Life Insurance Australia :: Articles

Ambulance Cover: Do You Need It?

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

Ambulance Cover: Do You Need 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

Sign in with Google to rate

0 Comments

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


Life Insurance Articles

Life Insurance and Estate Planning: What You Need to Know
Life Insurance and Estate Planning: What You Need to Know
Life insurance and estate planning are critical components of financial security. They ensure that your loved ones are protected financially when you are no longer around. By understanding these tools, you can take significant steps to secure your family's future. - read more
Life Events That Should Trigger a Life Insurance Review for Aussie Families
Life Events That Should Trigger a Life Insurance Review for Aussie Families
Life insurance is a cornerstone of financial planning for Aussie families, offering protection and peace of mind. But what happens when the bustling flow of life brings changes? This is where a life insurance review comes into play. A life insurance review is a thorough analysis of your existing policy to ensure it aligns with your current life circumstances and financial goals. - read more
Understanding the Role of Life Insurance in Financial Security
Understanding the Role of Life Insurance in Financial Security
Life insurance can seem complex at first, but understanding the basics can help demystify this important financial product. At its core, life insurance is a contract between you and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon your passing, in exchange for premium payments. - read more
The Savvy Consumer’s Guide to Purchasing Life Insurance in Australia
The Savvy Consumer’s Guide to Purchasing Life Insurance in Australia
As the landscape of finance and personal security evolves in Australia, the importance of being insured has never been more prominent. In a world of changing family dynamics, economic pressures, and higher living costs, life insurance stands as a bastion of support ensuring the well-being of loved ones in the event of unforeseen circumstances. - read more
Trauma Cover: Calculating Adequate Protection for Life's Unexpected Moments
Trauma Cover: Calculating Adequate Protection for Life's Unexpected Moments
The financial fabric of our lives consists of both planning and safeguarding against the unforeseen. Trauma cover, a lesser-known but crucial aspect of personal insurance, provides this protection by offering a lump sum payment upon diagnosis of specific serious illnesses or injuries. In the tapestry of financial planning, it acts as a vital safety net, ensuring that unexpected health crises do not lead to monetary distress. - read more

Insurance News

What Electric Heavy Vehicles Mean for Truck Insurance
What Electric Heavy Vehicles Mean for Truck Insurance
10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori
Recent transport and fleet industry coverage continues to point to a steady increase in electric and low-emission heavy vehicles across Australian logistics operations. For many operators, the attraction is clear: quieter vehicles, lower tailpipe emissions, potential fuel savings and stronger alignment with customer sustainability targets. But the insurance conversation is now becoming more detailed than simply replacing a diesel truck with an electric one. - read more
Why the Latest Insurance Data Matters for Trade Businesses
Why the Latest Insurance Data Matters for Trade Businesses
10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori
APRA’s latest quarterly general insurance statistics point to a market that is still under cost pressure, even as insurers continue to report stronger overall results than during the worst of the recent claims cycle. For Australian tradespeople, the headline is not simply whether insurers are profitable. The practical issue is how rising premiums, repair costs, reinsurance expenses and claims activity flow through to the price and availability of cover used every day on the tools. - read more
Advice Changes Could Make Income Cover Easier to Understand
Advice Changes Could Make Income Cover Easier to Understand
10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori
Australia’s financial advice reform agenda has taken another important step, with industry attention turning to how simpler, more accessible guidance could help consumers make better decisions about insurance. For workers who rely on income insurance or salary continuance cover, the issue is more practical than political: many people hold cover they do not fully understand until illness or injury forces them to test it. - read more
Why Battery Freight Is Becoming a Truck Insurance Issue
Why Battery Freight Is Becoming a Truck Insurance Issue
10 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori
Recent transport and insurance industry attention on lithium-ion battery safety is a timely warning for Australian truck operators. The issue is no longer limited to consumer products catching fire in homes or warehouses. Batteries now move through freight networks in tools, scooters, e-bikes, electronics, spare parts and energy storage equipment, and that creates a different risk profile for carriers, depots and subcontracted linehaul work. - read more
Seasonal Bushfire Risk Puts Farm Cover Back in the Spotlight
Seasonal Bushfire Risk Puts Farm Cover Back in the Spotlight
09 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori
Australia’s latest seasonal bushfire outlook is a practical reminder that fire risk is not confined to the height of summer. For many farms, the exposure begins well before a catastrophic fire day is declared, as grass growth, drying winds, stored fodder, machinery movement and access limitations combine to create a more complex risk profile than a standard rural home policy can address. - read more
Click for more Insurance News

Start Here !
life insurance
Apply now for your free Insurance assessment and price comparisons!

Start Here:

Life Insurance Type:
Postcode:

All quotes are provided obligation-free by a participating broker from our national referral partner network. We respect your Privacy.


Knowledgebase
Beneficiary:
The person or entity designated to receive the death benefit from a life insurance policy.