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

  1. #1
    smiles4u Guest

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

    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% )

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Feb 2007
    In the jungle.
    4,809

    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.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Add Kazbah on Facebook Follow Kazbah On Twitter

    Sep 2006
    Dandy Ranges ;)
    7,526

    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

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Feb 2007
    In the jungle.
    4,809

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

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Add Kazbah on Facebook Follow Kazbah On Twitter

    Sep 2006
    Dandy Ranges ;)
    7,526

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

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Oct 2009
    Bonbeach, Melbourne
    7,177

    ( 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!

  7. #7
    smiles4u Guest

    Thumbs up

    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

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Dec 2008
    8,986

    I did know that. It's ridiculous!

    Are you ok SMiley?

  9. #9
    smiles4u Guest

    Smile

    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

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Feb 2009
    Brisbane
    1,070

    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!

  11. #11
    smiles4u Guest

    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

  12. #12

    Jul 2009
    Out North, Vic
    8,538

    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!

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Ouiinslano
    5,303

    WOW that's fantastic !! ... OMG to think we nearly moved to Qld recently, looks like might still be on the cards then
    For $100 odd bucks a year, I don't know that it's really worth it, considering what it costs us to move. You'd have to live here for 20 years to make it worth your while. Not that I don't want you living here, of course!

    I LOVE that it's free in Qld, especially that it's tacked onto your electricity bill. It's liek the Govt says "You know what? If you're hardcore enough to live without electricity, we'll give you free ambulance." Awesome.

  14. #14
    smiles4u Guest

    Thumbs up

    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!
    ZF that's a really good point as when i was 18yo i was nearly NOT going to get Ambo membership thinking i'm young as long as i don't have a car accident i will be alright but thankfully my BF at the time who had membership talked me into joining as he pointed out as i had no family to financially help me if i did get footed with a big bill i would then be on my own at 18yo+ to pay it ... so yep paid my ambulance membership at 18yo and can you believe back then it was only $17 for a single !!

  15. #15
    smiles4u Guest

    Wink

    For $100 odd bucks a year, I don't know that it's really worth it, considering what it costs us to move. You'd have to live here for 20 years to make it worth your while. Not that I don't want you living here, of course!
    pmsl Audax that's the funniest ... hey i reckon it would be worth my sanity as i can't hack the Ballarat weather here anymore, if i stay any longer i'm gonna need counceling and my health insurance doesn't cover that

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    On the other side of this screen!!!
    11,129

    Well I can attest to this...we've twice rang ambulances, once they came out, checked everythign was ok, left again (no transport $500), the other time I had a ride with lights n sirens and the green sucky pain tube, that was $700. Both times it was covered by our health insurance (we only had top extras) BUT in each state the bill was handled differently, ie our health insurance had a different arrangement with the ambulance service in each state. So you need to check how it works in your state.

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    melb
    8,498

    I have had my own Ambulance cover since I moved out of home and would no longer be on mum and dads cover, DH didnt have it when we met so I took it out for him as a present as to me a silly thing not to have.

    SIL took it out a few years ago as she was going to the snow for the weekend and just in case, day after she took out cover she got hit by a car on her bike! Very lucky or would have been costly.

    Everyone should have it not $ for what you get!!

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Melbourne
    1,628

    When we took out health insurance we were told by the company that ambulance may not be covered in certain situations (cant remember what the exact wording was) so DH and I kept our ambulance cover. I have had ambulance cover since I was 17 and talked DH into getting it when we first started datinng.

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