I'd rather see the direct or marginal costs of the ambulance or paramedics billed to the user (so, if they expend saline, or bandages, or whatever, you pay for it), and the hourly wage and vehicle costs for the trip itself. That would price a routine EMT-B ambulance trip around $100 -- still enough that people who didn't need it would take a taxi or drive themselves to a doctor for a non-incapacitating problem, but cheap enough that it could be paid out of pocket.
The costs of keeping ambulances ready, training, etc. could be socialized somehow. I benefit by having 5-10 minute EMS response times even if I never use it for 70 years, so paying for that out of taxes or some other universal subscription fee to users makes sense, rather than putting all the costs on those unlucky enough to need it.
The costs of keeping ambulances ready, training, etc. could be socialized somehow. I benefit by having 5-10 minute EMS response times even if I never use it for 70 years, so paying for that out of taxes or some other universal subscription fee to users makes sense, rather than putting all the costs on those unlucky enough to need it.