Important questions for your Private Health Fund 

If you are considering obtaining an ambulance cover policy with SA Ambulance Service (SAAS), or changing your SAAS policy from full Ambulance Cover to an ACE Policy, it is important that you first consider the extent of any ambulance cover you currently have with your private health insurer.

The information below is offered as a guide to questions you may wish to ask your insurer to clarify the scope of your ambulance cover insurance. Some insurance policies do not cover individuals for 100% of the cost of ambulance services and, to the extent that individuals are not covered, there is a risk they may be personally liable for some of the costs incurred when they use ambulance services.

When discussing your SAAS ambulance policy options with our customer service representatives, it is your responsibility to inform the representative of all relevant gaps or limitations in your existing ambulance cover insurance so the representative can determine the type of SAAS ambulance policy that is most suited to your needs.

The following questions provide an indication of the types of gaps and limitations that may exist in relation to ambulance cover insurance. However, the questions are not intended to be exhaustive and may not identify all gaps or limitations relating to your specific ambulance insurance policy. You may need to ask additional questions to clarify the scope of your ambulance cover, and therefore should not rely solely upon the questions set out below. 

Questions to ask your Private Health Fund:

1. Am I covered for all ambulance services? Specifically, am I covered for the services fees charged by SA Ambulance Service for:
   1. Emergency 1 cases ($688 call-out plus $4.00 per km rate);
   2. Emergency 2 cases ($496 call-out plus $4.00 per km rate); 
   3. non-emergency cases;
   4. treatment at the scene without transport;
   5. repatriation from interstate by air ambulance or RFDS?

• If you are covered for all of these situations, then you are most likely to have full ambulance cover. However, as indicated by the questions set out below, there may still be gaps or limitations in your ambulance cover.
• If you are not covered for all the situations set out above, or if there are gaps or limitations in your ambulance cover, please call us and ask how we can help you ensure that you have appropriate cover.

2. Am I eligible for a rebate under my private health insurance policy if I join (SAAS) Ambulance Cover? If yes, how much?
   
   
   Other Important Points
   
   Pre-existing conditions
3. Am I 100% covered for ambulance treatment and transport if I have a pre-existing condition? (eg. asthma, diabetes, heart trouble) Is there a waiting period for coverage of a pre-existing condition? What do you class as pre-existing?
   
   
   Cap on usage
4. How many times in a year can I use the ambulance service? Is there a limit of calls per year, beyond which I will have to pay? If I have to pay, is it 100% of the ambulance bill or will I be required to make a gap payment?
   
   
   Choice of medical facility
5. If the situation arose, would I have free ambulance transport to the nearest appropriate medical facility or only to a medical facility designated by my health fund?
   

Once you have determined the answers to these questions, please contact us and ask to speak to one of our customer service representatives about the type of SAAS ambulance cover policy that is most suitable for your needs.