we strongly encourage everyone to protect they faintly with this program, anyone who does not wish to be included can opt out by going to City Hall and filling out a short form that the coverage is not desired at any time. To opt out from the start, come to City Hall on of before October 25, 2013.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact the Alvarado City Hall (817) 790-3351. For questions about CareFlite and/ or Membership, please call the Caring-Heart Member Services Office (877) 339-2273 during business hours.

Caring - Heart Membership Program

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) What is a Caring Heart Membership?

The membership protects you and your household against out of pocket expenses if you have insurance. The typical payment from insurance is 45 to 50 % leaving the rest to be paid by the patient. If you are a member with insurance, you don't get balanced billed for that amount. If the patient has no insurance, then the members automatically entitles the member to a 50% discount from CareFlite's standard charges.

2)  Who is covered? that is out definition of a family? How about kids in college?

Everyone lives in the household and is listed on the application. Kids in college are covered because they are dependent on the parents to pay their college costs and if they maintain the household as their primarily residence. (IE tax return shows home address or they vote at the polling place where the household is located.)

3) Children of divorced parents? How about parents or in-laws?

If you thrive any level of custody of the child or children and you list them on your application, they are covered regardless of their location within CareFlite's service area. If your patents or in laws live with you, they are covered regardless of their location within CareFlite's service area.

4)  What is the cost? How can you offer the membership at such a low cost?

Membership costs $1 per month per household if paid through your water bill front the Special Utility District. Careflitee is a 501(c)3 non-profit so it doesn't have the same expenses and financial issues as a for profit company. 

Second, the membership program, which by state regulation is an EMS membership program and not insurance, does operate financially like an insurance program in that the risk is spread over the entire membership group.

6)   What is CareFlite's coverage area?

CareFlite membership coverage areas shown above plus Ground Ambulance and/ or 911 EMS service is currently offered in portions of the following counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker and Tarrant. No service offered to/ from Mexico. CareFlite's Membership Program’s air benefits are honored by Air Life and Halo Flight in their service areas.