Do You Need Ambulance Cover? Understanding Australian Health Options

Ambulance Cover: Do You Need It?

Do I need ambulance cover in Australia if Medicare doesn't include it?

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

Medicare in Australia doesn't cover ambulance services or emergency transport. These services are more often covered by private health insurance. However, private funds are not the only ambulance and emergency transportation service providers available.

State governments also have their own ambulance and emergency transport services for community residents, and the costs of these services depend on the state in which you live. In some states, these services are free, but in others they may be costly enough for you to consider adding ambulance cover to your health insurance plan.

Ambulance cover can be confusing, especially when you consider that there are four different rules for emergency medical transportation services across Australia's seven states. If you live in QLD, NSW, or TAS for instance, ambulance services may be provided either through your local government or through the payment you make on your electricity bills.

Even still, these states do not pay 100 percent of the ambulance or emergency transportation costs, and you may not be covered at all outside of your home state, another reason to consider adding this service to your health insurance plan.

Of course, there are private health care funds that offer 100 percent ambulance cover, so you never need to worry about the cost of being transported to hospital in an emergency, no matter where you are.

By comparing health plans, you can find a policy that will pay for ambulance services and that meet your other health care needs as well, a real plus when you consider the bill for an ambulance can run $130 and more.

Residents of ACT, VIC, SA, NT and WA can purchase affordable ambulance cover through their local government.

However, the requirements to receive benefits for the full cost of the transport dictate that the ambulance service be medically necessary.

In other words, due to your condition or as a result of your medical emergency, you cannot be transported to hospital by any other means if you need immediate medical intervention. If ambulance cover is provided in your health insurance policy, make sure to read it carefully to understand if there are limitations on ambulance transport and if so, what they are.

Some health insurance funds provide ambulance cover automatically in certain specific policies they offer, so it is important to compare health insurance plans to see which provide this service in addition to other services you may want to secure.

Again, make sure you understand the terms of your ambulance cover, as many will have requirements for calling an ambulance to transport yourself or a loved one to hospital only when it is deemed medically necessary according to the terms of your health insurance provider.

Meeting the "medically necessary" requirement can mean any one or all of the following:

You must be transported to hospital or other approved medical facility by ambulance in order to receive immediate medical attention.
As an already admitted patient, you must be transferred to a separate hospital or facility for certain medical procedures.
You have called for an ambulance, but before it arrives you have received immediate professional care, then ambulance transport is no longer going to be covered.
An ambulance has been called, but in the meantime you receive immediate professional attention, then transport to the hospital is no longer covered.
When an air ambulance is required, you are covered when pre-approval has been obtained.

Ambulance Benefits are not payable under the following circumstances:

When any ambulance expense in already fully covered by private ambulance cover or state/territory ambulance plan. However, excess costs may be covered when the existing ambulance plan does not pay for the full amount of the services.
When you are transferred from one public hospital or approved center to another by ambulance while an admitted patient.
Once you are discharged from a hospital, you may not collect ambulance benefits for transportation.
When, as an admitted patient, you must be transported to another hospital for treatment because the admitting hospital does not have the facilities to care properly for you. Sometimes, the admitting hospital that orders your transfer will pick up the ambulance bill for you.
If you are 65 and live in WA, you are eligible for free or subsidized ambulance services. If you are eligible for subsidized services, you may be able to claim any uncovered cost from Medibank.
Residents of NSW ACT who already pay an ambulance levy as a part of your health insurance premium, and you are entitled to state ambulance cover, and if you have a Commonwealth concession card, you may be exempt from paying the state ambulance fee.

Of course, it's best to check with your local or state government to find out exactly what is and what is not covered under the ambulance transport scheme.

Remember, if you choose to purchase ambulance cover, or add it to your existing private health care plan, compare ambulance covers to find one with the most comprehensive coverage that fits within your budget.

Published: Sunday, 1st Aug 2021
Author: 273

Rate this article

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Life Insurance Articles

A Millennial's Guide to Life Insurance

For many millennials, navigating the complexities of personal finance and future planning can feel like a bewildering journey. Among these financial responsibilities, life insurance emerges as a paramount consideration. More than just a safety net, life insurance can be the cornerstone of a sound financial strategy, providing peace of mind for both the policyholder and their loved ones. - read more

How Life Insurance Provides Financial Security for Your Loved Ones

Life insurance is a crucial part of any comprehensive financial plan, providing peace of mind that your loved ones will be financially secure in the event of your passing. - read more

Maximize Your Safety Net: Top Tips for Optimizing Income Protection Benefits

Welcome to a pivotal guide dedicated to empowering you with the essentials of income protection insurance in Australia. As we navigate through times of uncertainty, safeguarding your financial wellbeing becomes not just a priority, but a necessity. Income protection insurance stands as one of the key pillars of financial security, ensuring a steady flow of income during periods when you're unable to work due to illness or injury. - read more

How to Determine How Much Life Insurance Cover You May Need

Life insurance can help provide a financial safety net for the people who depend on you. The right cover amount is not a single fixed figure: it depends on your income, debts, family responsibilities, future goals, savings and the type of policy you choose. - read more

Understanding Life Insurance: How to Get the Best Online Quotes

The digital age has fundamentally transformed how we approach almost every aspect of our lives, including the way we shop for life insurance in Australia. Gone are the days when one had to schedule meetings with insurance agents or flip through pamphlets to understand life insurance policies. Today, obtaining life insurance quotes online has become the norm, offering a hassle-free and incredibly accessible platform for individuals to safeguard their financial future. - read more

Insurance News

Why Claims Delays Are a Wake-Up Call for Truck Operators

03 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh industry reporting on insurance dispute volumes has again put claim handling under the microscope, with delays, communication gaps and disagreements over policy response continuing to frustrate policyholders. For transport businesses, the issue is especially important because a commercial vehicle claim is rarely just about repairing metal. A grounded truck can interrupt contracts, leave freight undelivered and place immediate pressure on cash flow. - read more

Why Severe Weather Should Trigger an Insurance Check for Tradies

03 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Renewed insurance industry warnings about severe weather are a practical reminder for Australian tradespeople: storm risk is not limited to damaged homes and flooded streets. It can also affect tools in a ute, materials stored on site, unfinished work, temporary fencing, scaffolding, electrical gear, excavation areas and client property surrounding a job. - read more

Why Advice Reform Could Help Australians Understand Their Income Cover

03 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s financial advice reform debate has moved back into the spotlight, with life insurers and advice groups continuing to argue that many people need simpler, more affordable help to understand the insurance they already hold. For income insurance customers, the issue is practical: cover can look straightforward on a statement, but the detail often sits in definitions, waiting periods, offsets, exclusions and claim conditions. - read more

What electric truck uptake means for your cover

03 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent fleet and transport industry coverage has again highlighted faster movement toward battery-electric and lower-emissions heavy vehicles in Australia, with truck makers, councils, logistics operators and specialist fleets moving beyond short demonstration runs. For truck operators, the insurance question is not simply whether electric trucks are better or worse than diesel. The practical issue is whether the policy reflects a different asset profile, different repair pathway and different downtime risk. - read more

Why Repair Bottlenecks Matter for Farm Insurance Claims

02 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh industry concern about repair delays after severe weather is highly relevant for Australian farms, where a damaged shed, washed-out access track or unavailable part can quickly interrupt day-to-day operations. While the wider insurance discussion often focuses on homes and commercial buildings, the same pressure points can be even more complex on rural properties because assets are spread out, specialist equipment is involved and local contractor availability may be limited. - read more

Click for more Insurance News

Start Here !

Apply now for your free Insurance assessment and price comparisons!

Knowledgebase

Policyholder:
The individual or entity who owns the insurance policy.

Ambulance Cover: Do You Need It?

Do I need ambulance cover in Australia if Medicare doesn't include it?

Start Here: