My husband and I are new to the forum, we have owned our van a 19ft 6in 2005 Paramount Delta since 2007 and we have travelled in Qld but never interstate. We are heading to the Tamworth Counrty Music festival in January. My question is in Qld Ambulance transport to hospital is free is it the same in all states? We are both pensioners does that make any difference?
Thanks Denise & Rex
Delta18 said
04:40 PM Oct 26, 2011
Definitly not free. We travelled through Qld from WA in '08 (in our '07 Paramount Delta lol) and twice had to make use of an ambulance. First trip, approx 20km with some patient stabilisation was $900 odd and the next which was at the Camoweal free camp just for a nurse visit to the site which was done in their ambo as was customary was another $500 odd.
Luckily we were had ambulance cover in WA (as it is not free here either) and the reciprical arrangement meant we were covered in Qld too so nothing out of pocket for us.
Cheers Neil
the rocket said
04:44 PM Oct 26, 2011
Delta18 wrote:
Definitly not free. We travelled through Qld from WA in '08 (in our '07 Paramount Delta lol) and twice had to make use of an ambulance. First trip, approx 20km with some patient stabilisation was $900 odd and the next which was at the Camoweal free camp just for a nurse visit to the site which was done in their ambo as was customary was another $500 odd.
Luckily we were had ambulance cover in WA (as it is not free here either) and the reciprical arrangement meant we were covered in Qld too so nothing out of pocket for us.
Cheers Neil
Hi, I am a bit perplexed by the above. i live in Qld. if I travel out of the state do we have a reciprocal arrangement with the other states or not? thanks. rocket and strop
RnD Drifters05 said
04:44 PM Oct 26, 2011
Hi Neil
Thanks for the info I meant transport was free for Qld Residents. Any suggestions about how to go about organising coverage in other states?
Happywanderer said
04:48 PM Oct 26, 2011
Victoria is free for pensioners. I know Qld has a different system whereby you pay something on your power bill. Not sure how that affects pensioners and what happens when you go interstate. I always thought as a pensioner I had free cover throughout Aus. May be a good idea to ring your state Ambulance number and check it out.
kandagal said
04:48 PM Oct 26, 2011
I enquired ages ago & was tod by QATB that we are covered in other states (as pensioners) You just refer them back to Qld ambulance who cover the bill. A few years ago I went by ambulance from Tumbarumba to Wagga & I wasn't charged anything
Happywanderer said
04:51 PM Oct 26, 2011
That was my understanding too kandagal.
RnD Drifters05 said
04:56 PM Oct 26, 2011
Thank you to everyone for your quick replies I will ring the QLD QATB number for further info Cheers Denise & Rex
rbt said
05:19 PM Oct 26, 2011
In Qld it doesnt come out of your Electricity Bill anymore .
-- Edited by rbt on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 05:20:11 PM
Ma said
05:27 PM Oct 26, 2011
It's been my experience in that they send you a bill (sometimes) and all you do is put your pension number in the appropriate place and send it back. Nothing more heard about it.
I am in NSW so if you needed an ambulance in NSW then I would imagine that you just put your QLD pension number on it, including the fact that it is QLD and send it back.
Dave83 said
06:01 PM Oct 26, 2011
Here is the page on the Qld Ambulance Service website about this - http://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/subscribe/faq.asp
Quote - The Community Ambulance Cover legislation is still in place and will continue to provide all Queensland residents with free authorised ambulance services throughout Australia.
delapan said
07:14 PM Oct 26, 2011
hi Rocket, as i understand it there is reciprocal rights bewtween states, BUT remember that if say your were a pensioner in victoria and say for instance you had an accident in say WA, the trip to hospital would be covered as per agreement, BUT, if you then had to be transported to another hospital etc that is NOT covered unless you have ambulance cover, thats how i understand it, regards, gary
RnD Drifters05 said
07:32 PM Oct 26, 2011
Thanks Dave83
I will have a look at the link that you kindly provided
Cheers
Denise & Rex
_wombat_ said
07:37 PM Oct 26, 2011
we live in WA, had to use the RFDS ( i suppose that is classed as an ambulance) from the Nullarbor to Port Augusta, and have not received a bill, I THINK it's free in all states if you are a pensioner, but I would still do the check's, send them an email and when they reply you will have it in writing, print it out and take with you on your trips
RnD Drifters05 said
07:48 PM Oct 26, 2011
Thanks Wombat that is good advice will do
Cheers
Helena said
08:28 PM Oct 26, 2011
Ambulance coverage in S.A is not free even if you are a pensioner I rang up about travelling interstate and was told that as we pay for ambulance coverage in S.A. and we use an ambulance interstate they may give us a bill but we just send it on to our ambulance coverage in S.A and they cover the toatal cost. I don't know how it works in other states but this the situation in S.A. Hope this might help with others on the forum but as had been said better to ring and find out for sure as it can be quite a costly thing. Helena.
Happywanderer said
08:51 PM Oct 26, 2011
Your search for pensioners
Are Health Care cardholders or pension cardholders covered for ... All holders of Victorian Health Care cards and Pensioner Concession cards are entitled to free ambulance and air ambulance travel anywhere in Australia. ...
I copied this off the Ambulance Cover Victoria site. I'm sure all other states will have relevant info on their sites too.
Cruising Granny said
10:59 PM Oct 26, 2011
I pay for ambulance cover annually, even though I'm a pensioner. The small fee is a "donation" to this wonderful service. The RFDS is certainly free, that is why they have to raise so much money to run the planes, pay the pilots and the medical staff who accompany the patients. There used to be an air ambulance service as well, but the RFDS does it all now. When in Qld for more than 2 years, despite the fact I didn't pay a power bill, I was covered, and had to use the Ambulance in Cairns. It's a wonderful system, and despite the fact it's "free" to some, I think a small contribution would be a small price to pay. There is still the voluntary sector of the ambulance which attends sporting functions, as well as the paid para-medical sector. If you get the chance, I'd recommend everyone does the senior first aid course, conducted by the Ambulance Service. Then hope you never have to use it. As a traveller of a lot of kilometres, my worst fear is being the first to a crash scene. While the adrenalin would kick to do what needs doing to tend the injured, I'm sure the shock would set in some time after. Being able to be effective at the time would be of great relief.
RnD Drifters05 said
08:45 AM Oct 27, 2011
I looked up the Qld Ambulance web site and provided we meet the criteria, ie Qld drivers licence, Pension card issued in Qld, registered to vote in Qld all we have to do is sent any bills to Qld Ambulance along with ID and they will take care of the account. Thanks to everyone for your imput. Cheers Denise & Rex
ozjohn said
10:49 AM Oct 27, 2011
Australian Government health care care holders and Pensioners are covered Australia wide by the Commonwealth Govenment. This includes all transfers and air Amuulance etc... Non pensioners with State Ambulance membership are covered in each other State under State reciprocal care arrangements.
Cheers, Ozjohn.
Onedodger said
02:52 PM Oct 27, 2011
Thanks Ozjohn I was getting worried there for a bit.
Hi everyone
My husband and I are new to the forum, we have owned our van a 19ft 6in 2005 Paramount Delta since 2007 and we have travelled in Qld but never interstate. We are heading to the Tamworth Counrty Music festival in January. My question is in Qld Ambulance transport to hospital is free is it the same in all states? We are both pensioners does that make any difference?
Thanks Denise & Rex
Definitly not free. We travelled through Qld from WA in '08 (in our '07 Paramount Delta lol) and twice had to make use of an ambulance. First trip, approx 20km with some patient stabilisation was $900 odd and the next which was at the Camoweal free camp just for a nurse visit to the site which was done in their ambo as was customary was another $500 odd.
Luckily we were had ambulance cover in WA (as it is not free here either) and the reciprical arrangement meant we were covered in Qld too so nothing out of pocket for us.
Cheers Neil
Hi Neil
Thanks for the info I meant transport was free for Qld Residents. Any suggestions about how to go about organising coverage in other states?
I know Qld has a different system whereby you pay something on your power bill. Not sure how that affects pensioners and what happens when you go interstate.
I always thought as a pensioner I had free cover throughout Aus.
May be a good idea to ring your state Ambulance number and check it out.
Cheers Denise & Rex
In Qld it doesnt come out of your Electricity Bill anymore .
http://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/ web site
Alan
-- Edited by rbt on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 05:20:11 PM
It's been my experience in that they send you a bill (sometimes) and all you do is put your pension number in the appropriate place and send it back. Nothing more heard about it.
I am in NSW so if you needed an ambulance in NSW then I would imagine that you just put your QLD pension number on it, including the fact that it is QLD and send it back.
Quote - The Community Ambulance Cover legislation is still in place and will continue to provide all Queensland residents with free authorised ambulance services throughout Australia.
hi Rocket, as i understand it there is reciprocal rights bewtween states, BUT remember that if say your were a pensioner in victoria and say for instance you had an accident in say WA, the trip to hospital would be covered as per agreement, BUT, if you then had to be transported to another hospital etc that is NOT covered unless you have ambulance cover, thats how i understand it, regards, gary
Thanks Dave83
I will have a look at the link that you kindly provided
Cheers
Denise & Rex
we live in WA, had to use the RFDS ( i suppose that is classed as an ambulance) from the Nullarbor to Port Augusta, and have not received a bill, I THINK it's free in all states if you are a pensioner, but I would still do the check's, send them an email and when they reply you will have it in writing, print it out and take with you on your trips
Thanks Wombat that is good advice will do
Cheers
Are Health Care cardholders or pension cardholders covered for ...
All holders of Victorian Health Care cards and Pensioner Concession cards are
entitled to free ambulance and air ambulance travel anywhere in Australia. ...
I copied this off the Ambulance Cover Victoria site. I'm sure all other states will have relevant info on their sites too.
The RFDS is certainly free, that is why they have to raise so much money to run the planes, pay the pilots and the medical staff who accompany the patients.
There used to be an air ambulance service as well, but the RFDS does it all now.
When in Qld for more than 2 years, despite the fact I didn't pay a power bill, I was covered, and had to use the Ambulance in Cairns.
It's a wonderful system, and despite the fact it's "free" to some, I think a small contribution would be a small price to pay.
There is still the voluntary sector of the ambulance which attends sporting functions, as well as the paid para-medical sector.
If you get the chance, I'd recommend everyone does the senior first aid course, conducted by the Ambulance Service.
Then hope you never have to use it.
As a traveller of a lot of kilometres, my worst fear is being the first to a crash scene.
While the adrenalin would kick to do what needs doing to tend the injured, I'm sure the shock would set in some time after. Being able to be effective at the time would be of great relief.
Cheers
Denise & Rex
Australian Government health care care holders and Pensioners are covered Australia wide by the Commonwealth Govenment.
This includes all transfers and air Amuulance etc...
Non pensioners with State Ambulance membership are covered in each other State under State reciprocal care arrangements.
Cheers, Ozjohn.
Whew