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Ambulance cover in Australia: what each state and territory does
Medicare does not pay for ambulances. How ambulance costs work in each state and territory, who is exempt, and when to get cover through an insurer or state subscription.
Medicare does not cover ambulance transport. Whether you pay for an ambulance depends on where you live and whether you are a concession card holder. Queensland and Tasmania cover their residents through the state government. New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and the Northern Territory exempt certain concession card holders, and Western Australia exempts residents over 65 on an Australian Government pension; everyone else can be charged and should consider cover through a private health insurer or, where one exists, a state ambulance subscription. Ambulance cover is not part of the hospital tier rules, so check your policy separately.
This guide is part of private health insurance mistakes.
State and territory overview
| Place | Residents | Concessions | How others get cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | Emergency ambulance treatment and transport covered by the Queensland Government for residents | – | Not needed for residents in Queensland; the state cover may not apply when you are interstate |
| Tasmania | Residents covered by the Tasmanian Government within the state | – | Check what applies to Tasmanians treated interstate |
| New South Wales | Charged unless exempt | Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders can use some services free | Private health insurance ambulance cover |
| ACT | Charged unless exempt | Pensioners and concession card holders exempt | Private health insurance ambulance cover |
| Victoria | Charged unless a member or exempt | Pension Concession and Health Care Card holders covered for clinically necessary transport; Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders not | Ambulance Victoria membership or private health insurance |
| South Australia | Charged unless covered | No general concession exemption listed; SA Ambulance Service offers a discounted rate on its cover for pension concession card holders | SA Ambulance Service cover (state-only, Australia-wide and non-emergency options) or private health insurance |
| Western Australia | Charged unless covered | Residents over 65 receiving an Australian Government pension get free medically necessary emergency and urgent services | Private health insurance or a subscription with the state ambulance service |
| Northern Territory | Charged unless exempt | NT Pensioner Concession Card and Health Care Card holders exempt | St John Ambulance NT membership or private health insurance |
Sources: privatehealth.gov.au and the state and territory ambulance services. Arrangements and fees change; confirm on your ambulance service's website before relying on this table.
Department of Veterans' Affairs Health Card holders are covered by the ambulance service in every state and territory.
Private health insurance ambulance cover
Insurers include ambulance in many hospital and extras policies, or sell ambulance-only policies. Details vary:
- Emergency only or also non-emergency transport, such as between hospitals.
- Unlimited or capped to a number of trips or dollar amount a year.
- Your state only or Australia-wide. Interstate rules matter if you travel.
- Waiting periods: often none or short, but check.
Ambulance-only policies from registered insurers are eligible for the rebate, but they do not avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge or the Lifetime Health Cover loading.
Working out whether you need it
- Find your state in the table. If you are a Queensland or Tasmanian resident, you may not need extra cover at home.
- Check whether you hold an exempting concession card.
- Look at your current policy's ambulance cover: emergency, non-emergency, limits, interstate.
- If you are uncovered, compare the cost of an ambulance-only policy or state subscription with the risk of a large bill. Ambulance fees, especially for air ambulance in remote areas, can be very high.
- If you travel interstate often, check whether your cover follows you.
Illustrative scenario
A Sydney resident aged 35 without concessions has extras and hospital cover, but the policy's ambulance benefit is "emergency only, within NSW". On a trip to Victoria they are transported by ambulance after a fall. Whether the insurer pays depends on whether the policy covers interstate emergency transport. If it does not, they may receive an Ambulance Victoria bill. This is why reading the ambulance section of the policy statement matters as much as the hospital section.
Non-emergency and repeat transport
Emergency trips are only part of the picture. People with ongoing treatment, such as dialysis or regular specialist care in another town, may need non-emergency patient transport between home and hospital or between hospitals. State rules decide who arranges and pays for this, and many insurance policies cover emergency transport only. If you or a family member may need repeat transport:
- ask the treating hospital whether the transfer is arranged and funded by the hospital
- check whether your policy pays for non-emergency transport and under what conditions, such as a referral from a doctor
- check whether your state runs a patient travel assistance scheme for people in rural and remote areas, which can help with travel and accommodation costs
Some hospital policies also offer travel and accommodation benefits for rural members travelling for specialist treatment, a feature allowed since the 2019 reforms.
Visitors and new arrivals
Overseas visitors are generally charged for ambulance transport everywhere in Australia, including Queensland and Tasmania. Visa-required health cover, such as Overseas Visitors Health Cover, usually includes some ambulance benefit; check the policy.
FAQ
Does Medicare ever pay for ambulances?
No. Ambulance services are run and funded by the states and territories.
Will my hospital cover automatically include ambulance?
Not necessarily. Many policies include it, but some cheaper ones do not or limit it. Check the Private Health Information Statement.
Can I be refused an ambulance if I am not covered?
No. Ambulance services respond to emergencies regardless of cover or ability to pay. Billing is dealt with afterwards.
Are there ambulance payment plans or fee waivers?
Ambulance services in several states have hardship arrangements. Contact the service that issued the bill.
Sources
- PrivateHealth.gov.au — ambulance cover overview by state and territory
- Ambulance Victoria — membership and fees in Victoria
- SA Ambulance Service — ambulance cover in South Australia
- St John WA — ambulance services in Western Australia
- NSW Ambulance — fees and exemptions in New South Wales
