Ambulance Cover across Australia

Travelling through Australian States and TerritoriesCamping grounds Australia

INTRODUCTION

The following is a summary of ambulance coverage in each State and Territory.

It should be noted that Medicare does not cover payment for ambulance treatment / transport.

If there is only limited coverage in your State, or none at all, private health insurance can be accessed for ambulance coverage but it is a good idea to check what is actually covered by any policy you may be considering.

Note: The information presented here is from a desktop review and should not be relied upon for any decisions on your part. It is strongly recommended that you make your own enquiries with regard to coverage in your state or territory and health funds. If there are any errors of fact or necessary updates, please contact outaboutwithdayv@gmail.com.

Queensland ambulance cover when travelling

Permanent Queensland residents are automatically covered for emergency ambulance treatment and transport Australia-wide subject to the conditions outlined below.

Ambulance coverage for Queensland residents is funded directly by the Queensland Government and is not funded by any levy through rates or electricity.

Interstate coverage

If you receive an invoice for ambulance treatment or transport for yourself or your child/dependent from another state or territory ambulance service, it should be forwarded to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) for payment.

Proof of permanent Queensland residency is required as follows:

  • Current photo identification which includes current principal place of residence in Queensland, eg driver’s licence (includes copy of front and back of licence); or
  • Statement from a bank or financial institution showing principal place of residence; or
  • Current Queensland issued Centrelink Pension Concession Card; or
  • Current Queensland issues Centrelink Health Care Card; or
  • Statutory declaration, which includes the current principal place of residence in Queensland.

Children /dependents require:

  • Current Medicare card with child/dependent’s name; or
  • Child /dependent’s birth certificate; or
  • Current student identification card for the child /dependent

NB

  • Documentation submitted must include date of transport/treatment provided.
  • The following documents are NOT deemed to provide proof of residence and will not be accepted for payment of interstate ambulance invoices:
  • Telephone or mobile phone account
  • Electricity account, rates notice or other utility account
  • Australian passport
  • Rental statements or receipts
  • Other correspondence delivered to a Queensland address.

Air Ambulance Camping AccidentsThe invoice and abovementioned proof of Queensland residency is to be sent to:

Interstate  Accounts

Queensland Ambulance Service

GPO Box 1425

BRISBANE QLD 4001

If repatriation is required for medical reasons, the hospital will contact QAS prior to the transport.  The clinical necessity of the transport is determined by the QAS Commissioner. A Queensland resident already receiving appropriate treatment in an interstate hospital may not be eligible for interstate repatriation, particularly if solely based on the desire to be treated in a Queensland hospital.  QAS will not automatically provide interstate repatriation back to Queensland on convalescent grounds.  Before arranging any repatriation your medical team should confirm your entitlements with QAS or your private health insurance company.

Further information on payment of interstate ambulance invoices is available by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68) (within Australia) or +617 3022 0001 (international).

New South Wales ambulance cover when travelling

In New South Wales (NSW) anyone requiring emergency ambulance treatment /transport is subject to the payment of a fee for this service unless exempt from payment.

If you are a NSW resident you will be billed for 51% of the actual charge as the NSW government subsidises the service for NSW residents.

Pensioners, health care or Commonwealth seniors’ concession card holders, Veterans and individuals who hold basic private health insurance or “ambulance only” cover are exempt from ambulance fees in NSW.

Interstate coverage

In other States, a NSW resident is responsible for the payment of any invoice issued to them.

Pensioners, health care or Commonwealth seniors concession car holders, Veterans and individuals who hold basic private health coverage or “ambulance only” cover are exempt from ambulance fees.

Victoria ambulance cover when travelling

Ambulance Victoria offers membership to provide protection against the cost of emergency treatment and emergency transport services.

Current membership fees are for a family or individual are divided into quarterly, annual, 3 year and 5 year memberships:

Tier Quarterly direct debit 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years
Family $23.59 $94.35 $283.05 $471.75
Single $11.79 $47.15` $141.45 $235.75

Interstate coverage

Ambulance Victoria membership offers its members the same benefits that would have been received if still in Victoria.

If you require ambulance transport interstate, you will receive an invoice from that interstate service for payment.  List your Ambulance Victoria membership number on the form and return it to:

Accounts Receivable Department,

Ambulance Victoria,

Locked Bag 9000,

Ballarat Mail Centre VIC 3354

Repatriation for convenience or social reasons is not covered by Ambulance Victoria membership.

When clinically necessary, transport back to Victoria may be arranged subject to prior approval by Ambulance Victoria, including a written request from an appropriate health professional demonstrating a medical requirement for the transport.

Accidents when camping

South Australia ambulance cover when travelling

South Australia Ambulance Service (SAAS) offers membership to South Australian residents which includes standard and standard plus interstate cover on an annual basis which covers a Family, Single, Pensioner Family and Pensioner Single:

Tier Standard Cover (Annual) Standard plus interstate (Annual)
Family $165 $195
Single $83 $98
Pensioner Family $99.50 $129.50
Pensioner Single $50 $65

 

Interstate coverage

If you are a member of the SAAS and have ambulance cover for interstate ambulance services, the invoice for ambulance service should be forwarded for processing and payment (including your member number) to:

South Australian Ambulance Service

GPO Box 3

ADELAIDE SA 5001

 

Western Australia ambulance cover when travelling

St Johns Ambulance operates a user pays system in Western Australia (WA) where costs associated with ambulance services, whether emergency or not, will be incurred by the patient.

St Johns Ambulance strongly advises that West Australians in metro areas contact a private health provider to arrange an appropriate level of Ambulance Transport coverage.  Those in regional areas can contact a private health insurer or their local St Johns Ambulance Country Sub Centre, who provide an Ambulance transport subscription option.

If difficulties are experienced in paying an ambulance bill, St Johns Ambulance can assist in establishing a payment plan.

For WA Pensioners aged 65 and over are entitled to free ambulance transport where it is deemed medically necessary (the exception being a transfer between hospitals where one or both is a private hospital).

WA residents who are aged 65 and over and do not receive a pension from Centrelink, are not entitled to free ambulance transport but may receive a 50 percent discount of their ambulance account (except for a transfer between hospitals where one or both is a private hospital).

WA Pensioners under 65 receiving a disability, single parent or carers’ pension or other Centrelink pension may be entitled to a 50 percent discount on their ambulance account.  Health care card holders are not entitled to any discount or concession.

For those who live in country WA, the cost of an ambulance service is covered by comprehensive country ambulance cover, which includes unlimited emergency and non-emergency transport. Membership depends on location with annual fees for singles and families:

Country Volunteer Sub Centres

Tier South of 26th Parallel North of 26th Parallel
Family $91 $121
Single $55 $73

Career Country Sub Centres

These areas include Albany, Australind, Broome Bunbury, Busselton, Collie, Dawesville, Geraldton, Hedland, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Northam, Norseman and Pinjarra

Family – $121

Single –$73

 

Tasmania ambulance cover when travelling

Ambulance Tasmania provides free service to Tasmanian residents within Tasmania and its islands. The only chargeable cases are those related to motor vehicle or workplace accidents where insurance arrangements cover costs and cases involving veterans where the Department of Veterans Affairs meets the cost of ambulance transport.

Interstate coverage

Tasmanian residents who are treated and /or transported by ambulance on the mainland will receive an invoice from the attending ambulance services (eg Ambulance Victoria, Queensland Ambulance Service etc.)

Informal reciprocal arrangements are in place for the cost of emergency road ambulance between all states and territories except South Australia and Queensland. If you receive an invoice from a mainland ambulance service (other than South Australia or Queensland), please forward the invoice with proof of your Tasmanian residence to Ambulance Tasmania and a request will be made on your behalf for withdrawal of the invoice.

The governments of South Australia and Queensland do not participate in the reciprocal arrangements and Tasmanian residents are responsible for any ambulance accounts issues by these ambulance services.  There are no circumstances in which the Tasmanian Government will pay for ambulance services for Tasmanian residents, including pensioners, who are visiting South Australia or Queensland.

The reciprocal arrangements apply to emergency road transport and do not cover non-emergency or inter-hospital transport, helicopter rescue or medical retrieval by air ambulance in any state or territory.  All Tasmanian residents are advised to consider appropriate travel or other insurance (eg private health cover) to avoid potentially significant out-of-pocket costs.

 

Northern Territory ambulance cover when travelling

St Johns Ambulance NT provides a subscription scheme for emergency ambulance transport in the Northern Territory.

Subscription rates vary for family, singles, de facto partners, foster and step children and can be taken out on a yearly, two-yearly or three yearly basis:

Tier 1 Year 2 Years 3 years
Family $125.00 $231.00 $325.00
Individual $106.00 $175.00 $231.00

Holders of an NT Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card are not required to join St Johns Ambulance Subscription Scheme.

 

Make sure you have medical cover when travelling

Australian Capital Territory ambulance cover when travelling

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Ambulance Service does not offer ambulance only cover directly.  Private health insurance should be sought for coverage of ambulance treatment/transport.

Exemptions include:

  • ACT School students who are injured or become ill at school or during approved school excursions within the ACT are entitled to free emergency ambulance services that includes medical treatment and ambulance transport.
  • Reciprocal arrangements are in place between ACT and NSW to cover school groups during approved school activities.
  • Most full aged pension and health care concessions card holders are entitled to free of charge ambulance services within ACT. However, some card holders may not be covered for all services so entitlements should be checked with Centrelink and/or Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Patients who are injured in a motor vehicle accident on an ACT road or road related area are entitled to free ambulance services as part of the road rescue fee component of the compulsory Third Party Insurance.
  • Where the ACT Ambulance Service or ACT Shared Services Ambulance Finance is provided with evidence or can validate that an ambulance service charged to the person who performed a Good Samaritan act was as a direct result of performing a Good Samaritan act the change may be exempt.
  • When persons are in lawful custody or a resident of a correctional facility at the time of the ambulance service provision.
  • Minors under care orders – ambulance services are not payable by an “entitled person” as defined the Children and Young People Act 2008.
  • Deceased persons- where ambulance services were provided to a person who was deceased or was unable to be resuscitated while in the care of ACT Ambulance Service Officers.
  • Victims of domestic or family violence or sexual assault – Where ACT Ambulance Service is provided with evidence or can validate the ambulance service was provided to a person who required the service was a victim of domestic or family violence or sexual assault.
  • Exceptional circumstances – these apply to a person to whom ambulance services were provided if the Chief Officer of the ACT Ambulance Service is satisfied any of the following situations exist:
    • A charity, financial aid organisation, hospital or other social aid organisation provides evidence demonstrating that exception personal circumstances apply tho the person and that requiring payment would cause unreasonable personal and financial hardship to that person;
    • The ambulance services were provided to a person aged under 18 years following an accident or other event that resulted in the person being the only survivor in their immediate family;
    • The person had applied for, but not yet received a relevant concession card prior to receiving the ambulance services, and the application for the card was subsequently approved (noting that holders of relevant concession cards are not charged for ambulance services);
    • The ambulance service was provided to a person who is undergoing extensive and lifesaving medical treatment and who as a result is reliant on assistance from the government or not-for-profit organisations in order to meet their basic costs of living and the requirement to pay for the ambulance services would cause unreasonable hardship;
    • Any other circumstances exist that in the opinion of the Chief Officer should see the fee waived.

If none of the exemptions apply, and financial hardship is being experienced as a result of receiving an ambulance account, the Shared Services Ambulance Finance can assess individual circumstances and provide advice and options at sharedservicesambulancefinance@act.gov.au or telephone (02) 62079990.

Interstate coverage

If ambulance services are required outside of the ACT an invoice will be issued for the service.  Reciprocal arrangements exists for interstate services with the exception of services provided in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.  Private health insurance should be taken out to ensure ambulance cover throughout Australia.

 

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