The Surprise Cost of Ambulances in Australia
Unlike most of the world, ambulance services in several Australian states are not free. If you call an ambulance and receive transport to hospital, you may receive a bill ranging from AUD $350 to AUD $1,200+ depending on the state and the type of call.
By State
- Queensland and Tasmania: Free for all residents including students. No charge.
- New South Wales: Free for emergency callouts. Non-emergency transport billed.
- Victoria: Charges apply. Standard emergency callout: ~AUD $1,282. Purchase ambulance cover via AV (Ambulance Victoria) for ~AUD $60/year.
- South Australia: Charges apply. SA Ambulance subscription available.
- Western Australia: Charges apply unless you have ambulance cover.
Does OSHC Cover Ambulance?
Most OSHC policies now include ambulance cover as standard. Check your specific policy document (Certificate of Insurance or Product Disclosure Statement) and look for "ambulance" in the covered services section. Medibank and Bupa OSHC policies typically include ambulance.
If You're Not Sure
In Victoria, WA, and SA — if you're uncertain your OSHC covers ambulance, purchase a standalone ambulance subscription from your state service (~AUD $50–65/year). The cost of one uncovered callout would be 20x the subscription.
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