First I would like to wish everyone well after the tragic bush fires in Tathra NSW
I am a single nomad travelling Australia have been for the past 3 years, earlier this month I became a little sick and had to call an ambulance to take me to a local hospital after receiving the account of $960 for the ambulance I telephoned Ambulance Victoria (AV) to pay the bill, I have been a member for the past 10 years and have never used their service
After the discussion and details, I was told that I am no longer covered by AV as I am not a resident of Victoria even though my licence, registrations and insurance are all in Victoria.
I am not the type of person to give out a false Victorian address and I don't have an address in Victoria only a post office box.
Was not a happy boy, I wont say what I said to them (Cindy wont like it) I asked for a refund of the the past 3 years as I was not covered for that period, I was told policy states that we (AV) don't give refunds consider it a donation.
I am no longer a member of AV
If Ambulance Victoria do this to their members, i would imagine other states do it as well
Thought that it would be a good idea to share this with my fellow nomads so others will not have this problem
Thanks Wheels, something to bring up with our health insurer.
I often wonder if someone else calls an ambulance for you, and you didn't , and didn't need an ambulance, i.e. twisted ankle or something, who pays?
Wheels wrote:I am not the type of person to give out a false Victorian address
I am sorry for your situation - you have not received proper treatment and natural justice.
Whilst I am an advocate for being honest and truthful I think there are times when a small lie which does not damage others is sensible - I think you are at one of those times.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
To be covered for ambulance you need to take out insurance with an Insurance Company - NOT your State Ambulance. We are covered specifically for Ambulance with BUPA, it is probably the best insurance we have.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
Graham, if you are in a Health Fund you may be covered, suggest you Check,
We are in BUPA also and from memory they cover you for 2 emergency trips a year. The definition of an emergency is left I understand to the Ambo people, so we have additional Ambulance cover by SA Ambulance with an additional cost for out of SA cover.
I live in Qld. Queenslanders do not pay a levy to Qld Ambulance. Required an ambulance in Victoria and they advised me that they would send me an account for their services which I then passed onto Qld Ambulance. The account was settled and heard nothing more.
Graham,
In your situation I would look at joining the CMCA, insure your Tug and Van with Ken Tame and take out additional roadside breakdown support along with Doctors on Demand.
DOD allows up to 3 calls a year free to talk to a doctor ( also via Skype?) so if you are remote and say have a Telstra Mobile/signal you are as close as your mobile for some medical advice. DOD also have other benefits. Ditto joining the CMCA.
Ambulance cover with Health Funds covers emergencies and that's all. Most times you will find you are not covered. We're in SA and have ambulance cover with SA Ambulance to cover non-emergencies. Our Health Insurance will cover the emergencies aspect hence our SA Ambulance cover is cheaper.
Another can of worms, friends specifically joined Victorian Ambulance to get transported back to home in Albury NSW following an operation in a Melbourne Vic Hospital.
NSW Ambulance would not cover them for this event.
Ambulance are not for transporting people home from Hospital, The role role of ambulance is responding to medical emergencies and taking people to receive medical treatment when you need to return home you call a taxi .
Are persons holding a Centrelink Health Care card or Pensioner Concession card covered for ambulance transport?
Under the State Concession Scheme, eligible Victorians holding certain concession cards receive free clinically necessary ambulance coverage throughout Australia. In all cases, transport is provided to the nearest and most appropriate medical facility.
ACT has free ambulance cover for pensioners in the ACT. Other states, no reciprical arrangements. I needed to take ambulance cover with medicare.($50pa) for the rest of Aust. I don't have normal health cover. I think QLD is the only state that covers for all aust if you are a QLD resident and pay rates.
Needed ambulance in QLD. Went 60k to nearest hospital. $1600 They then gave me a helicopter ride 400ks away. $27,000. asked for but waived.
But, that left me stranded 400ks from van. Sorry find your own way home, not our problem. Bit too far for taxi. I wasn,t allowed to drive. I was lucky, my sister came and picked me up. I think NRMA Ultimate care may have helped out.
My biggest worry, was my dog who was left there. Don't know what would have happened if Jules47(the Happy Helper) and Billy had not looked after her.
"""Western Australians over the age of 65 who receive a full Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs Age Pension and who hold a current Pensioner Concession Card are entitled to a 100 per cent concession on the standard ambulance transport fee. Other Western Australian's over the age of 65 years, and other holders of a current Pensioner Concession Card may be eligible for a 50 per cent concession. To check your eligibility please contact St John Ambulance on 9334 1222."""
As seems to be the case, if you travel interstate Ambo cover is a must,,,,,,But one needs to make them aware of your state to state wandering,,and pay the extra costs involved..Here in SA with SA.Ambulance on centrelink it's $65 ,, to stay safe financially. Aussy wide!!
Bit of an update(25th Feb 2019), NSW pensioners are covered Australia wide, EXCEPT when in South Australia. N.S.W Ambulance suggest travel cover or join S A ambulance somehow.