I believe many Chinese understand how expensive it is to call an ambulance in Australia. In Melbourne, a kind-hearted man was caught in debt when he called an ambulance for an injured man. At present, in Australia, only the Tata and Kunzhou governments provide free emergency ambulance services.
(photo source: ABC)
According to an Australian Broadcasting Corporation report, nearly 1 / 4 of Australians mistakenly believe that ambulance costs are borne by the Medicare. In fact, this is not the case, and charges vary from state to state. Dr. Sophie Lewis, a new state health sociologist, said the confusion stemmed from the mistaken belief that ambulance calls were included in the public health system, and that ambulances were one of the areas that the government ignored in formulating policies.
Whether it's someone else who yells for you or does it voluntarily, you need to pay for it. In Victoria, people can choose to apply for a member of the state's ambulance department, paying a membership fee for emergency ambulance services, which costs A $92.05 a year for families and A $46 for singles. It is reported that the average cost of emergency medical care in Victoria is more than 1100 Australian dollars.
If someone calls an ambulance for you, you'll have to pay for it even if you say no, Victoria resident Michael says his 21-year-old son was injured in surfing and a passer-by called an ambulance, even though his son eventually refused to serve. But it still has to pay A $500.
Currently, free ambulance services are available to pensioners and low-income people in Victoria, New State, ACT and the Northern Territory, but most Australians do not have ambulance insurance or private health insurance. A large call fee and a kilometer fare will be charged. Some states also waive ambulance charges for people who meet some of the criteria, depending on the jurisdiction.
In new state, ambulance charges are based on call fees and mileage, and miles are based on round-trip trips between ambulance depots, pick-up locations, destinations and return depots. Residents of the new state actually pay only 51% of the cost, with the rest subsidized by the state. At present, in Australia, only the Tata and Kunzhou governments provide free emergency ambulance services.
So how much money do you have to bear? Policies vary from state to state.
Victoria state
The introduction of the new ambulance cost in, Ambulance Victoria from 1 July 2017, mainly related to the road transportation cost of (Road transport fees).
1. Emergency road transportation costs
Metro Emergency Road: $1204
District and rural emergency roads: $1776
2. Non-emergency road transportation costs
- Metropolitan area non-emergency roads: stretchers: $325; auto clinic (Clinic car): $107
- District and rural non-emergency roads: stretchers: $325; car clinics: none.
3, just need on-the-spot treatment, no transportation
Metropolitan area, area and rural: $519
4. Air transportation costs
Aircraft:
- Variable charge: $2134
- Fixed charge: $2887
Helicopters:
- Variable charge: $10737
- Fixed charge: $25559
Note: air transportation charges include only airplanes or helicopters, and road transportation is subject to separate charges.
It is up to the Ambulance Victoria to determine which mode of transport is required.
Ambulance Victoria probably also knows that its service fee is relatively expensive, so launched a member service, as long as registered as a member, you can enjoy the ambulance service free of charge.
Of course, you have to pay a certain membership fee, which is divided into four categories:
Quarterly membership fee:
- Family: $23.01
- Individual: $11.50
1-year membership fee:
- Family: $92.05
- Individual: $46.00
3-year membership fee:
- Family: $276.15
- Individual: $138.00
5-year membership fee:
- Family: $460.25
- Individual: $230.00
Compared to the average cost of $1100 a call to an ambulance, being a member is still a good deal.
New state
Ambulance charges include: door-to-door service charges per kilometer of road transportation
Transportation charges per kilometer of roads are based on the full distance of the ambulance from departure-to the patient's location-to the hospital-back to the ambulance station.
The specific charges are as follows:
Road transport:
- Emergency door-to-door services: $372
- Emergency road transportation: $3.35 per kilometre, capped at 6095
- Non-emergency door-to-door services: $293
- Non-emergency road transportation: $1.81 per kilometre, capped at 6095
Air transport (whether by plane or helicopter):
- Door-to-door service charge: $372
- Transportation: $3.35 per kilometre, capped at 6095
Pensioners and concessionary card holders can enjoy ambulance services free of charge.
Other residents pay only 51% of the total ambulance costs, while the remaining 49% are borne by the new state government.
If it is in the metropolitan area, the ambulance charges vary depending on whether the patient is urgent or not:
- Life-threatening: $967
- Emergency: $967
- Non-emergency: $520
- Patient transfer vehicle: $473
- Over 65, pensioners can enjoy ambulance services free of charge.
- People over the age of 65 who do not have a pension are entitled to half the price of an ambulance.
- Others have to pay for the ambulance themselves.
As in New York, ambulances in South Australia also include: door-to-door service charges per kilometer of road transportation.
- Emergency: $976 for door-to-door services at $5.60 per kilometre;
- Non-emergency: $218 for door-to-door services at $5.60 per kilometre;
- On-site treatment, no transportation: $218 door-to-door service charge;
Pensioners are entitled to a discount.
Northern Territory
Ambulance charges also include door-to-door service charges per kilometer of road transportation.
The charge is about $745 per trip.
If you become a member of the St John Ambulance, you can enjoy the ambulance service free of charge.
Kunzhou and Tasmania
Queensland and Tasmania are the only Australian governments to cover the full cost of ambulances, and residents don't have to spend a dime.
