Yahoo Finance Surprising $1,208 cost Aussies may not know about
An Aussie was charged more than $1,000 after an ambulance was called for them.
An Aussie was left shocked when they were hit with a massive $1,208 bill after taking an ambulance ride.
“Took my first ever ride in an ambulance recently, WTF is this? Has it always been this way? I thought we left this nonsense to the Americans,” the person said.
“I'm just blown away that a 100 per cent public service like an ambulance results in a bill like this.”
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Yahoo Finance has taken a look into what the costs are in each state and it turns out, unless you live in Queensland or Tasmania, you may well rack up a bill.
Here’s what we found.
How can I avoid an ambulance bill?
Getting ambulance cover as part of your health insurance means you won’t get hit with a major bill if worse comes to worst, Finder insurance expert Gary Ross told Yahoo Finance.
“No one plans a trip to the emergency room but, when push comes to shove and you need one, it can be a costly feat,” he said.
“Depending on the length of the trip and level of care required, ambulance patients can be left with a bill for hundreds of dollars after a call-out.
The cost of an ambulance call-out could range from $400 to $1,800, or even more, Ross said. There are also costs associated with how many kilometres it takes to get to the hospital.
“A ride in an ambulance is not covered by Medicare, however, for residents in Tasmania and Queensland, the government will cover the cost of the emergency service if you prove you live there,” he said.
“Most health insurance policies will cover the cost of an ambulance ride under hospital or extras cover but it can also come as a standalone policy.
“No one wants to imagine the worst – getting sick or injured is bad enough without the hefty bill. Ambulance cover is a small price to pay for peace of mind.”
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