This Bay Area city just passed a $427 'first responder fee'
The Brief
The San Jose City Council approved a plan for fire departments to charge a "first responder fee."
The fee would only apply in instances where fire departments are called to a scene and provide medical care.
The fee will be billed to insurance companies, not individuals.
SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose will join other Bay Area cities in billing insurance companies when its fire department provides medical care.
The San Jose Fire Department said that about two-thirds of its calls involve medical care, whether responding to a home or a vehicle accident.
This week, the City Council unanimously approved a plan to help recover some of those medical costs.
What's next
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said, "What we are looking at is a trend line that is very concerning. Our fire department is responding to more and more medical calls where they are performing health care services, medical services, out in the field."
The council approved a plan for the fire department to charge a "first responder fee," which would apply only in cases where medical care is given similar to what might be received in a clinic or hospital.
"All we are saying is for the sustainability of our department we need to be able to bill insurance when it is available to collect — or recover the cost—of providing medical care out in the field," Mahan said.
Dig deeper
California law has allowed such fees since the 1990s, and more than 20 cities currently use them. Around the Bay Area, several cities have a range of fees: $567 in San Francisco, $561 in Vallejo, $393 in Alameda, and $338 in Napa, according to a report the fire department provided to the council. San Jose's new fee will be $427, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Before the fees were approved, some council members expressed concern that people might hesitate to call 911 if there could be a fee later.
San Jose Fire Chief Robert Sapien said that issue was carefully researched in discussions with cities that currently have the fees.
"None reported a detrimental effect to 911 access. We didn't hear anyone say that we implemented this program and then people became fearful or leery of calling," Sapien said.
Resident Elijah Gardere was not so sure.
"Definitely some might have some hesitation based on their insurance or if they even have insurance," he said.
Gardere added he supported the fees if they would help build or stabilize fire department services.
What's next
The mayor was clear though, that these fees would only be billed to insurance carriers and not to individuals.
"If it is not recoverable, we are not going after folks. We are not sending debt collectors, it is not going to ding your credit, we are not interested in collecting directly from residents," Mahan said.
It is estimated this first responder fee could generate about $4 million each year, which the city says will help the fire department continue to provide services.
The Source
San Jose City Council meeting, Mayor Matt Mahan, residents.
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