Ambulance cover in Australia

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What different scores mean

9+

Excellent

Competitive pricing coupled with highly ranked extras.

7+

Great

Balanced pricing and features, offering overall good value.

5+

Standard

These products offer a balance between price and features.

0+

Basic

These products usually offer fewer extras or above average pricing.

*Prices are based on a single person living in Sydney earning less than $97,000 a year.

How ambulance insurance works

Ambulance services aren't covered by Medicare, and only Queensland and Tasmania offer state government coverage for ambulance costs. That means an emergency ambulance trip can end up costing hundreds or thousands of dollars if you don't have private health insurance. Luckily, there are a few ways to get covered for these costs.

Private ambulance cover

Ambulance cover is a type of private health insurance that reimburses you for using an ambulance to receive emergency medical treatment. Some ambulance cover just includes emergency transport to your nearest hospital, while other policies cover a range of ambulance services, including transfer between hospitals. You'll also find ambulance coverage included in most (but not all) extras policies, as well as with some hospital-only policies. Ambulance cover is also available as a standalone policy and costs for this can be as small as $2 per week. Check the product disclosure statement (PDS) of your policy to make sure you're covered for what's important to you.

State ambulance cover

Ambulance services aren't covered by Medicare, and Queensland and Tasmania are the only 2 states that provide some coverage of ambulance costs for residents. Queensland residents will have their ambulance costs covered nation-wide, while Tasmanian residents will have their costs covered within Tasmania only. Note that you do have to be a resident of Tasmania or Queensland to be covered – non-residents aren't eligible. Some states (other than TAS and QLD) do offer free ambulance services for specific groups, like pensioners or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) gold-card holders.

Ambulance subscription

Some state ambulance services offer a separate subscription service. These subscriptions typically cover the cost of ambulance transport in your state, and will sometimes cover you nation-wide. For example, a Northern Territory St John subscription will cover you for St John ambulance services in the NT, and also for ambulance fees across the country.

Compare ambulance insurance policies

All prices are based on a single individual with an income of less than $97,000, living in Sydney, NSW. It's likely to cost you even less in other states including South Australia and Victoria.

Finder Score - Health Insurance Extras

Each month we analyse over 10,000 extras insurance products and rate each one on price and features. What we end up with is a nice round number out of 10 that helps you compare extras cover a bit faster.

We want to compare apples to apples, not apples to apple pie. It doesn't make sense to compare a top extras policy with coverage for hearing aids and braces against a policy designed only for dental. So we've separated all the extras policies on the market into pools and categories. Once in their pools and categories, each product gets a price score and a features score, which are then combined to give the Final Score.

Read the full Finder Score methodology

Does Medicare cover ambulance services?

No, Medicare does not cover ambulance services – the idea that it does is a common misconception among Australians. Unless you are a resident of Queensland or Tasmania or have private health insurance, you could be facing big ambulance call-out costs.

"No one plans for an emergency hospital visit when on a family holiday. When my back went into violent spasms while in regional Victoria, we had no choice but to call an ambulance. It was less than a 5-minute ride to the nearest hospital. I was left stunned when, a month later, a bill for more than $1,800 arrived in my letterbox. Who has that kind of cash lying about? Thankfully, I had private health insurance and it was fully covered. I didn't have to pay a dollar."

Chris Stead

Editor

The cost of ambulance services by state

Family ambulance cover

There are a few ways you can get family ambulance cover. Here's a brief breakdown for each state.

Prices checked June 2024

What's the cheapest way to get ambulance cover?

Standalone ambulance cover is generally the cheapest way to get covered. However, it's not necessarily the best value for money. For instance, a standalone ambulance cover policy is likely to cost you between $65 and $110 a year depending on the state you live in but this covers you for emergency ambulances only. You can get the same service with extras cover for around $208, but you'll also get routine dental, physiotherapy, chiropractic cover and more included.

How do waiting periods work for ambulance cover?

Waiting periods generally only apply to in hospital or extras treatments that you can anticipate needing – for example, a hip replacement. You may have to serve a 1- or 2-month waiting period for non-emergency ambulance services. This is to ensure you access cover only when you need it.

Frequently asked questions

• Does Medicare cover ambulance services?

  No, Medicare does not cover ambulance services. Generally, you're going to need private ambulance cover to be covered for ambulance services. If you're a resident of Queensland or Tasmania, then your state government may cover some of the costs.

• What's the cheapest ambulance cover in NSW?

  As of December 2024, Bupa offers one of the cheapest ambulance only policies at $0.84 per week. However, that figure is based on a single person earning less than $97,000, living in NSW. Your own quote will differ based on your location and income.

• I called an ambulance for someone else – will I be sent the bill?

  No. The patient who receives treatment or transportation from an ambulance service will receive the bill.

• How much will an ambulance cost if I don't have ambulance cover?

  Ambulance costs vary between states and territories. You can view the different costs here.

• Do pensioners and concession card holders get free ambulance cover?

  Yes, you might be entitled to free ambulance cover if you who hold a:

  • Health Care Card
  • Pensioner Concession Card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card (find out more at the Dept of Human Services)
  • Department of Veterans Affairs Repatriation Health Card, also known as a Gold Card (excluding non-emergency ambulance services)
  • Department of Veterans Affairs Repatriation Health Card, also known as a White Card (only for services relating to a specific condition that is funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs)

• Does ambulance cover count as private health insurance to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge?

  No. An ambulance only policy will not be enough for you to avoid the MLS. You'll need a hospital health insurance policy for this.

• Who is eligible for free ambulance cover in Australia?

  Residents in Queensland and Tasmania receive free ambulance services, as the service is covered by the state governments. Other states may offer free coverage to specific groups such as pensioners and healthcare cardholders.

• Which state has the best ambulance services in Australia?

  Each state provides high-quality services, and in some states access to an ambulance is free, as the cost is covered by the state government. In 2024, Queensland ranked first in the country for ambulance response times compared to states of a similar size and scale.

• Do I need an ambulance cover in Victoria?

  Yes, you will generally need standalone ambulance cover in Victoria, unless you have a concession card or health insurance that covers ambulance services. Taking out your own cover or getting health insurance with ambulance cover will help you avoid out-of-pocket costs if you need to use an ambulance.

• Who is exempt from paying ambulance fees in Victoria?

  Pensioners, healthcare cardholders and Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold or White cardholders are generally exempt from ambulance fees in Victoria.

• Is there an ambulance fund in NSW?

  In NSW, ambulance cover is managed by private health funds. The state does not have a standalone ambulance fund, and if you don't have cover, you could be out of pocket by $1,000 or more if you need to call an ambulance.

• How can I get free ambulance services in NSW?

  You may be able to claim an exemption from paying for an ambulance in NSW if you fall into one of the following categories:

  - children or young people in the care of the state
  - victims of sexual assault, domestic violence or child abuse
  - patients being taken involuntarily to a declared mental health facility
  - holders of a:
  Health Care Card
  Pensioner Concession Card
  Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card
  Repatriation Health Card (White or Gold).

• Can I purchase standalone ambulance cover in WA?

  Yes, you can get standalone ambulance cover in WA through St John WA or select private health funds.

• Who provides ambulance services in WA?

  St John WA is the primary ambulance service provider for Western Australia.

• Do pensioners need to pay for ambulance services in WA?

  Pensioners in Western Australians who are over the age of 65, and who receive an Australian Government pension, are entitled to free emergency ambulance services through state-funded programs or concessions.

• Are ambulances free for pensioners in SA?

  If you hold a valid SA Pension Concession card at the time of the ambulance service, you may be eligible for concession of the gazetted fees. SA Ambulance Service may also hold off on recovering fees if the service is for the initial attendance at a motor vehicle accident.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Angus Kidman as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Editor, Insurance

Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 644 Finder guides across topics including:

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