Although Mickey McCabe wears a lot of hats in the city of Bayonne, from chairman of the local Alcohol Beverage Commission to chair of the Office of Emergency Management, he is at his heart still the founder of McCabe Ambulance – which may explain why he continues to promote the McGap program, something he started more than 30 years ago to help Bayonne residents cope with the costs of ambulance service.
Each year in February, McCabe offers residents a chance to sign up for the McGap program, something that allows residents to avoid paying out-of-pocket expenses in addition to their insurance if they need a trip to Bayonne Medical Center.
“Many people who were in their 30s when I started this are now reaching retirement age.” – Mickey McCabe
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“McGap is a subscription ambulance membership program,” McCabe said.
Once a year, during the month of February, McCabe Ambulance Services offers residents of Bayonne the opportunity to subscribe to an annual plan that would allow them to use the ambulance service to Bayonne Medical Center and rehabilitation center any number of times during the year for no cost above what their insurance or other provider pays.
“Whatever their insurance carrier pays us, we will consider payment-in-full,” McCabe said. “A member will not be billed for any co-insurance or deductible charges.”
Service 24/7
As the sole ambulance provider in Bayonne, McCabe Ambulance service has operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, McCabe said. Last year, his ambulance company logged in almost 900,000 man hours inside the city of Bayonne.
McCabe Ambulance Service has been the sole emergency medical services provider for the city of Bayonne since the early 1980s.
A 911 call may result in an ambulance from a hospital like Jersey City Medical Center, but patients who are to be brought to Bayonne Hospital will be picked up by McCabe.
Founded by H. Mickey McCabe in 1973, McCabe began as a household operation with a single ambulance and family members answering calls at all hours of the day and night. Since its inception, McCabe has developed into one of the most elite, reputable and professional operations in the state of New Jersey.
People are always on call for emergencies, and because of this, the company can provide the service to residents who feel they may need the service during the upcoming year.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you need ambulance service during the year,” he said.
Since its inception, the program’s fee has not increased.
“It was $25 for individuals and $50 for families when I started, and that’s what it costs today,” McCabe said.
This program is particularly useful for people suffering from chronic illnesses, he said.
“Some people need an ambulance 20 to 30 times a year,” he said, noting that this is the only program of its kind in the state of New Jersey.
McCabe said that the program is well known in Bayonne because it has been around for so long.
“Many people who were in their 30s when I started this are now reaching retirement age,” he said. “Their parents were members in the program and now they’re members.”
In the past, McCabe used to travel around the city to lecture on the program to senior citizens, but believes that most people know about the program now, and merely need to be reminded that they must sign up in February in order to qualify.
The program can be used for emergency transportation from any place in Bayonne to Bayonne Medical Center, for emergency transportation to any homes in Jersey City from any location within Bayonne, and transportation to or from a hospital if ordered by a doctor. But it does not cover doctor’s visits.
Although the program does not include wheelchair transport, McCabe said people with wheelchairs can pay $10 for an opening that includes them.
For more information or to sign up, call the McCabe Ambulance business offices at (201) 858-2988.