Detroit retiree says contracted ambulance bill was sent to him; councilmember offers assistance

A City of Detroit retiree told the Committee of the Whole he received a $474 ambulance bill for a February emergency transport to Henry Ford Hospital and asked whether the city (or its insurer) could help cover that charge.

The retiree said he had served the city for more than 30 years and that his pension is frozen; the bill represented a significant out-of-pocket charge. He said Blue Cross Michigan would not cover the balance and asked whether the cityould intervene, because residents pay taxes that support public safety services.

Council member Angela Whitfield Callaway responded from the dais that the issue had come up previously. Callaway said the city contracts with private EMS providers (the retiree and Callaway referenced companies based in Romulus and Southfield) and that the city has received reports of retirees being pursued by collection agencies for ambulance bills. Callaway gave the retiree her office number (224-4535) and asked him to contact her staff; she said she had raised similar concerns with the administration previously and would try to assist.

No formal council action was taken; Callaway invited the retiree to follow up directly with her office for assistance and directed staff to attempt additional outreach.