I can only speak for Vic, other states may differ...

Emergency cover, as defined by PHI, means that you are transported to hospital by one of Ambulance Victoria's emergency ambulance's. Many PHI's will not cover you if the ambulance turns up but it is determined that the patient does not require transport to hospital - this is deemed not to be an emergency. Similarly, if you require transport by a non-emergency ambulance (patient transport vehicle) you will not be covered. Non-emerg vehicles are responded for things which are deemed to be non-urgent, such as pre-booked appointments. You might think you won't need non-emerg transport as you have access to private vehicles. Perhaps you will suffer a back injury and suffer chronic pain. You may need transport to hospital initially, by an emergency ambulance. You will be taken to A&E and this will be covered by PHI. The first hospital finds you a bed in a private hospital. You will be transported by a patient transport vehicle (non emerg). The cost of the inter hospital transfer will be covered by the hospital. A week later, you are ready for discharge. You go home in a private vehicle, but two days later you are still in extreme pain and your doctor arranges for you to be re-admitted to the private hospital for further pain management. You can't sit in a car due to your pain. You will be transported back to the private hospital by a non-emerg stretcher vehicle and the cost will be borne by... you.

Currently, the cost of an ambulance attendance in Vic is around $600. If you are not transported and you don't have ambulance cover or complete cover through you PHI (or some unions), you are liable for this cost. Without cover, transport costs a minimum of about $1000. And if you are unlucky enough to require an ambulance in a remote area and need helicopter transport... Thousands and thousands!!

Pension card holders, health care card holders, TAC if a road accident and Workcover if a work accident will all cover the cost of ambulance attendance and/or transport.

Ambulance Vic have just halved the cost of membership. Now is a good time to get covered if you don't have a HCC/pension card.