Ambulance Cover - Travelling Interstate

A first point of interest is that Medicare does not cover the provision of ambulance services and whether you may have to pay for ambulance service depends in which state you reside.  Also, depending on the ambulance policy of your state or territory, residents may need to take out cover with their health fund or ambulance provider for services within their resident state.  If you hold a Pensioner’s Concession Card check if you are exempt from payment of the ambulance levy or if there is a discount available.

Another point to be mindful of is the definition of or the distinction between ‘emergency’ and ‘non-emergency’ ambulance transport.  When travelling interstate ‘non-emergency transport’ refers to pre-booked services such as transfer of the patient from one hospital to another.  Some private health funds may levy a co-payment for things such as ‘non-emergency’ transport.

It may be that the ambulance cover will cover you for transport to the nearest hospital where the required treatment is available, but not back to your state of residence unless a doctor certifies this is necessary.  In such cases, travel insurance may be required if you want to cover all possible eventualities.

Am I covered for ambulance service when I travel interstate ?

It can all be confusing, as your private health fund may cover you for ‘emergency’ transport within your state but not in another state.  Also, ‘non-emergency’ transport may not be covered when you travel interstate.

Prior to travelling interstate it is best to check that the state or territory you are to travel to has reciprocal arrangements for ambulance cover with your home state or territory.   It may be necessary to take out ambulance cover through a private health fund.  Make sure you get written confirmation of the cover and check whether there is any maximum limit to the ambulance cover provided by the health fund.

International visitors should take out travel insurance.  Where overseas visitors current travel insurance does not have adequate medical cover there are some approved health funds in Australia, such as MBF who provide Overseas Visitors’ Cover which includes emergency ambulance cover, if the visit to Australia is less than 12 months.

The following is a  ‘snapshot’ of information obtained from ambulance service websites as at 24/09/09.

Disclaimer:  As terms and conditions may change in the states or territories, you should make your own enquiry with your ambulance provider or private health fund to satisfy yourself that you and your family are covered whilst travelling nationwide.

Check also whether you are covered for air (aeromedical) ambulance in the case of an ‘emergency’ and even for  ‘non-emergency’ as there may be a difference between being covered for ambulance transport by road or by air.

Queensland

Community Ambulance Cover in Queensland only applies to people whose principal place of residence is in Queensland and does not cover pension card holders or visitors for ambulance treatment/transport whilst visiting Queensland.

The Queensland Ambulance Service website states: - ‘On 1 July 2011 the levy, paid through electricity accounts, which supported the Community Ambulance Cover (CAC) was abolished.

The Community Ambulance Cover - legislation is still in place and will continue to provide all Queensland residents with free authorised ambulance services throughout Australia.’

Question: 

My principal place of residence is not in Queensland.  If I use an ambulance in Queensland, do I have to pay for this?

Yes. 

However, the following exceptions may apply:

• If you hold a Department of Veteran Affairs gold card.

• If you are an ambulance subscriber in Victoria, ACT, NT, and SA.

• If you are a pensioner in Victoria, ACT and WA.

• If you are transferred from one Queensland Health hospital to another Queensland Health hospital.

• If you live near a border with Queensland, and a cross-border arrangement applies.

• If QAS services were provided in respect of a work place accident or injury.

• If you are part of the Alpurrurulam community in NT.

If you are a resident of Queensland and are travelling around Australia it states - If it is the person’s intention to return to Queensland within two years, and they have not established a permanent residence elsewhere, then they will still be considered a resident of Queensland.  If a person is away from Queensland for more than two years and is living in a permanent residential arrangement (including in a travelling caravan), they will not be considered as residents of Queensland.  This is the case regardless of whether they are enrolled in a Queensland electorate or whether it is their intention to eventually return.

If a person no longer has a principal place of residence in Queensland or takes up residence in another State or Territory then they cease to be a Queensland resident and will not be covered.

Additionally if you have health insurance, you may be covered for QAS costs.  Your health insurance provider should be able to provide advice in this regard. 

Please note: if you are not a Queensland resident you will be issued a Tax Invoice for services rendered by the Queensland Ambulance Service.  This Tax Invoice is the responsibility of the individual and it is up to you for follow payment up with your nominated Health Fund or your State/Territory Ambulance Service.

If you are a ‘resident’ of Queensland and receive an ambulance transport bill from another state you will need to contact the following to arrange payment.  A driver’s licence or some other identification showing your residential address may be required to confirm that you are a ‘resident’ of Queensland:-

Community Service Unit
Queensland Ambulance Service
Attention: Interstate Accounts
GPO Box 1425
Brisbane Qld 4001

Ph. 1300 369 003

New South Wales

In NSW private health care fund members pay an ‘ambulance levy’ as part of their basic hospital cover.  The Ambulance Service of New South Wales website states in part:-

‘Are any ambulance services provided at no cost?

Some ambulance services are provided free of charge to people who fall into the following categories listed below, provided, at the time of receiving ambulance services, they were in receipt of a benefit entitlement.

Concession card holders

Health Care Concession Card holder
Pensioner Concession Card holder
Department of Veterans Affairs Card holder
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holder

Cover for concession card holders is PROVIDED for;

Ambulance services in New South Wales

Emergency ambulance services for all other States/Territories
Cover for concession card holders is NOT PROVIDED for;

Repatriation back to home state for non-clinical reasons.
Non-emergency ambulance services.

What do I do if I receive an account and I am a concession card holder?

In the event that you are provided with ambulance services you may still receive an account requesting payment. This occurs if the concession or other card details were not recorded at the time the service was provided.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

In the ACT, if you have private health cover which includes hospital cover with a registered health fund then you are automatically covered for ambulance service within the ACT by the ambulance levy on your insurance. 

The ACT Emergency Serivces Agency website states in part –

‘ACT Pensioner Concession and Health Care Cardholders (valid at the time of service delivery) are entitled to free emergency and non-emergency ambulance services within the ACT.

When interstate, ACT Pensioner Concession and Health Care Cardholders are entitled to free emergency ambulance services from an approved ambulance provider only if that state participates in reciprocal arrangements with the ACT.  It is strongly recommended that you check your entitlements prior to travelling interstate by contacting the ACT Ambulance Service on (02) 6207 9980.

ACT Residents are covered for emergency ambulance services within the ACT through the road rescue fee levied on vehicle registration’.

Check with your private health fund that you are covered Australia wide before departing on your journey.

Victoria

Ambulance Victoria website states :-

All holders of Victorian Health Care cards and pensioner concession cards are entitled to free ambulance and air ambulance travel anywhere in Australia. This covers all emergency transport treatment and non-emergency transport on the recommendation of a doctor and approval by Ambulance Victoria. Dependants listed on these cards are also covered.

Does my Ambulance Victoria membership cover me for travel overseas and interstate?

Your membership does not cover you for travel overseas and it is recommended you take out travel insurance.

If you are residing in Victoria and are simply travelling interstate on holidays, your membership will cover you in the event that you have treatment or are required to travel back home for a medical reason. This transport must be approved by Ambulance Victoria and authorised by a doctor or hospital.

If you require transport interstate you will receive an invoice from that interstate service for payment. You just need to list your AV membership number on the form and return it to the Accounts Department at PO Box 2000 Doncaster Vic 3108.

There are some exclusions so please refer to their website and make your own enquires.

Tasmania

Ambulance cover is provided under the state scheme to residents of Tasmania.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website states:-

‘The Tasmanian Ambulance Service provides a free service to Tasmanian residents. The only chargeable cases are those related to motor vehicle or workplace accidents where insurance arrangements cover costs. In addition the Department of Veterans Affairs meet the cost of ambulance transport for veterans.’

If you are a resident of Tasmania and intend to travel on the mainland please make further enquires.

South Australia

Ambulance cover is available to SA residents.  The website indicates that some private health funds only cover you for ‘emergency’ attendance or transportation.  If you have private health cover you may care to check that it also covers you for ‘non-emergency’ ambulance transport.  This would cover you for transport for say other tests or ongoing treatment.

Ambulance cover is available via subscription through the South Australia Ambulance Service and Ambulance Cover Extras (ACE) is also available.  Their website states in part:-

‘If you are covered with SA Ambulance Service, you won’t have to pay a cent if:

- the service is provided by SAAS, or

- the ambulance transport originates in another State or Territory and is provided by a recognised Interstate ambulance service, or

- or a transport service originating in South Australia, if:

- SAAS directs or requests another person to provide non-emergency ambulance services, or

- after a request by the subscriber, SAAS, at its sole discretion, agrees in writing prior to the transport date that another person may provide the service, and that person is recognised under Part 6 of the Health Care Act 2008 (SA).’

and

‘Pensioner Cover is Ambulance Cover which is provided to pensioners at a discount. A pensioner concession card must be provided at the time of applying for membership to obtain Pensioner cover’.

Western Australia

If you are a Western Australia resident you can choose either to take out ambulance stand-alone cover with St John’s Ambulance or an approved private health insurance fund which would cover you for ambulance transport Australia wide.  If you need an ambulance and you have no ambulance cover you will be responsible for payment of the account.

St John Ambulance of Western Australia website states in part:-

‘Metropolitan Ambulance Cover

In the metropolitan area St John Ambulance has not operated the Ambulance Cover since 1997. 

HBF owns and operates the HBF St John Ambulance Cover.

Please check with your health insurer to see what level of ambulance cover you hold.

Country Ambulance Cover

In country WA, St John Country Ambulance Cover is administered by the local St John Sub Centres.

If you have comprehensive Country Ambulance Cover, the cost of an ambulance trip is covered for as many emergency or necessary non-emergency transports you or your family members require.

St John Country Ambulance Cover will protect you for St John Ambulance transport 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in Western Australia. If you are travelling in the eastern states, your cover will also extend to intrastate road transport with other principal providers of emergency road transport.

To find out more or to obtain Country Ambulance Cover, contact your local St John Ambulance Sub Centre.

Pensioner Ambulance Services – Government Funding Aged pensioners are entitled to free ambulance services.  Ambulance services covered include:

• All emergency ambulance services; and

• Non-urgent ambulance services that are deemed to be medically necessary.  Inter-hospital transfers between two public hospitals will be arranged and paid for by the sending hospital.  It is important to note that inter-hospital transfers where one or both hospitals is a private hospital are not covered by this policy.  Privately insured aged pensioners and seniors should check with their insurer as to whether inter-hospital transfers are covered by health insurance.’

Northern Territory

The St John’s Ambulance Northern Territory website states in part:-

‘Around Australia
Annual Ambulance cover as provide by St John Northern Territory is available to Northern Territory residents only. For all other states and territories, please contact your local ambulance service for further details’.

and

‘Private Health, PCC, HCC
If patients are a member of a Private Health Fund, we require that the Ambulance transport account be sent to the fund for payment. If patients are holders of a Commonwealth Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card issued by Centrelink, there is no charge for the Ambulance Transport provided the patient can supply us with a valid card number.’

Cover is available for interstate and overseas visitors and, by subscription, for a maximum of 30 days.

Where can I get ambulance cover?

You can obtain ambulance cover direct from some state ambulance services, where available, or from private health funds.

Four such funds are:-

Australian Health Management (ahm) website states they offer hospital as well as Australia wide ambulance cover only for residents of NSW and the ACT.  If you reside in SA, Vic, WA or the NT they can offer you ambulance cover as part of your hospital cover at no extra cost.

NIB Health Fund (NIB) website states:-

‘Benefits are only payable for ambulance services within Australia that are:

- provided by a State or Territory Ambulance Service; and

- defined by the relevant service provider as emergency ambulance transport; or

- where an ambulance is called to attend an emergency but on arriving is no longer required; or

- defined by a treating doctor as medically necessary transport

Important:  Ambulance cover is not included in health cover for Queensland or Tasmanian residents as ambulance services are provided by State Government schemes.’

HCF – if you don’t want hospital and extras cover, they can provide ambulance only cover Australia wide. 

''If you've taken a ride in an ambulance, send the unpaid account to us. We'll look after the payment directly with the Ambulance Service on your behalf. Queensland and Tasmanian residents are covered under their state ambulance scheme."

BUPA - Their website states in part:-

‘With Emergency Only Ambulance, you’re covered for unlimited emergency ambulance trips including air services and on-the-spot treatment Australia wide when provided by recognised providers.

If you take out Emergency Only Ambulance cover on its own, you will need to pay the full 12-month premium upfront.

Recognised Ambulance Providers

Bupa will only pay benefits towards emergency ambulance services when they are provided by any of the following recognised providers:

                            ACT Ambulance Service

                            Ambulance Service of NSW

                            Ambulance Victoria

                            Queensland Ambulance Service

                            South Australia Ambulance Service

                            St John Ambulance Service NT

                            St John Ambulance Service WA

                            Tasmanian Ambulance Service

Certain types of concession cards issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) entitle the cardholder to free ambulance services. These arrangements also vary per state so should be checked directly with Centrelink or DVA’.

Information above extracted 15/1/12.  Please contact the funds direct to confirm details and their membership fees.

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)

The RFDS is a not-for-profit service that provides aeromedical and health care services to people who travel, live and work in remote and regional Australia.

Their website provides excellent information on trip preparation, snake bites and what to do in an emergency.  They recommend that travellers and 4WD tourists to remote areas investigate obtaining and using a HF Radio. See article on HF Radios.  Contact numbers and radio frequencies are available on their website.  Donations are welcomed.

Other Tips

·          Make sure your take an adequate First Aid kit

·          Complete a first aid and/or CPR course

·          Obtain and maintain a fire extinguisher

·          Keep a list of emergency numbers

·          Make sure you have a device such as an PLB, HF radio, mobile telephone or satellite telephone to be able to make contact in an emergency.

Do a Google Search for the ambulance service in your state or territory or your private health insurer. 

 
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