Ambulance and other emergency transport services can be costly, especially in rural or remote areas, and aren’t covered by Medicare. Knowing what ambulance cover you have can help you avoid unexpected costs when you need care.

When you need an ambulance in an emergency, you should be able to focus on getting care. HCi ambulance cover can help with the cost. 

Your cover depends on where you normally live and which HCi policy you hold. Ambulance arrangements vary across Australia, and different rules may apply when you’re travelling interstate. Government arrangements, private health insurance benefits, and ambulance subscriptions each have their own rules.

What does HCi ambulance cover include?

Eligible members are covered for approved emergency road ambulance transport and emergency treatment at the scene, with no annual limit.

Cover applies where you’re not eligible to claim the cost through another source, such as:

• A state-funded service, including arrangements for concession card holders.
• A private or state-based ambulance subscription.
• A compensation claim.

Emergency ambulance benefits are included with HCi Top, Healthy, or Premier Extras. 

HCi members in NSW and ACT with Hospital Cover may have separate entitlements through ambulance levy arrangements. 

Do waiting periods apply?

If you’re new to Extras cover, a 2-month waiting period applies for emergency road ambulance services. If you’re transferring from equivalent Extras cover with another fund, you won’t need to re-serve the waiting period. 

What’s not covered by HCi?

• Non-emergency ambulance trips, such as hospital transfers
• Air and water ambulance services
• Search and rescue operations.

Ambulance cover where you normally live

Eligibility for HCi ambulance cover is generally determined by the state or territory in which you normally live, and the type of cover you have.

Here’s what you need to know:

If you live in the ACT or NSW

• Members who hold HCi Hospital cover automatically have HCi ambulance cover via a levy paid directly to the State Government.
• Members without Hospital cover must hold Top, Healthy, or Premier Extras to be covered for emergency road ambulance services.
• For HCi Ambulance cover outside your home state, you must hold HCi Top, Healthy, or Premier Extras.

If you live in the NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, and WA

• For HCi Ambulance cover, members must hold HCi Top, Healthy, or Premier Extras cover (whether or not Hospital cover is also held).
• Cover is Australia wide.
• Additionally, members with HCi Active Life, Top, Healthy, or Premier Extras can claim a benefit for ambulance subscriptions in their home state.

For more information on ambulance services in your home state or territory, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – ACT Ambulance Service
• New South Wales – NSW Ambulance 
• Northern Territory – St John NT
• Queensland – Queensland Ambulance Service
• South Australia – SA Ambulance Service
• Tasmania – Ambulance Tasmania
• Western Australia – St John WA
• Victoria – Ambulance Victoria

DVA card holders may have ambulance entitlements through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Eligibility depends on your card and circumstances.  

Ambulance levy arrangements in NSW and ACT 

If you live in NSW or the ACT and have HCi Hospital Cover, we pay an ambulance levy on your behalf.  

Eligible services are covered under the relevant state or territory arrangement. These entitlements are separate from the emergency ambulance benefits available through HCi Extras. 

Ambulance subscriptions are available in the NT, SA, VIC and regional WA 

An ambulance subscription is a membership with an ambulance service. Depending on the scheme, it may include services beyond HCi’s emergency ambulance cover, such as clinically necessary non-emergency transport, so be sure to check the subscription inclusions, waiting periods, and interstate rules.

Ambulance subscriptions are covered for HCi members in their home state or territory on HCi‘s Active Life, Top, Healthy, or Premier Extras. 

Please note: An ambulance-only health insurance policy is different from an ambulance service subscription. HCi doesn’t reimburse premiums for ambulance-only insurance. 

Travelling interstate? 

The arrangements that apply at home may be different when you travel. Before you go, check whether your government entitlements, HCi policy, or ambulance subscription covers services in the states and territories you’ll visit.

We can help you understand your cover 

If you’re unsure what’s covered by your current HCi policy, or want to find out which HCi option best suits your needs, call us on 1800 804 950 or jump on our HCi Chat. We’ll help you understand your ambulance benefits, including when you’re travelling interstate.