Ambulance
Cover

Ambulance transport isn’t covered by Medicare, which means a single call-out can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

If you live in a state that doesn’t provide free ambulance cover for residents, taking out ambulance cover can protect you from these unexpected costs and give you peace of mind if you ever need urgent medical transport.

What is ambulance cover and how does it work?

There’s no national ambulance provider in Australia, with ambulance services managed separately by each state and territory. Most operate on a ‘user pays’ system, where people are billed for any ambulance service they may use.

Ambulance cover helps contribute to these costs, so you’re not left shouldering the bill yourself if you need medical assistance.

Ambulance services may cover:

• Emergency ambulance: transport for a serious injury or medical event that needs urgent or potentially life-saving treatment.
• Non-emergency ambulance: transport for medical reasons that aren’t urgent, such as travel to hospital for ongoing treatment or transfers between medical facilities.
• Treatment without transport: attendance by an ambulance where paramedics provide care at the scene, but no transport to a medical facility is required.
• Air ambulance: emergency transport via fixed wing aircraft or helicopter covering longer distances or terrain that ground ambulances cannot access.

What you’re covered for can vary based on the ambulance cover you hold and the state or territory you live in.

Types of ambulance cover

There are several ways ambulance costs can be covered in Australia.

• Ambulance-only cover

  These are private health plans that cover only ambulance services. This may include unlimited emergency ambulance trips and non-emergency transport up to an annual limit. Cover usually applies Australia-wide.

• Private health insurance

  Most private health insurance policies include ambulance cover for emergency transport wherever you are in Australia, even the most basic hospital or extras policies. However, limits may apply to the number of trips covered and non-emergency ambulance services are often excluded.

• Ambulance subscriptions or memberships

  Some states and territories – VIC, SA, the NT and country WA – offer ambulance subscription schemes, where residents pay an annual fee for their state ambulance service. These memberships can cover emergency and non-emergency ambulance but may be limited to in-state use unless a higher level of cover is chosen.

  Note that in NSW, the ACT and metropolitan areas of WA, ambulance cover can only be arranged through private health insurers rather than the state ambulance service itself.

• State-funded ambulance cover

  QLD and TAS provide fully state-funded ambulance services for residents, meaning ambulance transport is generally covered. In other states and territories, however, ambulance services must be paid for by the user. 

How much does it cost to call an ambulance?

If you don’t have any form of ambulance cover, you’ll generally be responsible for paying the full cost of the service yourself.

The price of an ambulance can vary widely depending on where you live and where the ambulance is required. Costs may differ based on whether the service is emergency or non-emergency, whether the trip is in a metropolitan or regional area, and whether you’re treated as an interstate visitor.

Some states charge a flat call-out fee, while others apply a base fee plus an additional charge for each kilometre travelled.

Below is an overview of road ambulance fees across Australian states and territories as of February 2026:

Do non-residents have to pay different ambulance fees? 

If you’re visiting from another state and need an ambulance while you’re away, depending on the state you might not have the same ambulance call-out fees as local residents.

While in states like SA, the fees are the same regardless of whether you live in the state or elsewhere, in states like NSW and WA, you will have higher ambulance costs as a non-resident. Likewise, if you need an ambulance in QLD or TAS as a non-resident, you will be charged for its usage, even though residents get free ambulance provision in those states.

Are there any ambulance fee exemptions?

Yes, there are several situations where ambulance fees may be reduced or waived, although eligibility varies by state and territory.

Concession card holders

In many cases, health care concession card holders and pensioners get free ambulance cover Australia-wide or access to reduced-cost services.

• In NSW, VIC, the NT and the ACT, eligible card holders may receive ambulance services at no cost.
• In WA, pensioners over the age of 65 are entitled to free ambulance care. Residents who are aged over 65 but do not have a concession card and residents who are under 65 with a concession card will pay 50% of the ambulance fee.  
• In SA, pensioners may be able to apply for a fee reduction, but charges are not fully waived.

Veteran Card holders are entitled to free emergency ambulance transport anywhere in Australia.

Situation-based exemptions

Some states provide exemptions in specific circumstances, such as:

• Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or violent crime
• Children and young people under care or protection orders

If you’re not eligible for an exemption, taking out ambulance cover can help you avoid paying ambulance fees if you ever need to use the service.

How much does private ambulance cover cost in Australia?

Ambulance-only plans through private health funds usually cost less than $100 per year for singles, depending on where you are and the level of cover you buy.

Ambulance subscription plans offered directly by state ambulance services have similar annual fees.

However, these plans cover ambulance-related costs only, not broader healthcare expenses.

If you don’t expect to need ambulance services frequently, private health insurance that includes emergency ambulance is another option. Though more expensive than standalone plans, these policies combine ambulance cover with wider benefits offered on hospital plans and extras plans.