Provide National Ambulance Cover

In Australia, each state presently has individual policies for ambulance cover and providing concessions. If you can afford Private Health Insurance, each individual fund provides varying levels of cover – Majority only offer cover for Urgent Ambulance and some even have an annual limit on the amount they will pay out.

The definition of Urgent Ambulance cover also varies from fund to fund. Most rely on the Service Type allocated by the local ambulance provider (000 operator). If the operator assigns the wrong priority to your call, you are potentially liable for your ambulance invoice.

In WA, only aged pensioners are offered concession for ambulances from the state government. This means those who require ambulances but can’t afford Private Health Insurance pay $450 - $1000+ for an ambulance callout.

In other states, it varies from ‘state run’ (Ie. QLD) to ‘ambulance service run’ (I.e. VIC) covers with varying costs and varying conditions of cover. Some providers only cover the individual/family in their home state therefore leaving them exposed whilst traveling interstate.

People who find themselves in a position where they feel they need emergency medical attention, should not have to worry about what level of cover they have, where they are calling from in Australia and what priority the 000 operator assigns to their call. If a person is sick or injured, they should be able to call an ambulance and get taken for treatment without any additional stress or worry.