We’d all prefer to never need to use an ambulance, but when an emergency strikes, no matter where we live in Australia, we’re all glad we have access to the ambulance service… but how much does it cost?
Many Australians believe ambulances are provided free of charge to the patient, thinking it is funded by the government, but this is not the case in all states and territories. Rather than being free, the majority of states and territories issue fees directly to the patient for the ambulance service they use.
Ambulance cover with your private health insurance can cover these potential costs and we recommend reaching out directly to not-for-profit and member-owned funds for more details as they are an excellent source of trusted advice on ambulance cover, which can be very complicated.
Ambulance Covers by state/territory
The fee a patient pays for an ambulance call-out can vary considerably between each state and territory as the way the cost is calculated varies significantly between each state and territory.
Some user-pays systems are based on a call-out fee with travel charges added. This fee is calculated on a per kilometer charge to the nearest emergency hospital. Other charges vary and can include whether the ambulance call-out is based on an emergency vs non-emergency response. Potential patient fees also vary based on the type of vehicle required, such as road vehicle or air transport.
To demonstrate the variation of costs, see the below example:
If we assume three 54-year-old females are working in an office, one in SA, one in TAS, and one in NSW. Each of them collapses in the workplace with chest pains. All workplaces are 17 km from the nearest emergency hospital. Each patient has the same symptoms and requires the same ambulance treatment and modes of transport, via road ambulance.
In SA, the ambulance call-out fee for our patient is $1,137.00 with $6.50 per kilometer of travel to the nearest hospital. The cost incurred for the SA patient would be $1,247.50
In TAS, the patient pays a $0 call-out fee and a $0 kilometer charge. The TAS state government funds ambulance services in that state for residents.
In NSW, the ambulance call-out fee for our patient is $445 with $4.02 per kilometer of travel to the hospital. The cost incurred to the NSW patient would be $513.34. Part of the call-out fee is subsidised by the state government.
See below for the same costs in your state or territory, for the same scenario.
| State | Call-out Fee | Kilometer Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $445* | $68.34 | $513.34 |
| SA | $1,171 | $6.70 | $1,284.90 |
| TAS | $0** | $0 | $0 |
| ACT | $1,107 | $0 ($14 per k outside of ACT) | $1,107 |
| WA | $1,133 | $0 | $1,133 |
| NT | $897 | $5.80 (after the first 10klm) | $937.60 |
| VIC | $1,936 | $0 | $1,936 |
| QLD | $0** | $0 | $0 |
| *State government partial subsidy ** State government full subsidy |
As ambulance call-outs are mostly due to accidents and/or emergencies, you could be left with a hefty bill to deal with on top of the unexpected health crisis you have found yourself in. Having ambulance cover can significantly reduce, or even fully pay for the expenses incurred for an ambulance call-out.
If you are a resident of TAS or QLD where local ambulance treatment is covered by your state government, ambulance cover is still worth considering. If you travel frequently to a state that charges an ambulance call-out fee for example, ambulance cover could protect you from being surprised with costs you wouldn’t expect in your home state.
Some members of the community from each state and territory are offered fee relief, or zero fee, if they meet certain criteria.
In NSW and ACT there are no fees for Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card holders. In SA discounted rates are offered to pensioners or Health Care Card holders, via an annual fee. In WA there are no fees for residents over 65 holding Pension Concession, while in NT and VIC the fees are waived for holders of Centrelink Pensioner Concession Cards or Health Care.
The benefits of private ambulance cover
When an accident or emergency strikes, our health is our first concern. In Australia, we are fortunate to have an ambulance service to support us in that time of need, but it comes at a cost. Ambulance cover can give ongoing peace of mind that whatever happens in the future, the bill in the mail from your ambulance care is one less thing to worry about.
You might already have private health coverage in place, but does it include ambulance cover? Many policies offer ambulance cover but familiarising yourself with your existing health insurance policy is a great way to check if you have ambulance cover.
If you have decided against private health insurance, you might consider stand-alone ambulance cover. Ambulance cover could safeguard against the costs of ambulance care if you find yourself in an emergency situation. Even if you live in a state that has government-funded ambulance services, ambulance cover for frequent interstate travel may be worth considering.
If you are looking for ambulance cover, check the applied waiting periods. While most policies have little or no waiting period, it’s good to be aware. When weighing up the costs of ambulance cover, compare the charges for the cover vs the fees incurred for an ambulance call-out and take into account all family members that would be applied to the ambulance cover.