So a lot of ppl have been telling me about some a union there is for EMT and Paramedics. does anyone know anything about it? what does it entail? is it worth anything does it cost? general stuff like that.

as of now i don't work for a company that offers a health plan i was wondering if anyone could help me figure out what i can do about getting some sorta health insurance i have'nt any idea where to start. i live in NYC if that helps anyone.

Thanx so much for your help...

That would be the IAEP - International Association of EMT's and Paramedics. I do know a little about it. The website is http://iaep.org

Like any union it has it's good side and its bad. Cost for our members runs about $30 per month. That could vary depending on the number of employees. I will be seeing our national rep tonight, he is flying in from your area, he lives in Buffalo NY. If you get this tonight let me know if you would like to talk to him and I will have him give you a call. If you get this later I do have his number and can give him a call later.

First check out the website. Let me know if you would like him to call you later. I don't know enough about it to be able to help with the health insurance though.

And a side note. I am not a fan of unions. If you do decide to go in that direction make sure that you think it through. They have a tendency to hold you back just as much as move you forward. If you have poor union leadership you will have a shitty union no mater who you are associated with. Are your wages or other things out of line as well? If you have a few big issues then you may want to look into unionizing if it is just a few smaller things you might be better off avoiding it. Just remember that with a union EVERYTHING has to be fair, no more just asking the boss for a raise, you will get "well I would love to give you a raise, but because of the union contract I am not able to do that". There are many things like this.

Think it through...

THanx Ed your info deff. helped. i doubt its worth going union.

There is another strictly EMS union. That is NEMSA (National EMS Association)www.nemsausa.org

IAEP is affiliated with NAGE which falls under SEIU (basically that means its a smaller union that falls under the umbrella of a larger (non-EMS related) union.

NEMSA is an independent and somewhat new union. They are pretty much in the CA/WA area, and in the New England (MA, NH, ME and maybe soon CT)area, and they also have Fort Wayne, IN. as well. This organization is 100% EMS (although they dabble slightly in wheelchair divisions of some EMS companies). From the President to all the Reps (even the attorney) they are all EMTs and Medics. My company is looking at them now, and it may be worth it to others to look that way as well. Look at their web site.