The average emergency response with ambulance transport costs $1,500. Insurance may cover a portion of this charge, leaving you responsible for paying the balance. With LifeRide you will pay nothing after a claim is submitted to your health insurance provider. Individuals who do not have medical insurance will receive a 40% discount on their ambulance bill.

LifeRide is the Emergency Medical Services program operated by the city. A small monthly fee is charged to all utility customers of the City of Broken Arrow to help pay for the cost of this essential service. For most people, their insurance will only partially cover ambulance costs after the deductible and co-insurance is met, which means the remaining balance is the patient’s responsibility to pay. If you are unsure of your level of emergency ambulance coverage, contact your insurance provider. LifeRide takes care of out-of-pocket expenses, so you don’t pay anything on emergency ambulance services.

Yes. Customers without insurance will receive a 40% discount on their ambulance bill.

For City of Broken Arrow utility customers, LifeRide is payable through your monthly utility bill and appears as a line item labeled Life Ride (EMS) Charge. Non-utility customers will make annual payments by check, cash or credit card.

The monthly rate is $6.45 as of October 1, 2023.

No. Because costs fluctuate from year to year which the city cannot predict or control, it is difficult to cap the rate. The City of Broken Arrow is committed to maintaining a reasonable charge that will adequately support the Broken Arrow Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division.

No. The LifeRide service charge is a fee. The City of Broken Arrow provides its own Emergency Medical Services and the LifeRide fee is to help pay for the cost of the service. Based on a study of 2022 operating expenses and revenue generated from the LifeRide fees, the cost to run the EMS department was approximately $8.5 million. Collections of the LifeRide fees that same year totaled $4.6 million, leaving a deficit of $3.9 million.

Yes, the City will continue to submit claims to insurance providers. Individuals who have health insurance will not pay any out-of-pocket expenses after insurance payments have been collected. 

LifeRide is available to anyone living outside city limits but within the Broken Arrow fence line. Those who live within the fence line and receive a utility bill will pay $8.50 per month. People living outside the city limits within the fence line but do not receive a utility bill will be able to enroll at $102.00 per year. An annual subscription is required because a utility bill is not generated for this group of non-residents.

New customers or existing customers transferring services to a new address will be charged the LifeRide fee beginning with the first monthly utility bill received from the city. 

Yes. All members of the household who claim the address registered with LifeRide as their primary residence will be covered.

Yes. Each utility account is charged the LifeRide fee and covers the tenants who live in the residence. 

Yes. Non-residents of Broken Arrow who work at a commercial property are considered participants of the program.

Yes. Broken Arrow Fire Department will respond to any call for emergency assistance within city limits and provide all necessary care and services regardless of LifeRide participation. After a claim has been submitted to your health insurance provider, you will be responsible for paying the remaining balance on your ambulance bill. 

No. On July 17, 2023, Broken Arrow City Council adopted a new city ordinance that removed the opt-out provision and made LifeRide a mandatory fee for all utility customers. This was done to help pay for the expenses associated with operating the city’s Emergency Medical Services Division of Broken Arrow Fire Department.

LifeRide benefits only apply when the Broken Arrow Fire Department provides transport.

You may call us at 918-259-6595 or email us at liferide@brokenarrowok.gov.