Written by Joshua Malin
Reviewed by Lana Hambilton
Last updated 23/10/2023
If your state of residence doesn’t cover ambulance services, ambulance cover can provide essential protection against substantial out-of-pocket ambulance fees.
There are a few reasons why someone may want to take out ambulance cover, but one of the most common reasons is that they live in a state where it’s required. Other reasons include:
If you live in a state where you need ambulance cover or you’d prefer cover through a health fund, here are a few things to consider while you browse:
Our health insurance expert, Lana Hambilton, has some great tips on how to choose the right ambulance cover for you.
Instead of purchasing an ambulance subscription, you could potentially save money in the long run by including ambulance cover in your private health insurance policy. Keep in mind that this depends on what level of coverage you need, as it can vary between health funds. Many policies only cover you in the event of an emergency, while others may cover you more comprehensively (e.g. inter-hospital transport or non-emergency services). If you’re looking at a more comprehensive ambulance cover than what’s included in your health insurance policy, it may be worth taking out a separate subscription.
For those seeking the peace of mind of having coverage immediately, it’s good to know that many health funds provide ambulance cover with minimal waiting periods. Depending on the health fund, this period may be as little as one day, or no time at all. Prior to signing up, it’s essential to check the fund’s policy brochure for more details on waiting periods.
The main benefit of having ambulance cover is that it insures you against the potentially high costs of ambulance services. According to the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2022, there were more than 4 million ambulance service responses attending to patients in need across Australia during the 2021 financial year.1 That’s a lot of people relying on this crucial service and, in many instances, being exposed to the associated charges and fees.
Ambulance cover helps take care of the cost of paramedic treatment and patient transport in an ambulance. Emergency transportation and ambulance services are essential for urgent medical care, but you might be surprised to learn they aren’t covered by Medicare. Instead, ambulance cover differs across the states and territories, so we’ve broken it down in this guide.
Depending on your state of residence, most ambulance transport services and treatments are covered for pensioners and concession cardholders across the country.
Information about the provisions for pensioners and concession cardholders’ ambulance cover are listed under the relevant states and territories below. Ambulance services for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) cardholders are covered in every state and territory.2
Please note: This information may only apply in your state of residence (unless you’re a QLD resident).
NSW residents who require ambulance treatment or transport services are billed 51% of the actual charge, and the NSW government subsidises the remaining 49% of the cost.3 Charges include a call-out fee plus additional charges per kilometre when transported by road, aircraft, helicopter or a combination of these ambulance services. Alternatively, NSW residents can purchase health insurance or stand-alone ambulance cover from a private health insurer to be covered for ambulance transport.
Pensioners and concession cardholders
If you’re a NSW resident who is the current holder of any of the listed cards below, you’re not required to pay for ambulance transport or urgent ambulance services:2
Charges for ambulance services in VIC vary between emergency and non-emergency transport, the mode of transport (e.g. road or air ambulance) and the location of the call out.4
You can get ambulance cover through an Ambulance Victoria membership or a registered health fund.5
Pensioners and concession cardholders
VIC residents holding either a Health Care Card or Victorian Pensioner Concession Card can receive free, clinically necessary ambulance services.2
If a cardholder is transported by ambulance from a private healthcare facility (like private hospitals and day surgery clinics), that facility is responsible for payment. However, it may choose to pass the cost onto the patient.
There may be eligibility requirements for pensioners and concession cardholders when obtaining free ambulance cover. Be sure to check with Ambulance Victoria to see if you’re eligible.
The QLD state government covers all ambulance costs for QLD residents, so you aren’t required to organise your own cover.6 Ambulance coverage in QLD extends across the entire country too, so that’s one less thing Sunshine State residents need to worry about when holidaying interstate.
If you need to claim treatment in another state or territory, you can do so by forwarding any invoices you receive, as well as proof of QLD residency, to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).
Pensioners and concession cardholders
QLD residents are automatically covered for emergency ambulance transport and treatment Australia-wide.2 If you were interstate when you required ambulance services, you need to forward the ambulance invoice to QAS along with proof of QLD residency and your current QLD-issued Centrelink Pension Concession Card.6
You can also send documentation via email, and if eligible, the QAS may pay the invoice on your behalf.
SA operates on a user-pays ambulance service where residents are charged based on the type of services required.7 Residents can purchase ambulance cover through their state ambulance service or a private health insurance policy.8
Pensioners and concession cardholders
Pensioners are eligible for discounted membership with the SA Ambulance Service; otherwise, ambulance cover can be purchased through private health insurance.8
In WA, charges for ambulance services vary depending on whether you’re treated in a metro or country location. You can get ambulance cover through your health insurance provider or WA’s state ambulance service (St John WA).9
Pensioners and concession cardholders
WA residents aged 65 years and over who receive a government pension concession are entitled to free emergency ambulance services and non-urgent ambulance services that are deemed medically necessary.2
WA residents aged 65 years and over who don’t receive a pension may still receive a 50% discount on the cost of ambulance services (excluding the transfer between hospitals where one or both are a private hospital).
The TAS state government provides free ambulance services to Tasmanian residents within the state and its islands.10 The only exceptions to this are ambulance services related to motor vehicle or workplace accidents, where you’ll be required to send the ambulance invoice to the Motor Accidents Insurance Board and your workplace or WorkCover respectively.
If you need to claim treatment in another state or territory, you can do so by forwarding any invoices you receive, as well as proof of TAS residency, to Ambulance Tasmania.
Pensioners and concession cardholders
The state government covers ambulance services for all TAS residents within the state and its islands who require treatment and transport by ambulance.10 The TAS state government has reciprocal agreements in most states and territories (except QLD and SA), so Tasmanians can forward ambulance invoices from interstate services to the government for payment.
Exceptions may apply in motor vehicle or workplace accidents where the insurance policies of the agreed parties would cover the cost.
Ambulance charges in the NT are based on a call-out fee plus a charge per kilometre. Ambulance services can be covered by a membership with St John Ambulance or private health insurance. St John Ambulance also provides cover for its Territorian members Australia-wide.11
Pensioners and concession cardholders
NT residents who hold a current NT Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card don’t need to subscribe to St John Ambulance NT.2
If you reside in or close to the nation’s capital, chances are you will need to take out ambulance cover to avoid charges unless you’re a specific concession cardholder or meet ACT Ambulance Services’ exemption criteria.12 These specified, exempt groups i.e. Health Car Concession Card or Pensioner Concession Card holders are entitled to free ambulance services throughout the ACT and don’t require separate ambulance cover.
If you’re not eligible for free ambulance services, you should consider taking out cover through a registered Australian health fund. Unlike most other states and territories, ACT does not have a state subscription.
Fortunately, emergency ambulance cover is included in policies widely available in the ACT.
Pensioners and concession cardholders
Most Health Care Concession Card and Pensioner Concession Cardholders are entitled to free emergency ambulance services within the ACT.2 The ACT also has a reciprocal agreement in place with some states and territories (except for QLD, SA and WA), through which your interstate ambulance services are covered by the ACT Government.12
Although pensioners and healthcare concession cardholders are entitled to free ambulance services within the ACT, you may be sent an invoice mistakenly. If this occurs, you should photocopy the front and back of your concession card and return the copy with your ambulance invoice to the address provided.12 Alternatively, you can contact Shared Services Ambulance Finance.
If you don’t have ambulance cover, these are some of the potential costs you could pay for transport in the event of an emergency:
| State/Territory | Call out fee ($) | Per kilometre charges ($) |
| ACT11 | $1,032 | $14 for every km outside the ACT |
| NSW2 | $415 | $3.74 |
| NT13 | $815 (first 10km) | $5.25 (per km greater than 10km) |
| QLD | Free | N/A |
| SA6 | $1,085 | $6.20 |
| TAS | Free | N/A |
| VIC3 | $1,306 (Metropolitan) $1,927 (Regional) | N/A |
| WA14 | $1,072 (Perth) | N/A |
| Note: All fees are current as of February 2023. All fees represented in the table are for emergency road ambulance services (transport and treatment). | ||
Depending on the state or territory you live in, many health insurers include ambulance cover as part of their policies. Alternatively, you may be able to take this cover out on its own, although you would then miss out on some of the great benefits of health insurance, like dental cover and private hospital rooms (subject to availability).
There are two types of ambulance cover available through registered health funds: emergency and non-emergency. Both cover types vary depending on your policy and provider. Some contribute towards all ambulance transportation (such as helicopters), while others may only contribute towards road travel.
Absolutely! Unless you live in certain states where ambulance services are covered by the government or otherwise exempt, the alternative could be a very steep bill following a traumatic incident. Given the relatively low cost for cover, purchasing ambulance insurance can be a wise idea.
Please remember to always check with your state/territory ambulance service and your private health fund to ensure you’re covered for ambulance services, as terms and conditions may change over time.
As Head of Health, Life and Income Protection Insurance at Compare the Market, Lana Hambilton’s goal is to help Australians navigate the private health system, make it work for them and avoid large out-of-pocket medical expenses. She believes ambulance cover is a vital part of your overall cover. For the peace of mind it offers at a time when you’re likely to be suffering an emergency, it really shouldn’t be overlooked.
Lana has 15 years’ experience in the health insurance and insurance comparison industries. She’s also a Board Member of the Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association.
1 Australian Government: Productivity Commission – Report on Government Services 2022: part E, Section 11, Ambulance services. Published February 2022.
2 PrivateHealth.gov.au – Ambulance. Accessed February 2023.
3 NSW Government: NSW Ambulance – Accounts & Fees. Accessed February 2023.
4 Victoria State Government: Department of Health – Ambulance fees. Accessed February 2023.
5 Victoria State Government: Department of Health – Ambulance cover. Accessed February 2023.
6 Queensland Government – Interstate ambulance treatment and transport information for Queensland residents. Accessed February 2023.
7 SA Ambulance Service – Ambulance fees. Accessed February 2023.
8 SA Ambulance Service – Ambulance cover. Accessed February 2023.
9 St John WA, Metro and Country ambulance service. Accessed February 2023.
10 Tasmania Government: Department of Health – Ambulance Tasmania: Fees and Accounts. Accessed February 2023.
11 Northern Territory Government – Ambulance services. Accessed February 2023.
12 ACT Government: ACT Emergency Services Agency – Fees and charges. Accessed February 2023.
13 St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc. (St John NT) – Ambulance cover: Transport charges. Accessed February 2023.
14 St John WA – Metro Ambulance Fees. Accessed February 2023.
