We just found out that we need this, as we can get billed for ambulance services if we don't, depending on the state we are in. It depends on residency in many states. And also how the state defines residency (SA residents need to have cover regardless, Qld & Tasmania have free services to all residents).
Bupa is the best we have found in terms of price/what is offered as many of the companies do not offer comprehensive (which may include non-emergency transfers) in their policies. It will cost us around $200 a year for both of us.
Vince said
11:12 AM Mar 1, 2017
We have HCF ambulance only cover at $97 per year for self and wife.
Covers all states and all ambulance services including air ambulance.
Have had to use all devices when I had a heart attack in Emerald QLD in 2014
HCF continues to offer the same service and I can't fault it
Wouldn't travel without it
Cheers
Vince
aussietraveller said
11:22 AM Mar 1, 2017
We have medical cover which covers us no matter which state we are in , I was under the impression that all medical funds covered you for Ambulance.
macka17 said
11:44 AM Mar 1, 2017
We have FULL hospital cover plus a few extra's.
Gets you straight into any hospital.
Public or private.
and guarantees you a doctor. NOW.
Also Live in QLD.
Amb cover is automatic for home owners ate payers.
We keep telling you that apart from caravan\boat rego's. it's the best State to live in.
But PLEASE.... ONLY VISIT.
Leave your money and depart till following yr,
then repeat.
Happywanderer said
12:03 PM Mar 1, 2017
If you are on age pension you shouldn't need it.
Being from Victoria last year I used 3 ambulances and the Flying Doctor Service in Qld at no charge.
Possum3 said
02:52 PM Mar 1, 2017
We are NSW residents and recently I needed ambulances in Qld and NT where only full-time residents of each State are covered for Emergency Transport by Ambulance. Even though in possession of (Commonwealth Health Care card). Fortunately we are covered by BUPA for Ambulance cover. The ambulance bills would have just about put us into Bankruptcy.
Can you even contemplate having to pay for a QANTAS 737 (The Business Class section) to fly from Darwin (RHD) to Sydney (Westmead) complete with additionally fitted Oxygen tanks plus the cost of Specialist Nursing Staff plus the additional land Ambulances each end.
I certainly recommend having Ambulance cover - I just forwarded bills to BUPA and they handled everything no worries.
msg said
03:35 PM Mar 1, 2017
Yep, they wanted $27k to take me to Bundaberg from Monto by air ambulance. ACT doesn't have reciprocal agreements with other states. Luckily I was being transferred from hospital to hospital and they waived the cost. But it still cost me over 1k to get to Monto by ambulance from Waruma Dam. Now have Medicare ambulance cover for about $50 per yr.
JayDee said
03:55 PM Mar 1, 2017
For some reason Queensland Ambulance Service ( QAS) is free for us.
However when we were in Bendig Vic. I had a fall and had to call on the service of Victoria Ambulance.
I received a bill for $506.
Long story short.
I have sent the account to QAS who I am told by Vic. Ambo that the QAS will then send a cheque to them for payment.
I was of the opinion that Ambulance service was free for all aged personal.
Jay&Dee
Inland_Sailor said
04:01 PM Mar 1, 2017
There is no need to have ambulance included in your health fund. Here in Victoria and I presume the other States/Territories as well you can join the ambulance directly. According to Ambulance Victorias website, annual family membership is $89.80. Single $44.90. You can pay quarterly through to 5 years. Membership gives you:
All emergency road ambulance transport; All MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) attendance and treatment; All emergency air ambulance and clinically necessary non-emergency air ambulance; All ambulance treatment when transport is not required; All clinically necessary non-emergency patient transport; The same level of cover for ambulance treatment and transport services provided interstate as are covered back in Victoria.
N.B. By this I mean if you join your own State/Territory Ambulance, you will receive cover Australia wide.
-- Edited by Inland_Sailor on Wednesday 1st of March 2017 10:44:08 PM
Possum3 said
07:27 PM Mar 1, 2017
Inland Sailor are you certain that other States have a reciprocal agreement with Victorian Ambulance? - I was under the impression it was only Victorian residents covered.
macka17 said
07:33 PM Mar 1, 2017
Queensland is Reciprocal....
Probably? the same with others.
rockylizard said
08:20 PM Mar 1, 2017
Gday...
Some reading material - the proverbial can of worms ... a bit wordy mostly, but if ya wanna know ya better read it -
However, note these words in that advice - Concession cardholders are eligible for free clinically necessary road and air ambulance transport anywhere in Australia in an emergency or on the recommendation of an appropriate health professional.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 1st of March 2017 08:33:56 PM
meetoo said
10:04 PM Mar 1, 2017
Hey rockylizard, what happened to SA? Don't we exist?
Cheers, John.
rockylizard said
10:16 PM Mar 1, 2017
Gday...
The most comprehensive information I could find regarding SA is covered mostly in the 'noboundaries' website (the first one provided).
I found it was difficult to get definitive information regarding SA's attitude/rules for non-SA residents visiting the state.
However, I also found this -
Note: Ambulance Cover is intended for permanent residents of South Australia. Non-South Australian residents may join Ambulance Cover at the discretion of SAAS, but will not receive the Pensioner cover discount which is available to pensioners who are residents of South Australia.
From what I can read between the lines on any SA information I can find, SA provides nothing for visitors from interstate - interestingly not even Commonwealth Pensioners.
Cheers - John
meetoo said
10:49 PM Mar 1, 2017
Thanks John.
Cheers, John.
rockylizard said
10:52 PM Mar 1, 2017
meetoo wrote:
Thanks John.
Cheers, John.
there's that damned echo agen.
macka17 said
01:57 AM Mar 2, 2017
If you get sick in SA.
(Don'tknow why anybody would be there mind)
Just driveback overborderb4making phonecall.
NBN "Supposedly " connected 1st March HERE.
hmm.
When do I start breathing again?
Anytime soon...
macka17 said
01:58 AM Mar 2, 2017
Hmmm.
Somebody's Space Bar playingup methink's.
dazz49 said
08:55 AM Mar 3, 2017
macka17 wrote:
If you get sick in SA. (Don'tknow why anybody would be there mind) Just driveback overborderb4making phonecall.
NBN "Supposedly " connected 1st March HERE.
hmm. When do I start breathing again?
Anytime soon...
An interesting comment about SA there Macka If it was tongue in cheek, fair enough. I live in SA and as a state it has a lot for the tourist to visit. Flinders ranges, Simpson Desert, Lake Eyre, Barossa and plenty more. I have visited every other state in this country and have enjoyed them all, as they all have something to offer, as does SA. Cheers Daz
We just found out that we need this, as we can get billed for ambulance services if we don't, depending on the state we are in. It depends on residency in many states. And also how the state defines residency (SA residents need to have cover regardless, Qld & Tasmania have free services to all residents).
Bupa is the best we have found in terms of price/what is offered as many of the companies do not offer comprehensive (which may include non-emergency transfers) in their policies. It will cost us around $200 a year for both of us.
Covers all states and all ambulance services including air ambulance.
Have had to use all devices when I had a heart attack in Emerald QLD in 2014
HCF continues to offer the same service and I can't fault it
Wouldn't travel without it
Cheers
Vince
Gets you straight into any hospital.
Public or private.
and guarantees you a doctor. NOW.
Also Live in QLD.
Amb cover is automatic for home owners
ate payers.
We keep telling you that apart from caravan\boat rego's. it's the best State to live in.
But PLEASE.... ONLY VISIT.
Leave your money and depart till following yr,
then repeat.
Being from Victoria last year I used 3 ambulances and the Flying Doctor Service in Qld at no charge.
Can you even contemplate having to pay for a QANTAS 737 (The Business Class section) to fly from Darwin (RHD) to Sydney (Westmead) complete with additionally fitted Oxygen tanks plus the cost of Specialist Nursing Staff plus the additional land Ambulances each end.
I certainly recommend having Ambulance cover - I just forwarded bills to BUPA and they handled everything no worries.
For some reason Queensland Ambulance Service ( QAS) is free for us.
However when we were in Bendig Vic. I had a fall and had to call on the service of Victoria Ambulance.
I received a bill for $506.
Long story short.
I have sent the account to QAS who I am told by Vic. Ambo that the QAS will then send a cheque to them for payment.
I was of the opinion that Ambulance service was free for all aged personal.
Jay&Dee
There is no need to have ambulance included in your health fund. Here in Victoria and I presume the other States/Territories as well you can join the ambulance directly. According to Ambulance Victorias website, annual family membership is $89.80. Single $44.90. You can pay quarterly through to 5 years. Membership gives you:
All emergency road ambulance transport;
All MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) attendance and treatment;
All emergency air ambulance and clinically necessary non-emergency air ambulance;
All ambulance treatment when transport is not required;
All clinically necessary non-emergency patient transport;
The same level of cover for ambulance treatment and transport services provided interstate as are covered back in Victoria.
N.B. By this I mean if you join your own State/Territory Ambulance, you will receive cover Australia wide.
-- Edited by Inland_Sailor on Wednesday 1st of March 2017 10:44:08 PM
Probably? the same with others.
Gday...
Some reading material - the proverbial can of worms ... a bit wordy mostly, but if ya wanna know ya better read it -
http://www.noboundaries.com.au/Ambo%20services.htm
QLD -
https://www.qld.gov.au/emergency/emergencies-services/qld-visitors-qas.html
VIC -
http://ambulance.vic.gov.au/membership/faq/
Read it all .. but this is snipped from that site -
NSW -
http://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/Media/docs/Billing_FAQ_NON_NSW_FINAL-506115d7-7589-49f5-86f2-8aac67e559bf-0.pdf
TAS -
http://www.ambulance.tas.gov.au/fees_and_accounts
ACT -
http://esa.act.gov.au/actas/fees-and-charges/#faq8
And this from Human Services ...
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/health/ambulance-travel
However, note these words in that advice - Concession cardholders are eligible for free clinically necessary road and air ambulance transport anywhere in Australia in an emergency or on the recommendation of an appropriate health professional.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 1st of March 2017 08:33:56 PM
Hey rockylizard, what happened to SA? Don't we exist?
Cheers, John.
Gday...
The most comprehensive information I could find regarding SA is covered mostly in the 'noboundaries' website (the first one provided).
I found it was difficult to get definitive information regarding SA's attitude/rules for non-SA residents visiting the state.
However, I also found this -
Note: Ambulance Cover is intended for permanent residents of South Australia. Non-South Australian residents may join Ambulance Cover at the discretion of SAAS, but will not receive the Pensioner cover discount which is available to pensioners who are residents of South Australia.
From what I can read between the lines on any SA information I can find, SA provides nothing for visitors from interstate - interestingly not even Commonwealth Pensioners.
Cheers - John
Thanks John.
Cheers, John.
(Don'tknow why anybody would be there mind)
Just driveback overborderb4making phonecall.
NBN "Supposedly " connected 1st March HERE.
hmm.
When do I start breathing again?
Anytime soon...
Somebody's Space Bar playingup methink's.
An interesting comment about SA there Macka If it was tongue in cheek, fair enough. I live in SA and as a state it has a lot for the tourist to visit. Flinders ranges, Simpson Desert, Lake Eyre, Barossa and plenty more. I have visited every other state in this country and have enjoyed them all, as they all have something to offer, as does SA. Cheers Daz