Ambulance Cover via Health Insurance ... OMG did you know this ?

[smiles4u]

Hi all,

I thought i would pop this thread here as it could possibly save 'some' members alot of money and unneccessary stress if they rang an ambulance due to being seriously ill, an accident or going into fast labour with bub, etc

A couple of weeks ago my DP had to call an ambulance for me and i had both female paramedics look after me for some time at home, later one of the paramedics stayed with me whilst the other spoke with my DP in the hallway and amongst converstation she told my DP how Ambulance Cover through *some* Private Health Insurance companies ONLY covers the Lights & Sirens of the ambulance and then the patient is hit with the rest of the massive ambulance bill

Sadly she said 10% of patients that call an ambulance DON'T know this and then are hit with the big $$$$ bill

DP and i later discussed what a nightmare that would be if you rang an ambulance due to being seriously ill or a terrible accident then you not long later get hit with an unexpected big bill, we thought how shocking and distressing that would be to anyone

So i thought i'd warn anyone that automatically thinks their health insurance covers them 100% for ambulance cover that it might be worthwhle to check it out if you haven't already for peace of mind !!!

(phew, thankfully i was covered 100% )

[Junglemum]

I have heard a few horror stories on this topic. Our health insurance does cover but there are some weird exceptions, so i just get an ambulance membership too. I like to cover all bases.

[smiles4u]

I have heard a few horror stories on this topic. Our health insurance does cover but there are some weird exceptions, so i just get an ambulance membership too. I like to cover all bases.

me too JungleMum i have Ambulance Membership on top of my ambulance cover with my health insurance as my DP and DD don't have health insurance (only sadly i due to serious health in the past and i had it before i met my DP, still not much of an excuse as i do feel so guilty they don't have it as we can't afford to for them ... my DP jokes i 'need' it most as i'm so much older then them) and the Ambulance Family membership cover amount is enough to cover me too (if that makes sense !) !!

Our Ambulance Membership was overdue to pay and i wasn't covered with it the day we called an ambulance for me, thankfully i had MY health insurance and it truly taught us a massive lesson to never let ourselves not be covered for Ambulance Membership, OMG thankfully it was me ill and not my DD or DP it wouldv'e been a massive ambo bill as we hadn't paid it yet

[Tinks]

I did know that. It's ridiculous!

Are you ok SMiley?

[smiles4u]

I did know that. It's ridiculous!

Are you ok SMiley?

yeh all better now Tinks

DP was awesome with me and he was rewarded when the ambo turned up with the hottest looking blonde paramedic on the planet (we won't mention the other frumpy one) and he was totally gobsmacked ... Even me that was totally sick and nearly passing out with my t.shirt nightie on with the words on the front " World's Greatest Mummy " opened my eyes wide open for a moment and thought " OMGgg She'ssss HOTTTT " She looked like a female version of a guy in one of those sexy blue racing car suits

She had long blonde hair in a big ponytail with the bluest eyes and a body to die for ... and to think i was so ill to get an ambo i noticed her !

never called an ambulance in all my years and i have been covered since i was 18yo, so that's a darn long time yeh

[berrme]

All Queenslanders have ambulance cover, the government added it onto the electricity bills a number of years ago. I always had it before they attached it to the electricity bill though. Definitely worth it!

[smiles4u]

All Queenslanders have ambulance cover, the government added it onto the electricity bills a number of years ago. I always had it before they attached it to the electricity bill though. Definitely worth it!

WOW that's fantastic !! ... OMG to think we nearly moved to Qld recently, looks like might still be on the cards then

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I didn't have it until i was PG with DD1, thank god i got it just in time
Had it every year since, i keep telling my brother to make sure he has it, he was in a football accident a few yrs back and was FLOWN to melbourne in helimed... LUCKILY he was still on my dads private health, it would have cost THOUSANDS.
I had a friend who ahd a car accident, no ambulance cover.. lets just say she wasn't buying any new shoes or clothes anytime soon.

It's one of those things i've found younger people say 18-20yr olds don't generally get.. and it's so so vital!

[Floweryfields]

All Queenslanders have ambulance cover, the government added it onto the electricity bills a number of years ago. I always had it before they attached it to the electricity bill though. Definitely worth it!

Yes it's good, but, beinga single, I have to cop the same amount on my electric bill as a family does - before when I paid for my own cover, it was cheaper being a single. Also if you have a house of 8 peeople unrelated living together, they are all covered for the same amount as little ole me - pretty unfair.

[Cupcake]

All Queenslanders have ambulance cover, the government added it onto the electricity bills a number of years ago. I always had it before they attached it to the electricity bill though. Definitely worth it!

Im glad you said that ... i was a bit confused for a second with all this ambulance cover talk! Lol.

[Kazbah]

My DH & I had this very same discussion a few years ago - we decided that cause we couldn't find the actual information easily, we'd stick with both sets of cover (Ambulance is relatively cheap for what you get too!!!!). And I don't know what you've seen, but the libs are promising half-price ambulance cover if they win in Vic this weekend!


Glad you were OK hun

[Junglemum]

( i wouldn't vote for them even if they made ambulance cover free. )

[Kazbah]

(The advantage of voting before they put out all the "sweeteners" is that you get the raw deal to judge!)

[PumpkinZulu]

( i wouldn't vote for them even if they made ambulance cover free. )

I went in an ambulance earlier this year, and was gobsmacled when we got the bill!! Luckily, DF and I have HCC, so it was covered. For what you get, buying Ambo cover is sooo worth it, we will be next year even with our HCC, it's not worth the risk!

[black_rose]

I fully covered with my phi, just as well as I was skiing and dislocated my knee, it was a two hour ambulance trip and also a regional area so the bill was huge! Can't remember how much but it was thousands.