Ambulance Cover
Last updated on March 3rd, 2022
One of the most critical initial treatments to any emergency health cases happen inside an ambulance. Paramedics administer medical care while the patient is being transported to the hospital. In 2017-2018, there were a total of 4.6 million medical incidents that necessitated ambulance service across Australia. Of these incidents, 3.7 million were classified as an emergency. The figures show how essential ambulance response is to millions of patients in the country. Ambulance Cover is very important.
The Basics of Ambulance Cover
It is important to stress that Medicare does not cover a ride in the ambulance, as many have mistakenly believed. Call out fees can get so expensive, ranging from a few hundred to more than a thousand dollars. This is why getting an ambulance cover is always a good idea. It takes care of the cost of being transported to a hospital for emergency and non-emergency trips.
A situation where urgent medical treatment is crucial requires an emergency ambulance. This includes any life-threatening incidents, such as heart attack, stroke, and vehicular accidents.
An ambulance trip that is non-emergency in nature does not require immediate medical attention. This includes trips that are prepared for and booked ahead of time. It may be a hospital-to-hospital transport or home-to-hospital transport for medical appointments like dialysis, chemotherapy, physical therapy, and others.
Ambulance cover types may be emergency or comprehensive. Emergency cover takes care of road and air transport in medical emergencies; it may be capped or unlimited. Comprehensive cover includes straight away road, sea, and air transport ambulance treatment anywhere in Australia at any time.
Generally, hospital and extras packages include ambulance cover, but you can purchase an ambulance only cover as well. In Tasmania and Queensland, the state government provides its residents with free ambulance cover. In other states, ambulance cover is available through state subscription.
Ambulance Cover by State
Depending on where you live in Australia, ambulance cover arrangement may be purchased from a private insurer or acquired free through the state ambulance service. The coverage also varies from state to state.
Here is a summary of cover arrangements in every state/territory:
Emergency ambulance services are free for residents who are pensioners and concession or health care card holders. For those who are not eligible for a concession and wish to be covered may purchase ambulance cover from a private health insurer.
Ambulance services are also free of charge to pensioners and bearers of health care card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card and concession card. Those who are not eligible for a concession and wish to be covered may purchase from a private health insurer.
Free ambulance services are provided to all NT residents who are Centrelink pensioners concession card or health care card holders through St John Ambulance. Those who are not eligible for a concession and want to be covered may purchase a subscription through St John Ambulance or from a private health insurer.
State government covers for the emergency pre-hospital ambulance treatment and transport of its residents.
Residents may purchase cover from a private health insurer or through subscription from the state service.
The state government covers for the ambulance services of its residents.
Ambulance transport is free for residents who are pensioners, and concession or health care card holders, with some limitations for concession card holders. Residents who are not qualified for a concession may purchase cover from a private health insurer or through subscription from the state service.
Pensioners are entitled to free emergency ambulance services. Those who are not eligible for a concession and wish to be covered may purchase cover from a private health insurer or through subscription from the state service.
Do You Need an Ambulance Cover?
More than 3 million people in Australia get assessed, treated, or transported by ambulance service organisations annually. It’s telling us just how much a chief figure ambulance services are in medical emergencies.
Health insurance with ambulance cover for your family helps you attain peace of mind knowing that your whole family will be protected and taken care of when emergency strikes. Whilst a medical emergency is certainly not something we wish to happen, it is still far better to be ready when it comes.
Shield yourself and your family from the financial strain of having to pay for ambulance service when you need it. Compare quotes today to get the best health insurance with ambulance cover!
