What Happens if I Have to Go Hospital?

activ8newbs on 21/05/2020 - 11:14
Last edited 21/05/2020 - 12:13

Hi all

I'm an Aussie citizen, under the age of 25, living at home.

I don't have private health. Over the years, I've heard horror stories of people being involved in accidents and having to pay $10's of thousands of dollars for hospital/medical fees. E.g. this one bush Walker fell and stumbled so his mate called 000, they dispatched a helicopter and it cost them thousands.

I just want to understand how I can avoid that and get insurance for that. My main concern is If I have a car accident and have to go to hospital, do I have to pay for that? If so, how much? And how can I avoid it?

What role does gov rebate/subsidy have in all this? Note, I have no private health, but do have medicare

If someone would please help me understand or even direct me towards somewhere where I can go learn/read, I'd be very thankful.

Thanks
US1

Edit1:
Thanks for all the informative responses guys, but I haven't got the peace of mind I'm looking for, perhaps because I failed to explain my scenario.

I live in NSW. If I don't have private ambulance cover for $50/year (approx), is it still free for me to go to hospital in an ambulance?

What about if they call a helicopter by default as I'm in a hard to reach location?

Thanks guys

Edit2: it seems that ambulance cover is important to prevent ambulance charges whether ambulance car or helicopter. Particularly as it is so cheap at $50/year. However it seems to me that most people don't know about ambulance only cover!

Financial

Comments

  • Nugs on 21/05/2020 - 11:17
    +5

    "E.g. this one bush Walker fell and stumbled so his mate called 000, they dispatched a helicopter and it cost them thousands."

    sounds like they didn't have ambulance cover
    it's available as part of health insurance OR as a stand alone cover
    .

    • sempro on 21/05/2020 - 11:22
      +1

      that's got to hurt

    • bdl on 21/05/2020 - 11:26
      +5

      Or they were in America

    • dcep on 21/05/2020 - 11:38

      free for qld ? (subsidised from levy in rates)

      • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2020 - 14:21

        They removed the levy which was on electricity bills. It's now paid from general state government revenue.

  • Poppin on 21/05/2020 - 11:22
    +6

    Basically get ambulance cover to cover all ambulance transfers. Private insurance, depending on the level, may only cover emergency transfers.

    In terms of medical costs, basically all treatment in an accident/emergency situation will be covered if you choose to go public.

  • jjjaar on 21/05/2020 - 11:36
    +5

    As someone who has private health insurance if I was in an emergency situation I would prefer to be treated in the public system once at hospital.

    Private health is great for those airlifting situations or transport between hospitals or elective medical, but if you’re in an emergency, our public hospitals are fantastic.

    As said above, in an emergency, your care is covered under public. If you elect to be admitted as a private patient, sometimes random expenses pop up, and you end up paying more out of pocket.

    I do echo those comments previously, get ambulance cover. In Vic it’s about $50 for singles/year, so is just a dinner and a couple of drinks. Well worth it.

  • Gunther on 21/05/2020 - 11:36
    +9

    Good news, Queenslanders; your state automatically covers you for emergency pre-hospital ambulance treatment Australia-wide. This means, wherever you are in the country, you won't have to pay for an ambulance, so long as you can prove you're a permanent Queensland resident.

    If you are a Queensland resident and receive an invoice for emergency treatment from another state, you are requested to forward the invoice to Queensland Ambulance Service for payment.

    • c64 on 21/05/2020 - 11:38
      +4

      good to know. i didn't know that it was australia wide

    • Clear on 21/05/2020 - 11:57
      +3

      Also similar for TAS. Ambulance is free!

    • bdl on 21/05/2020 - 12:18
      +2

      Where else but Queensland

    • holdenmg on 21/05/2020 - 12:50
      +5

      No wonder they closed the damn borders. lol

    • edwardye on 23/05/2020 - 19:38

      that's good information. thanks

  • c64 on 21/05/2020 - 11:37
    +2

    even with private health insurance you may still be out of pocket $$$$ for many types of medical treatment

  • slow on 21/05/2020 - 11:41

    In Australia if you rock up to an emergency department at a public hospital you will not have to pay.

    If you need an ambulance/helicopter to get you there then you or your insurance will have to pay (differs by state), but once you get there you will not have to pay for the treatment.

    That is util some politicians on the right side of the spectrum get their ways and we have an American type system where hea;th cover is not free and everyone has to have insurance

    • SlavOz on 23/05/2020 - 09:34

      Ye, I bet those pesky right wingers also want you to have your own car insurance too.

      The nerve of those guys.

  • whytd on 21/05/2020 - 11:48
    +3

    If you arrive at a public ED department - you will have no out of pocket costs.
    If you arrive at a public ED department by ambulance - you will have to pay for the ambulance unless you are covered under ambulance cover

    If you elect to have a private room or attend a private ED hospital (ambo's won't take you there if you request so) - you will pay $$. Even with PHI, not everything is covered.

    • AdosHouse on 21/05/2020 - 12:14

      "ambo's won't take you there if you request so", kind of depends. Not really for a life-emergency, but ambos can take you to private hospitals.

      Example, a friend of mine got some crush damage to her hand at work (her hand was between a few hundred kilo moving safe door and a concrete wall) and because it happened at work it was automatically a workers comp claim, so they took her straight to a private hospital that was ready to accept her.

      I imagine if it was a real bad emergency they would take you straight to major public hospital.

  • p1 ama on 21/05/2020 - 11:52

    My main concern is If I have a car accident and have to go to hospital, do I have to pay for that? If so, how much? And how can I avoid it?

    $0.00

    • activ8newbs on 21/05/2020 - 11:56

      Bingo! I feel calm now.

      1) what If I don't have ambulance cover insurance?

      2) what if they send a helicopter to me as I'm in a hard to reach area?

      3) if the answer to 1) is "it's still $0 if I don't have ambulance cover, then what is the benefits of ambulance cover?

      • triviums on 21/05/2020 - 12:14

        Included in the overall cost of your CTP is something called a Fund Levy. This levy ensures anyone who is injured on NSW roads, no matter who is at fault, is covered for the costs of:

        • public hospital care
        • ambulance services
        • lifetime treatment, rehabilitation and attendant care for spinal cord injuries, moderate to severe brain injuries, multiple amputations, serious burns or blindness (through the Lifetime Care and Support Scheme)

      • p1 ama on 21/05/2020 - 14:17

        3) if the answer to 1) is "it's still $0 if I don't have ambulance cover, then what is the benefits of ambulance cover?

        If you're at home and you break your leg and nobody can take you to hospital, then you can call an ambulance without being slugged with ~$1k in fees.

      • ssquid on 21/05/2020 - 14:25
        +1

        3) if the answer to 1) is "it's still $0 if I don't have ambulance cover, then what is the benefits of ambulance cover?

        You asked what happens if you're in a car accident, not any other sort of non-car-related injury. For example you'd be crazy to play football without ambulance membership.

    • Jugganautx on 23/05/2020 - 02:40

      Flee the scene lol

  • activ8newbs on 21/05/2020 - 11:54

    Thanks for all the informative responses guys, but I haven't got the peace of mind I'm looking for, perhaps because I failed to explain my scenario.

    I live in NSW. If I don't have private ambulance cover for $50/year (approx), is it still free for me to go to hospital in an ambulance?

    What about if they call a helicopter by default as I'm in a hard to reach location?

    Thanks guys

    • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2020 - 11:57

      If you need an ambulance, whether that is a helicopter, van or moped, you'll have to pay accordingly.

      If you have ambulance cover, you don't have to.

      • ssquid on 21/05/2020 - 12:55
        +5

        moped

        You'd be better off calling an uberlance.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2020 - 13:19

          Moped works in heavy traffic. I have seen it work in Cambodia. Legit.

          Rider upfront, patient sandwiched between rider and pillion.

    • bdl on 21/05/2020 - 12:18

      https://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/our-services/accounts-and-f…

      Not sure if they have EFTPOS facilities in-flight :)

      PS: Since price is over $200 can't tap and go, so can't take advantage of 1% cash back with HSBC Transaction account

      • Dean29 on 21/05/2020 - 13:22

        :O Emergency callout is over $1k her in SA

  • triviums on 21/05/2020 - 12:03
    +1

    Pensioners/Concession Card holder
    If you hold one of the valid cards listed below and were in receipt of a benefit entitlement at the time of receiving your ambulance service in NSW you will not need to pay for your ambulance service:
    • Health Care Card
    • Pensioner Concession Card
    • Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card
    • Repatriation Health Card –(also known as “Gold Card”)issued by the Commonwealth Department of Veterans Affairs
    • Repatriation Health Card –(also known as “White Card”)issued by the Commonwealth Department of Veterans Affairs, but only for ambulance services which relate to a specific condition that is funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs

    Other
    NSW Ambulance services are also provided at no cost to you if:
    • You are covered by a private health fund or have ambulance only cover
    • You were a student covered by a school or group contribution
    • The ambulance service is covered by a workers compensation, motor accident or third party insurance claim
    • You were a child or young person in the care or parental responsibility of the State or in receipt of financial assistance under the Children and Young Person’s (Care and Protection) Act 1998
    • You required an ambulance following a sexual assault
    • You required an ambulance following domestic violence or child abuse

  • JimmyF on 21/05/2020 - 14:43
    +1

    If I don't have private ambulance cover for $50/year (approx), is it still free for me to go to hospital in an ambulance?

    NO its not free, you will get a bill for the ambulance costs, but no bill for the hospital as that is free.

    What about if they call a helicopter by default as I'm in a hard to reach location?

    Same as above, helicopter = ambulance

    GET ambulance cover NOW!

    However it seems to me that most people don't know about ambulance only cover!

    Ummm no just you it appears?

  • Yummy on 21/05/2020 - 15:01
    +1

    You should get private health if you drives an AMG.

  • lainey13 on 21/05/2020 - 21:57

    Note that a big reason why people get PHI is because of the tax implications of you earn over a certain amount and have to pay the Medicare levy. Look it up if u pay a lot of tax.

  • Zachary on 22/05/2020 - 09:21

    I am under the impression it is free….since it's why we all get taxed for…and taxes pay for this…

  • trapper on 23/05/2020 - 16:24
    -1

    At 25 you really have no need for private health insurance in Australia.

    Public hospitals are all free and this is where you will go anyway when you find out how much isn't actually covered if you wanted to go private.

    Ambulance insurance is also a waste of money. You are very unlikely to need an ambulance and even if you did it's only a grand or so, hardly worth insuring for.

    • ssquid on 24/05/2020 - 03:16

      You are very unlikely to need an ambulance and even if you did it's only a grand or so, hardly worth insuring for.

      $1000 is enough for ~20 years of ambulance cover, at that rate you'd be stupid not to get it.

      • trapper on 24/05/2020 - 14:23
        -2

        In 20 years he will be 45 and still unlikely to need it!

  • PissLUR on 29/05/2020 - 13:19

    it depends on your earning..

    The base income threshold (under which you are not liable to pay the MLS) is $90,000 for singles and $180,000 for families.

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