This week, while filling out the form to pay $60 and subscribe to the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service for the year, I started wondering what would happen if everyone or every household or every family in our community joined the service – one of the last two all-volunteer emergency response ambulance services in Vermont.
In 2024 MRVAS responded to a total of 588 calls from residents in The Valley as well as calls in Granville, Waterbury and Barre as needed. The service offers annual subscriptions for $60 which include the whole household and also include a waiver of all co-payments and deductibles. This means MRVAS collects available insurance benefits from medical insurance plans, but waives any co-pay or deductibles associated with that health insurance plan. In short, it’s a good deal.
The recent letter seeking subscriptions went out to some 2,200 households in Warren, Waitsfield, Fayston and the parts of Moretown and Duxbury that MRVAS serves. Last year, MRVAS had 917 subscribers.
Those 917 subscribers, at $60 a household, yield $55,020. Imagine if all 2,200 people who received the subscription letter joined – MRVAS would receive $132,000.
And what if all households in the area – including year round and part-time residents joined. There are an estimated 6,300 households in those categories and that would mean $378,000 for the organization that responds when we need help the most.
MRVAS bills for its services and does collect from insurance companies and Medicare and Medicaid, but that results in some shortfalls, to the tune of $207,709 in uncollectable accounts. The services total revenue (including subscriptions and net revenue (after uncollectable accounts) is $326,805. Local towns help MRVAS annually, with funds allocated for capital expenses and the service receives donations, gifts and other contributions.
Imagine what a difference it might make if everyone could subscribe. If you can afford to subscribe, please do and if possible, subscribe for someone who may not be able to subscribe. Having your neighbors respond to calls for help in the most urgent times of your life is comforting and reassuring beyond words. We are incredibly lucky to have MRVAS in our community.
Join if you can. Visit www.mrvas.org/subscribe.
