Damon Mcknight
Ambulance costs in Australia vary depending on the state and the type of cover one has. Queensland and Tasmania are the only states that offer completely free emergency ambulance services to their residents. Ambulance services in other states operate on a 'user-pays' basis, where patients are responsible for paying for the ambulance services they receive. Private health insurance with ambulance cover can help cover these costs, but it is important to check with your insurer beforehand as many private health funds have limitations and exclusions. Additionally, some states have reciprocal agreements to cover ambulance costs for each other's residents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ambulance costs in Australia | Vary across states and territories |
| Ambulance cover by state | Tasmania and Queensland have free emergency ambulance services |
| Ambulance cover by state | Victoria: $1,396 for a road-based ambulance trip in the city and $2,059 in regional or rural areas |
| Ambulance cover by state | South Australia: minimum $1,171 call-out fee in an emergency, minimum $262 in a non-emergency, and a per-kilometre fee of $6.70 |
| Ambulance cover by state | Western Australia: $1,133 for a life-threatening (emergency) ambulance |
| Ambulance cover options | Private ambulance cover purchased through a private health fund |
| Ambulance cover options | Standalone ambulance cover policy: $5-$10 per month |
| Ambulance cover options | Ambulance Victoria membership |
| Ambulance cover options | Country Ambulance Benefit Fund for residents of regional or remote Western Australia |
| Ambulance cover options | Ambulance cover through Bupa |
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What You'll Learn
Ambulance costs vary across Australian states
Queensland and Tasmania:
Queensland and Tasmania are the only two states in Australia that provide completely free emergency ambulance services for their residents. If you are a permanent resident of Queensland, you can forward any interstate ambulance invoices to Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) for payment. Similarly, Tasmania has reciprocal agreements with most other states, which may cover some ambulance costs. However, visitors to Tasmania from other states may receive an invoice for ambulance services and will need to cover the costs themselves.
Victoria:
In Victoria, the cost of an ambulance trip can be substantial. A road-based ambulance trip in the city can cost around $1,396, while the cost increases to $2,059 for regional or rural areas. However, having Ambulance Victoria membership or concession entitlements can help cover these costs.
South Australia:
South Australia has a different billing structure for ambulance services. If you are a South Australian resident without South Australian Ambulance cover or private health cover with ambulance benefits, you can expect a minimum call-out fee of $1,171 for emergencies and $262 for non-emergencies. There is also a per-kilometre fee of $6.70. Concessions may be available for pensioners who cannot afford the bill.
Western Australia:
Western Australia operates on a ''user-pays' model for ambulance services, where patients are responsible for paying for the care they receive. The fees are set in agreement with the WA Department of Health and can vary based on the circumstances. WA residents aged 65 and over who do not receive an Australian Government Pension are partially subsidised and only pay 50% of the ambulance fee. Residents of regional or remote Western Australia may be eligible to join a Country Ambulance Benefit Fund to cover ambulance costs.
It is important to note that ambulance cover is recommended for many Australians, and you should check with your health insurance provider to ensure you have adequate coverage.
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Queensland and Tasmania offer free ambulance services
Queensland and Tasmania are the only two Australian states to offer completely free emergency ambulance services to their residents. Ambulance services are a State and Territory responsibility, so arrangements differ depending on where you live.
The state government covers the cost of an ambulance for Queensland residents. If you are a Queensland resident and receive an invoice for interstate ambulance treatment, you can forward the invoice to Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) for payment. However, if you are visiting Queensland from another state or territory, you will need to cover the cost of any ambulance services used unless you have private health insurance with ambulance cover.
Tasmania has a similar benefit for its residents, with a few exceptions. If you are a resident from outside Tasmania and use ambulance services there, you will be invoiced for the costs. However, these costs may be waived based on reciprocal agreements with other states.
In other states, ambulance services are not free and can be very expensive. For example, in Western Australia, residents are charged a 'user pays' fee for ambulance services. South Australia also charges a minimum of $1,171 for emergency ambulance services for residents without South Australian Ambulance cover or private health cover with ambulance benefits.
It is important to note that Medicare does not cover the cost of emergency transport or ambulance services to the hospital. Therefore, it is recommended that Australians consider getting ambulance cover, either through their private health insurance or a standalone policy.
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Ambulance fees in Victoria
Ambulance services are a State and Territory responsibility in Australia, so costs can differ depending on where you live. Queensland and Tasmania are the only two states to have completely free emergency ambulance services. However, other states have reciprocal agreements with each other, which means they may cover some of the ambulance costs.
In Victoria, ambulance services are not free. Ambulance Victoria is responsible for deciding how best to transport a patient, and different fees apply to different kinds of transport. The cost of one emergency road transport is in excess of $1,200. For a road-based ambulance trip in the city, the cost is $1,396, and for rural areas, the cost is $2,059. Air transport fees are not affected by whether the transport is an emergency or not. The type of transport – rotary (helicopter) or fixed-wing (aeroplane) – determines the fee.
Ambulance Victoria charges a fee where treatment has been provided on the scene without the patient being transported. Treatment may include professional medical assessment, care, or advice for the benefit of the patient. Ambulance Victoria will not charge this fee if the ambulance service is activated by a third party and the patient did not know the ambulance was being called or could not have reasonably authorized it.
If you have private health insurance with ambulance cover, your insurer might pay the fee. However, many private health funds have significant limitations, exclusions, or caps to ambulance cover, so it is important to check the terms and conditions.
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Ambulance fees in Western Australia
Ambulance fees in Australia vary from state to state. In Western Australia, the cost of an ambulance trip depends on whether you reside in Perth or a rural area. St John Ambulance, which provides ambulance services in Western Australia, operates on a 'user pays' system. This means that unless your private health insurance policy covers ambulance services, you will be charged a fee.
In Perth, ambulance fees range from $609 to $1,133 depending on the nature of the call-out. For example, a patient transfer vehicle costs $609, while urgent or life-threatening incidents cost $1,133. These fees can be avoided by having ambulance coverage through your private health fund. However, direct membership with St John Ambulance is not available in metropolitan areas.
For residents of regional or remote areas of Western Australia, direct membership with St John Ambulance is available. The cost of membership ranges from $64 for singles to $141 for families. This option is suitable for those who are not covered by health insurance.
It is important to note that ambulance services in Australia are not covered by Medicare. As a result, ambulance costs can be significant, and it is recommended that individuals obtain ambulance cover to avoid unexpected expenses in the event of a medical emergency. Ambulance cover can be purchased as a standalone policy or as part of a private health insurance plan.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the person receiving treatment, rather than the person who called the ambulance, is responsible for paying the bill. This further emphasizes the importance of having adequate ambulance cover to ensure financial protection in case of unexpected medical events.
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Ambulance cover and health insurance
Ambulance services in Australia are a state and territory responsibility, and costs vary across the country. In some states, the government covers the cost of emergency ambulances, while in others, you'll need private health insurance to avoid out-of-pocket costs.
Tasmania and Queensland are the only two states with completely free emergency ambulance services. Tasmania covers the cost of ambulance services within the state for its residents. Queensland covers the cost of emergency transport for its residents, and if you receive an invoice for interstate ambulance treatment while visiting another state or territory, you can forward the invoice to Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) for payment.
In other states, such as Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, the state or territory government does not cover the cost of ambulances. To avoid out-of-pocket costs in these states, you'll need either private health insurance that includes ambulance cover or a subscription to your state or territory ambulance service. For example, in Victoria, a road-based ambulance trip in the city can cost $1,396, and $2,059 in regional or rural areas, unless you have Ambulance Victoria membership or other cover.
If you don't have private health insurance or emergency ambulance cover, you may be faced with ambulance bills that can exceed $7,000. Standalone ambulance cover can be purchased through a private health fund for as little as $5-$10 per month, or $59.71 per year for unlimited emergency ambulance transportation to the nearest hospital.
It's important to note that Medicare does not cover the cost of emergency transport or ambulance services to the hospital. Therefore, it is recommended to have ambulance cover to avoid unexpected costs.
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Frequently asked questions
Ambulance services are a State and Territory responsibility in Australia, so costs differ depending on where you live. Tasmania and Queensland are the only two states with completely free emergency ambulance services.
Ambulance cover is recommended for many Australians as Medicare does not cover the cost of emergency transport or ambulance services to the hospital.
Ambulance cover can be purchased through a private health fund. For a standalone ambulance cover policy, you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of $5-$10 per month.
If you don't have ambulance cover, you will likely receive a bill for the cost of the ambulance service. This can range from $1,133 for a life-threatening emergency in Western Australia to $2,059 for a rural ambulance trip in Victoria.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, you should contact the ambulance service provider as soon as possible. There are a range of options available depending on your circumstances.
