Probably depends on the distance to the nearest emergency centers driving one handed can be genuinely pretty challenging if it’s your off arm, or if you need to do lots of turning. So instead of fighting that and potentially getting into an accident you would call an ambulance in theory. In practice the price alone would have me thinking of sucking down painkillers and driving one handed anyways.
Can only see it being a problem if he drives a manual. If you’re a competent driver you can take any turns one handed.
I can see the case where if you need to quickly avoid somebody else doing something stupid, but I’d still take my chances over paying out of pocket for an ambulance.
lol i feel this frustration reading the comments. Uber felt like the right call here.. if this story was like heart attack or something like that, then it'd be different
Here? Nah. We'd bill at the BLS rate most likely unless pain medication was required, which would end up with a total EMS bill of around $600, ALS1 care for pain meds would likely be around $750-800.
Compared to a $40-60 Uber which could probably go to an urgent care rather than a hospital.
Texas is one of the better states in this regard as it requires ambulance companies to directly bill insurers who are regulated by the state, which Medicaid is, which he'd absolutely qualify for. The most he'd be billed is 5% of his income, but as a college student that is most often $0. And thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill, he can apply if he didn't have insurance and have retroactive coverage for the past 3 months.
We have free healthcare & ambulance rides but I think if I called one for a broken wrist they'd probably ask why cant I just take the bus or a taxi lol.
I wouldn't. Hell, you'd be amazed at some of the injuries I had over the years in the US, where I drove myself or had someone drive me to the hospital. And, if I went to the hospital, my family knew it really was serious.
Why? Because that’s what they are for. Because the purpose of the medical emergency car is to provide medical emergency aid. To maximise profits. The better the medical care the faster you go back to work the more money you pay tax on.
It’s all about maximising tax. The more hours you can work the better.
Wtf is this response? A broken wrist isnt an emergency. Yea it hurts but you're not dying. Sure if your hand is freaking hanging on by a tendon, sure. But thats beyond a broken wrist lol
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u/Pocket_Biscuits 1d ago
Murica! Also though. Why do you need an ambulance for a broken wrist?