Ambulance costs: how much are they?

Find out how much you can expect to pay in an emergency

13 August 2024 5 minute read

A man receives an IV drip in the back of an ambulance

Navigating the health system in an emergency is stressful enough without the added worry of a large ambulance bill. If you need to call an ambulance, it’s important to know how much it could cost to avoid an unexpected bill at a tense time.

It’s easy to assume Medicare will cover the cost of an emergency ambulance, but this is not the case. With the average ambulance claim for nib members in the 2023 financial year of $1,000¹the high cost of an ambulance is a good reason to consider private health insurance, opens in a new tab.Without it, you might have to pay a hefty fee if you need to call an ambulance.

The state government covers the cost of an ambulance for Queensland residents and Tasmanian residents get a similar benefit with a few exceptions², outlined below.

If your state government does not pay for ambulance cover, nib offers unlimited emergency ambulance cover regardless of the Hospital and Extras covers, opens in a new tab you choose. If you sign up to nib, opens in a new tab wherever you are across Australia, you’ll get the help you need, when and as often as you need it.

Does Medicare cover the cost of an ambulance?

Medicare, opens in a new tab doesn't cover the cost of emergency transport or ambulance services to hospital. As a result, ambulance costs are different in each state and territory.

We’ve created an easy guide that outlines how much you can expect to pay for an ambulance across Australia.

Credit: nib health insurance

How much does an ambulance cost in Australia?

Here’s a rundown of the different charges for calling an ambulance across the country.

New South Wales

NSW residents, opens in a new tab will be charged a call-out fee of $445 for an emergency ambulance, plus an additional charge of $4.02 per kilometre from the ambulance station to your pick-up address, to the destination and back to the ambulance station, regardless of whether you require transport by road or air, opens in a new tab. The maximum amount, opens in a new tab you can expect to pay is $7,299. These charges cover 51% of the cost of an ambulance, with the NSW government providing a 49% subsidy, opens in a new tab.

Residents of other states and territories visiting NSW may will encounter different rates for emergency services. If you're visiting, be prepared for an $873 call-out fee in an emergency, plus $7.88 per kilometre after that. Visit the NSW Ambulance website, opens in a new tab for details on fees for patients who aren’t residents of NSW.

NSW Ambulance fees apply for all services, including on-scene assessments and transport. You'll be charged for the service you receive, even if someone else made the Triple Zero (000) call.

Some NSW ambulance services are provided free of charge to those eligible for exemptions. Visit NSW Ambulance, opens in a new tab for more information about the criteria for exemptions.

Queensland

Queenslanders, opens in a new tab, you’re in luck as your ambulance services are provided free of charge by your State Government.

Queensland residents and their dependants are covered when it comes to emergency pre-hospital ambulance treatment and transport Australia-wide. So whether you’re on the Sunshine Coast or in Sydney, you won’t have to pay for an ambulance, as long as you can prove you’re a permanent Queensland resident.

If you receive an invoice for interstate ambulance treatment, simply forward the invoice to Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) for payment. If you’re eligible, QAS will arrange to pay the invoice on your behalf. Just ensure you provide the required documentation, opens in a new tab to QAS to verify your permanent Queensland residency.

If you're visiting Queensland from another state or territory in Australia, you'll need to cover the cost of any ambulance services you use while you're here. However, if you have private health insurance with ambulance cover, contact your insurer to confirm your coverage. Additionally, you might be eligible to have your bill covered by your home state's ambulance service if you meet their specific criteria, opens in a new tab.

Victoria

In Victoria, opens in a new tab, expect to pay $1,396 for a road-based ambulance trip in the city and $2,059 if you’re in a regional or rural area to cover the cost, unless you have an Ambulance Victoria membership, concession entitlement or other cover, opens in a new tab. If you need air ambulance transport, you’ll pay up to $3,347 for a plane trip and up to $29,635 for a helicopter.

Ambulance Victoria, opens in a new tab will decide on the type of transport you need in an emergency, based on resources and the urgency of the situation.

Sometimes, Ambulance Victoria charges a fee for treatment provided on scene, opens in a new tab, even if you aren't transported by an ambulance. This treatment can include professional medical assessment, care, or advice to benefit you as the patient.

You won't be charged this fee if a someone else called the ambulance without your knowledge or reasonable authorisation, opens in a new tab.

South Australia

If you’re a South Australian resident , opens in a new tabwho does not hold South Australian Ambulance cover of private health cover with included ambulance benefits, expect to pay a minimum $1,171 call-out fee in an emergency, and a minimum $262 in a non-emergency. In both instances, you can also expect to pay a per kilometre fee of $6.70.

You may be eligible for a concession if you’re a South Australian pensioner and can’t pay your ambulance bill via a third party like a private health fund. Contact SA Ambulance Service, opens in a new tab for more information.

If you’re an interstate resident, opens in a new tab needing an ambulance in South Australia, you’ll be charged the same standard fees listed above.

Western Australia

In Western Australia, opens in a new tab, you will be charged $1,133 for a life threatening (emergency – priority 1) ambulance. Fees for calling an ambulance can vary depending on the nature of the call-out, such as life-threatening, urgent or non-urgent, and you’ll be charged regardless of whether you called the ambulance yourself or someone called it for you.

The fees for non-WA residents who call an ambulance while visiting WA are slightly higher – $1,355 for a life-threatening emergency.

You may be exempt from all ambulance costs if you’re a Western Australian aged pensioner, opens in a new tab.

If you have private health insurance with ambulance benefits, St John WA are unable to bill your health fund directly, opens in a new tab, so you’ll need to contact them for details of your ambulance trip before you can submit a claim with your health insurer.

Australian Capital Territory

If you’re an ACT resident, opens in a new tab, you can expect to pay at least $1,107 for transport in an emergency ambulance. An extra $14 for every kilometre travelled will be added to the bill if the ambulance has to travel outside the ACT.

Expect to pay $767 for an emergency ambulance service to treat you, excluding transport. This could include services like first aid, medical advice or a medical examination and assessment.

Most aged pension and concession card holders won’t have to pay for ambulance services within the ACT. Other exemptions apply. Visit ACT Emergency Services Agency, opens in a new tab for more information about exemptions.

Northern Territory

In the Northern Territory, opens in a new tab the cost of an emergency ambulance service includes a callout fee and a charge per kilometre travelled. The call-out fee, opens in a new tab in a life-threatening emergency (Code 1) is $897 and $407 for a non-life threatening emergency (Code 2). In both situations you’ll be charged $5.80 per kilometre greater than 10 kilometres.

You won’t need to pay for an ambulance if you’re a St John Ambulance member or have ambulance cover included in your private health insurance.

A St John Ambulance subscription includes free emergency transport, opens in a new tab across all states and territories.

NT concession cardholders may be entitled to free ambulance transport in the Northern Territory. Other exemptions apply. Visit St John Ambulance NT, opens in a new tab for more information.

Tasmania

Emergency ambulance services are generally provided free of charge in Tasmania, opens in a new tab as long as Ambulance Tasmania can determine you’re a Tasmanian resident and the circumstances prove you’re not responsible for the payment.

If you’re visiting the mainland, you’ll be covered in all states and territories except South Australia and Queensland, opens in a new tab.

If you're a resident from outside Tasmania and use ambulance services in Tasmania, you'll receive an invoice for the costs. However, in some cases these costs may be waived on the basis of reciprocal agreements with other states which cover some ambulance services. Find out more by visiting the Tasmanian Government Department of Health, opens in a new tab.

What if I don’t have insurance?

Generally, you will have to pay for the ambulance if you don’t have ambulance cover or subscribe to your state’s ambulance membership scheme³. There are some exemptions from paying if you meet certain criteria. Find out more about state-based exemptions via the links below:

What happens after you get to the hospital?

It’s not just the ambulance fees you have to keep in mind. Public hospital healthcare, opens in a new tab including emergency treatment is free for all Australian citizens and most permanent residents. Costs and potential waiting times can quickly add up if you need further treatment after your initial admission, including rehabilitation, specialist appointments or surgery.

nib offers extra protection against the unexpected with the Accidental Injury Benefit, opens in a new tab. I If you’re a nib member and you present for treatment within 72 hours of an accident at a hospital emergency department or with a medical practitioner like a GP, you’ll receive benefits in line with our best level of hospital cover for the following 90 days if you are then admitted to hospital⁴.

Ambulance cover

With nib, there’s no need to be caught out by the cost of an expensive ambulance ride. We are your health partner, giving you options to make the best choices for you and your family. No matter where you live, the cost of your ambulance trip is the last thing you need to worry about in an emergency, which is why we offer unlimited emergency ambulance cover on most health policies⁵.

Give us a call on 13 16 42, opens in a new tab or visit our Ambulance cover page, opens in a new tab for more details. nib members can view your current nib policy online, opens in a new tab or via the nib App, opens in a new tab.

¹Average ambulance charge incurred by nib members between July 2022 and June 2023 (excluding TAS and QLD residents).

²TAS residents are covered under state ambulance schemes in TAS and when travelling in mainland Australia except SA or QLD.

³Not available in all states and territories, check your state’s ambulance services website for further information.

⁴Includes admission to a private hospital, or as a private patient in a public hospital. Excludes consultations and treatments performed at an Emergency Department. T&Cs apply.

⁵1 day waiting period applies. Not available to: (i) QLD residents who have ambulance services provided by their State ambulance schemes; (ii) TAS residents who are covered under state ambulance schemes in TAS and when travelling in mainland Australia except SA and QLD; or (iii) pension and health care card holders who have ambulance services provided by State ambulance schemes (check entitlements with Centrelink if unsure)