Ambulance Cover In Victoria

Ambulance services in Victoria responded to over 1 million calls for help, according to their 2021-2022 Annual Report¹. 

If you live in Victoria and need to be treated or transported by ambulance, it’s important to note that you’ll be charged a fee for these services, unless you qualify for free ambulance cover or have an adequate Health Insurance policy that includes ambulance cover. 

What is ambulance cover?

Ambulance cover reimburses you for the cost of ambulance transport and treatment². In Victoria it can be taken out as part of your hospital or general treatment cover, or as a stand-alone cover.

Not all policies provide the same level of ambulance cover, so you’ll need to check what your individual policy includes. For example, are you covered for both emergency and clinically necessary non-emergency situations? What about incidents that take place outside of Victoria?

Where can I buy ambulance cover in Victoria?

In the state of Victoria, you can purchase ambulance cover through a private health fund.³

If you don’t have Private Health Insurance, you can still purchase an Ambulance Victoria membership, which can cover you for emergency ambulance transport and treatment by paramedics.⁴ 

Ambulance fees in Victoria

In Victoria, the cost of road ambulance transport depends on whether the event is an emergency or non-emergency, the area it takes place (metropolitan or regional and rural), and the use of a stretcher or a clinic car service (for non-emergency transport). Ambulance Victoria is responsible for deciding the best way to transport a patient⁵. 

Here are the fees involved for different types of ambulance services in Victoria compared with fees for Ambulance Victoria members (applicable from 1 July 2022)⁶:

As you can see, membership fees for Ambulance Victoria are significantly cheaper than outright ambulance services. 

Services for Ambulance Victoria members⁸  

In Victoria: 

• Emergency road ambulance transport; 
• MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) attendance and treatment; 
• Emergency air ambulance and clinically necessary non-emergency air ambulance; 
• Ambulance treatment when transport is not required; 
• Clinically necessary non-emergency patient transport to the nearest medical facility able to treat you. This needs to be pre-approved by Ambulance Victoria;

While travelling interstate within Australia: 

• Emergency ambulance treatment and transport services while travelling interstate provided by that state's registered Ambulance service when the result of a Triple Zero (000) emergency call. The ambulance service in that state will take you to the nearest medical facility that can treat you.
• Clinically necessary non-emergency patient transport to the nearest medical facility able to treat you. This needs to be pre-approved in writing by Ambulance Victoria and does not include return to Victoria for treatment at a facility of choice.

Does Medicare cover ambulance fees in Victoria? 

No, Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of ambulance services in Victoria or anywhere in Australia⁹. 

Who is exempt from paying ambulance fees in Victoria? 

Under the State Concession Scheme in Victoria, holders of a Pensioner Concession Card or a Health cCare Card are eligible for free clinically necessary ambulance transport services¹⁰. 

If you don’t hold one of these cards and would like to be covered for emergency ambulance services, you’ll need to take out ambulance cover through a private health fund, or take out a membership with Ambulance Victoria. 

Things to consider when purchasing ambulance cover in Victoria

As different policies will have different inclusions, it’s important you check exactly what’s covered by your policy, as well as any limitations or exclusions. 

Here are some of the questions you may want to ask about your ambulance cover policy: 

Am I covered for interstate travel?

Check whether you’re covered in any other states, or only for ambulance services within Victoria.

Am I covered for non-emergency situations?

Some policies only cover you for emergency situations. Check what your policy includes, as well as how it defines an “emergency”.

Does my policy cover call-out fees?  

You might find your policy doesn’t cover ambulance call-out fees, i.e. if you receive treatment at the scene, but aren’t transported to hospital. 

Am I covered for air ambulance and other transport? 

See if your policy covers transport by other means, such as air ambulance and other state or private transport providers. 

Are there any waiting periods on my policy? 

Certain policies will have waiting periods before you can use your ambulance cover, so be sure to check how your policy works. 

Do I need to make a co-payment towards the ambulance fee? 

Find out whether your policy covers you for the full amount of your ambulance costs, or whether you need to make a co-payment towards this. 

How do I purchase ambulance cover in Victoria?

If you’re looking to purchase ambulance cover included with Pprivate Health Insurance, it’s simple to compare from a range of policies and providers using iSelect. Otherwise, you can purchase cover for emergency ambulance transport directly as a member of Ambulance Victoria.  

We can help you find a suitable policy from our range of providers*, so you can enjoy peace of mind.  

To learn more about buying ambulance cover in Victoria as part of your Health Insurance, call us today on 1800 784 772. 

^{Sources:
1 Ambulance Victoria, Ambulance Victoria - Annual Report 2021 - 2022, page 2,  
2 Commonwealth Ombudsman of Private Health Insurance - Ambulance 
3 Victoria State Government Department of Health - Ambulance Cover
4 Ambulance Victoria - Membership Fees and Terms 
5 Victoria State Government Department of Health - Ambulance Fees 
6 As above. 
7 Ambulance Victoria - Membership Fees and Terms 
8 As above. 
9 Victoria State Government Department of Health - Ambulance Cover 
10 As above.}