Realistically, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this because there are a host of variables to consider.

First, your location has a LOT to do with determining how much you pay. This includes your state, city, and even the part of city!!

Second, brokers and Medicaid have different requirements. The norm is around 1 million in general vehicle liability, but I have seen some Medicaid offices requiring 2 million. So again, it does depend on localized variable of what their minimums are.

Third, your MVR, motor vehicls reports definitely contribute to the cost of your premiums. If you have DUI’s on your MVR or various other transgressions, I’m sure you can imagine how this can adversely influence your premiums.

The good news, it that our underwriters are now willing to underwrite policies for our UMTPG members regardless of how long they are in business. Initially, they would not do this for anyone with less than 3 years in business. But with out growing membership and track record, our underwriters have reduced this to 2 years and now they are even writing policies, in select instances for new, startup businesses!

If you’re really serious about getting into this business, then when you’re ready, I would encourage you to join the UMTPG (www.umtpg.org) and then work with our brokers and underwriters. I mention this because I can assure you that our brokers will NOT try and push anything on you or sell you something you don’t need. There’s a reason why the UMTPG has partnered with these specific brokers and underwriters – becuase everything is focused on empowering the transportation providers! If you don’t need something, our brokers are NOT going to try and sell it to you – putting you into policies that you don’t need or are excessive serves you no good nor does it serve the UMTPG.

So again, only if you’re serious about moving forward and getting quotes from the UMTPG, I would encourage you to visit and join us at http://www.umtpg.com to learn more about our benefits and become an active member. Once you do, our brokers will contact you and begin working on the creation and “shopping” your policy out to our team of underwriters to find you the cheapest rates.

Thanks again for your great question. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions.

See you at the Top!

So how do I feel about it? Well, it is what it is! My company used to “own” the ER’s. They used to call us for everything! So needless to say, we made a LOT of money on ER discharges.

I know it sounds mean, but if the client can’t pay, they don’t go. You can’t work for FREE!! Trust me, I did an untold number of transports for FREE and at discount. So my concious is clear! But ultimately, if you’re not making money you can’t help anyone because you’re not going to be in business long! So, if they can’t pay you, then it is the hospital’s/ER’s problem!

But here is an outstanding tactic that worked like a CHARM for me and could possibly work well for you. I was under contract with 2 of the 3 hospitals in my area. These two hospitals are sister-hospitals. This is the one in which I provide the copy of my contract with my Million Dollar Seminar DVD Series. Anyways, we were doing so much business with the ER’s in addition to general hospital discharges, that I was able to convince the hospital to pay for all ER discharges!!!!! How was this possible? Because all I had to do is show them how much money they were going to save to pay me to transport the client and empty their beds. More specifically, it was easier for the hospital to pay my company between $60-$120 for an ER discharge versus letting the patient sit in their ER, fill their beds, and drive up further costs. In short, I justified their payments as a cost savings effort! Pay me $100 or lose SEVERAL $100 by keeping the client in the ER!

Thanks again for your question. I hope that it helps.

See you at the Top!

Thanks for your great question. Needless to say, it’s not a secret that I’m NOT a fan of Logisticare. Brokers are difficult enough to work with. But Logisticare is definitely the worst!

In terms of them telling you that they rarely enlist the help of a company with only one vehicle, they’re absolutely full of it. I couldn’t even tell you how many independent operators they partner with, drivers starting their company with a single vehicle. So honestly, that’s just a bunch of crap! This further proves that Logisticare can operate differently depending on the region.

As far as ADA complient reqirements, it’s becoming more and more the norm that vehicles are ADA complient. But regardless, there is such a fine line between vehicles that are LABELED ADA compliant and those that aren’t. Such a simply label is also, in my opinion, a load of crap because it really adds very little added-value to making companies any better or user-friendly. But in terms of Logisticare’s requirement, I would not suspect them to demand that they be ADA compliant as I literally know of a flood of business owners whose vehicles are not labeled with the coveted ADA approval and Logisticare has no problem with it.

Thanks again for your question, Scott. Be very smart and prudent with how you interact with and what you agree to with Logisticare. If you haven’t done so, I would definitely encourage you to study my Boot Camp Seminar DVD Series. About a full third of it is dedicated to brokers – Logisticare in particular!

See you at the Top!

All I can do is encourage members to post their contact information. I cannot do it for them. We have many members, however, if they wish to remain anonymous, for whatever reason, then I have to respect their wishes and allow them to be anonymous.

My best suggestions is to just surf around this site and see who has their information posted, reach out to them, and try and develop a friendship and strategic partnership.

Trust me. The issue of active members remaining anonymous has always been a frustration to me. I wish everyone would post their contact info and reach out to others more readily than they do!!

See you at the Top!

Thank for your great questions. There is a great deal of deregulation going on in various places without the country. So you’re doing a good job in asking great questions. Definitely continue to do your “homework” and due-dilligence to determine regulations specific to your community.

As of right now, according to my records, you do not need to be registered with the Department of Transportation. However, I do believey ou are right, that you need to be an ambulance or BLS as a minimum in order to perform stretcher transports. However, this is not a problem. Especially in starting out, you should not worry about stretcher transports. Focus on wheelchair and ambulatory. This will be the bulk of your business anyways. In time, as your business grows and expands, I would then consider expanding into BLS if you so desire to transport stretchers.

In regards to O2, I still recommend to business owners that they do not personally get involved in handling or dealing with osygen. Definitely transport clients with O2, so be prepared to have O2 holders on your wheelchairs. But I still suggenst not getting involved in regulating O2. About six months ago I had one business owner tell me how a client’s son was trying to make a stink that a driver improperly adjusted the client’s O2 or something along those lines. Regardless of circumstances, I would avoid it as much as possible as it exposes you to undo liability related issues.

As for ADA, if you invest in a vehicle that is already equiped with a hightop roof and hydraulic lift then 99.9% of the time it is ADA complient. They literally roll out ADA compliant. This is another reason why I always suggest investing in vehicles that are already equipped versus investing in a conversion van and then trying to convert it into an ambulette.

Thanks again for your great question. Please feel free to contact me with further questions. If anyone else in Texas has even greater, more targeted information regarding the rules and regulations in the Great State of Texas, please share the info! That’s what this site is all about!

See you at the Top!

Thank you so much for taking the time to contact me with your great question. Let me offer you some various thoughts and info as follows:

1. Logisticare is the biggest and the worst broker, BAR NONE!! And yes, I’m speaking from experience in working with who knows how many different business owners that have to deal with Logisticare.

2. Logisticare is nothing to be scared of, as long as you know what you’re doing. The problem is that you don’t know what you don’t know. I can’t tell you how many people I have seen lose money because they have no idea how to handle brokers.

3. I would DEFINITELY encourage you to invest in my “Boot Camp Seminar DVD Series” before you do ANYTHING with Logisticare or any other broker. I can’t stress this enough. Please feel free to visit me at http://mdtseminar.com/bootcamp2011.html to learn more.

4. I can’t disclose or share anyone’s contact information for security purposes. However, I would encourage you to go to http://www.milliondollartransportation.com/exclusive_opportunity.html and scroll towards the bottom. When you do, you will find the contact information for a business owner that I have worked with literally 4 (four) times to take on and negotiate with brokers. In all 4 instances we did very well….far better than any other business owners in his area. Again, I can’t share or disclose such information. But because he has it featured on his letter, it’s available for your consideration.

Thank you again for contacting me, Beula. You ask a great questions regarding brokers/Logisticare and you have much to consider BEFORE you sign or agree to anything.

See you at the Top!

Thanks,
Earl Bridges