When you’re planning a trip to Australia for fun, work or study, you’re probably focusing on all the exciting things - like sun, sand and adventure!
While it’s not fun to think about accidents and injuries abroad, they can happen, and they can be expensive without the right insurance. But do you really need health insurance to cover ambulances? And when should you use an ambulance?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about ambulance cover in Australia.
Ambulances in Australia are emergency vehicles. They’re driven by first-aid professionals called paramedics, who can assist people with immediate care for injury and illness and transport them to a hospital for further care.
It’s important to remember that ambulances in Australia are only for medical emergencies. This is when someone is experiencing life-threatening or potentially life-threatening symptoms, which could include:
If you or someone you’re with is experiencing a medical emergency, contact triple zero (000) immediately.
You’ll be connected to an operator who will ask you which service you need: fire, police or ambulance. Try to stay calm, speak clearly and slowly and give an exact address or description of your location so the operator can send an ambulance to you.
Ambulance services in Australia are essential for providing emergency medical care and transportation. However, unlike some countries where ambulance services are free, in Australia, there can be significant costs associated with using these services, which vary depending on the state or territory.
Each Australian state and territory have different schemes regarding ambulance services, which can affect international students and visitors:
If you have Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) or Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), you’re covered for ambulance services when they provide emergency treatment and transport you to hospital.
Ambulances in Australia are for emergencies only. If an ambulance is called for a situation that isn’t life-threatening or doesn’t require urgent medical attention, those costs won’t be covered under your policy.
Getting ambulance cover in Australia isn’t just a great way to avoid expensive out-of-pocket medical costs if you have an emergency – it’s also a requirement for many visa holders.
If you’re planning to work in Australia, you’ll probably need to purchase health cover for overseas visitors as a part of your visa requirements.
This applies to:
Coming to study? You’re required to hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the entire duration of your stay, which must cover at least emergency care and ambulances in Australia.
This applies to the subclass 500 Student Visa and the subclass 407 Training visa. If a guardian is travelling with you to Australia, they will also need health cover.
If you’re just visiting, you may not have any health insurance requirements for your visa type.
However, you may wish to consider purchasing health cover for overseas visitors. Even just ambulance cover could provide help you avoid excessive costs should you need emergency care.
You can find more information on insurance requirements for your visa at the Department of Home Affairs website.
Allianz Care OVHC and OSHC includes cover for emergency ambulance transport in Australia. This is a visa requirement, so even basic levels of cover include it. However, if you call an ambulance for a non-emergency or non-life-threatening situation, those costs won’t be covered.
Understanding ambulance cover in Australia is an essential part of planning your stay as an international student or visitor.
Remember to review your insurance options carefully and choose a plan that best suits your needs.
Allianz Care Australia has a great range of health cover for overseas visitors, international students, working holiday makers and more. Learn more about our OVHC or OSHC insurance options today.