Emergency ambulance services aren't always free if you're travelling interstate. It depends what jurisdiction you're from, and which one you're going to.
In short:Experts say Australians should check if they will be covered for emergency ambulance services when travelling interstate.For most Australians heading overseas, purchasing travel insurance to cover accidents or serious illness seems like a no-brainer.
But what if you're travelling interstate in Australia and need to be taken to hospital by ambulance, or even airlifted from the scene of an accident?has shone a spotlight on the potential costs of using ambulance services while travelling interstate. While all Australians are entitled to free public hospital services, Medicare doesn't cover ambulance services. State and territory government subsidies for ground and air ambulance services vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and interstate visitors often aren't entitled to the same subsidies as locals. Experts have urged Australians to check if they will be covered for ambulance services when travelling domestically, and whether they need to purchase insurance for this.Australian Capital Territory The ACT has a ''user pays'' ambulance service for its residents, although the government will waive fees in certain circumstances, such as for motor vehicle accidents on public roads. ACT school students on excursions and in cases of domestic or family violence or sexual assault are also exempt from fees.But it's more complicated when those from the ACT travel interstate. Those without ambulance insurance, or an appropriate travel insurance product, face paying full fees if they need an ambulance in another jurisdiction.The NSW government provides a 49 per cent subsidy for the cost of road and air ambulance services for its residents.NSW residents without ambulance insurance, or a travel insurance product, may have to pay full fees if they need an ambulance interstate.Northern Territory residents travelling interstate must pay all costs for ambulance services.The Northern Territory is another "user pays" jurisdiction, although ambulance cover is available through private health insurance funds and St John NT Ambulance Cover. A 21-day policy is available for visitors through St John NT Ambulance, but it doesn't cover air ambulance services. When travelling interstate, NT residents without ambulance membership, private health insurance with ambulance cover or travel insurance, face full fees.The sunshine state might be the best place to live if you need an ambulance in an emergency.If they travel interstate, Queenslanders who need emergency ambulance services can send the bill to the Queensland Ambulance Service.South Australians travelling interstate without insurance must pay in full for ambulance services.Residents can avoid being charged for emergency ambulance services by subscribing to South Australia Ambulance Cover or taking out ambulance insurance through a private health fund. Travelling interstate, those without ambulance cover, or appropriate private health or travel insurance face full fees.Tasmanians are covered for emergency road ambulance services in all other states and territories, except South Australia and Queensland.Victorians travelling interstate must pay for ambulance services in full.Fees are charged for Victorian ambulance services but there are some exceptions, for example some road and workplace accidents and exemptions are available for pension and healthcare card holders. Residents can take out Ambulance Victoria membership, or get ambulance cover through a private health fund. Victorian residents without ambulance cover, or appropriate private health or travel insurance face full fees interstate.WA has a "user pays" system for ambulance but there are exceptions; for example, road accidents may be covered under the Insurance Commission of Western Australia, WorkCover or victims of crime schemes. Ambulance insurance is available through private health funds, or in regional areas through the Country Ambulance Benefit Fund.WA residents without ambulance cover, private health insurance or travel insurance face full fees interstate.CHOICE insurance expert Jodi Bird says there are insurance options for Australians travelling interstate who don't have ambulance cover.Insurance expert Jodi Bird, of consumer group Choice, said Australians travelling interstate should check if they would be covered for emergency ambulance services under their health insurance or a reciprocal state scheme. Mr Bird said domestic travel insurance could be a good option for people without an existing ambulance insurance policy. "Double-check if it includes medical evacuation and that will cover you in terms of if you need an ambulance or an air ambulance," Mr Bird said. "If you're going on a less expensive trip and you don't think you need domestic travel insurance for other high-value things, you should be able to get it much cheaper if you buy, for example, what is known as an emergency ambulance-only private health insurance policy." Australasian College of Paramedicine chief executive officer Ryan Lovett also urged people to check if they had adequate ambulance cover before travelling interstate, particularly if they were going to take part in activities such as bushwalking.The Australasian College of Paramedicine believes all Australians should be entitled to free ambulance services."We believe every Australian should have access to universal health care and there's decades of evidence that indicates that early access to health care through that provided by paramedics does result in improved outcomes, does result in reduced length of hospital stays for some conditions," Mr Lovett said. Consumers Health Forum of Australia chief executive Elizabeth Deveny said a national approach was needed to ensure that Australians were confident they could access ambulance services in emergencies. "We've had situations in the past where people haven't called an ambulance in an emergency because of cost,'' Dr Deveny said. "We don't want someone, for example, to put a person with a spinal injury in the back of a car and drive them to hospital because they are worried about the cost of an ambulance.''Failure to pay for medical treatment received overseas may see Australians prevented from leaving the country, or sued by the hospital that treated them.The old rule, that if you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to travel overseas, holds true. The Australian government does not pay for Australians' medical bills incurred overseas, even if the traveller can't pay them. It warns that people who receive medical care while overseas could be arrested or jailed if they do not pay the bill for that treatmentFailure to pay could also see Australians prevented from leaving the country, or sued by the hospital that treated them. While Australia does have reciprocal health care arrangements with some other countries, there are limits on what they cover. The Australian government won't cover medical evacuation back to Australia, which is extremely expensive.
Canberra Local News Local Ambulance Insurance Choice Consumers Health Forum Of Australia Elizabeth Deveny Ryan Lovett Jodi Bird Explainer Interstate Emergency Medical Health Injury Travel
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