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Australian Health System (25 articles) Health Insurance Prices (20 articles) Private Health Insurance (34 articles) Private Health Insurers (15 articles) Medicare (28 articles) Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) (6 articles) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) (8 articles) Public Hospitals (6 articles) Private Hospitals (7 articles) Medicare Levy (7 articles) Private Health Insurance Rebate (7 articles) Age-based Discount (5 articles) Lifetime Health Cover Loading (11 articles)

Hospital Cover (9 articles) Extras Cover (6 articles) Ambulance Cover (5 articles) Excluded Treatments

Insurers Overview

AAMI Health Insurance

AIA Health Insurance

Allianz Care Australia

APIA Health Insurance

Astute Simplicity Health

Australian Unity

Bupa Health Insurance

CBHS International Health

Doctors’ Health

Emergency Services Health

Health Partners

Hunter Health Insurance (by CDH Benefits Fund)

ING Health Insurance

Latrobe Health Services

Mildura Health Fund

Nurses & Midwives Health

Phoenix Health Fund

Priceline Health Insurance

Qantas Insurance

Queensland Country Health Fund

Real Health Insurance

Reserve Bank Health Society (RBHS)

Seniors Health Insurance

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Suncorp Health Insurance

Teachers Health

Territory Health Fund

Transport Health

Westfund

Health insurance premiums rise to 9-year high

The government has approved a 4.41% average health insurance premium rise for 2026 – the highest increase in 9 years. Every year, health insurers must apply to the Minister for Health and Ageing to raise premiums. Last year’s average increase was 3.73%, while the 2017 average was 4.84%. Policyholders will be advised of their premium change over the coming weeks, with new premiums effective from 1 April. The Private Health Insurance Rebate will also be reduced...

Higher Gaps forcing many people to delay care, survey finds

Increased out-of-pocket costs for specialists are leading many Australians to delay or cancel specialist care, a recent study has found. A survey of 4,000 people by Private Healthcare Australia – peak body for the health insurance industry – found that 55% of people received a higher specialist bill than expected in the past 3 years, and almost one in 3 people had delayed or cancelled specialist care due to costs. The survey – which included...

Health insurance giving Aussies less value, doctors say

The Australian Medical Association (AMA), an advocacy group for doctors, says private health insurance no longer provides value for money, and wants the government to overhaul the industry. The association’s annual Private Health Insurance Report Card, released today, found premium prices had doubled over the past 16 years, outstripping health inflation. “Australians are paying more...

Insurers paying more for hospital claims, new data shows

Increased claim costs are putting health insurers under pressure, new data shows. The latest figures from industry regulator, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), show $5.2 million was paid for hospital treatment claims in the September 2025 quarter – an 8.0% increase compared with the same quarter last year and much higher than the growth...

Aussies paying steep Gaps for specialist care, data shows

Specialist fees for private hospital care in Australia have increased dramatically – in some cases, by as much as 9 times, new data shows. Figures from Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for the health insurance industry, found that average out-of-pocket fees charged for treating private patients have surged by staggering amounts between 2018-19 and...

Govt warns insurers about premium increases

The Minister of Health has warned health insurers to focus on providing value to customers when they apply to increase their premiums over the next few weeks. Private health insurers are allowed to raise premiums once a year only, subject to government approval. Insurer applications for 2026 premium increases are due in November, with approved...

ACT residents paying high Gaps, as premiums set to rise

Some ACT residents are being hit with shock bills for public hospital treatment, new figures show. Following news this week that health insurance premiums for ACT residents may rise by at least $180 next year, an analysis of billing records has revealed the high Gaps being paid for Canberra hospital treatment. Data from Private Healthcare...

Hospital Cover claims jump 11.6% amid public hospital strain

With public hospitals under strain, health insurers are paying out greater sums for private patient treatment, new data shows. Quarterly health insurance statistics released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, which regulates the industry, showed a significant increase in the amount paid for Hospital Cover claims in the June 2025 quarter. Health insurers paid $4.98...

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Stephen Treacey

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Sophie Bartho

Chief Operating Officer

Vladimir Kundrat

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Writer and Researcher

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Peter Kawecki

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Loren Jaffe

Brand and Graphic Designer

Customer Engagement Australia

Led by Chris Payne

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Explore Overview

Guides Overview

Australian Health System (25 articles) Health Insurance Prices (20 articles) Private Health Insurance (34 articles) Private Health Insurers (15 articles) Medicare (28 articles) Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) (6 articles) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) (8 articles) Public Hospitals (6 articles) Private Hospitals (7 articles) Medicare Levy (7 articles) Private Health Insurance Rebate (7 articles) Age-based Discount (5 articles) Lifetime Health Cover Loading (11 articles)

Hospital Cover (9 articles) Extras Cover (6 articles) Ambulance Cover (5 articles) Excluded Treatments

Insurers Overview

AAMI Health Insurance

AIA Health Insurance

Allianz Care Australia

APIA Health Insurance

Astute Simplicity Health

Australian Unity

Bupa Health Insurance

CBHS International Health

Doctors’ Health

Emergency Services Health

Health Partners

Hunter Health Insurance (by CDH Benefits Fund)

ING Health Insurance

Latrobe Health Services

Mildura Health Fund

Nurses & Midwives Health

Phoenix Health Fund

Priceline Health Insurance

Qantas Insurance

Queensland Country Health Fund

Real Health Insurance

Reserve Bank Health Society (RBHS)

Seniors Health Insurance

St Lukes Health

Suncorp Health Insurance

Teachers Health

Territory Health Fund

Transport Health

Westfund

Health insurance premiums rise to 9-year high Higher Gaps forcing many people to delay care, survey finds Health insurance giving Aussies less value, doctors say Insurers paying more for hospital claims, new data shows Aussies paying steep Gaps for specialist care, data shows Govt warns insurers about premium increases ACT residents paying high Gaps, as premiums set to rise Hospital Cover claims jump 11.6% amid public hospital strain

Compare Overview

Calculate Cheapest Policy Search for a new policy based on your health cover needs and budget. We compare every insurer and every policy.

calculate new policy

Compare Existing Policy Compare your existing policy with similar policies to meet your current health cover needs and budget. Compare every insurer and every policy.

compare existing policy

Calculate Rebate Discount & Loading Check if your health insurance premium decreases or increases by calculating your Government Rebate, Age-based Discount and Lifetime Health Cover Loading.

About Us Overview

Our Brand Promises

Our Contributors Overview

Stephen Treacey

Sophie Bartho

Vladimir Kundrat

Trudie McConnochie

Peter Kawecki

Loren Jaffe

Loren Jaffe Customer Engagement Australia

How We Make Money

Your Contact Information

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Does Medicare cover ambulance services?

Reviewed and updated 14 August 2025

No. Medicare does not cover the cost of being treated by paramedics and/or being transported in an ambulance.

Depending on where you live, you may have to pay if you use an ambulance service or the state or territory government where you live could offer a free service.

Find out how ambulance services operate in your state or territory:

ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA.

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