00:02In the worst of times, it's an ambulance and the paramedics inside we often rely on to get the care
00:11we need.
00:11But for some, the cost of an emergency call-out is just too high.
00:16I've heard people who are hesitant to call the ambulance because of the cost.
00:20I've also heard stories of people after they've called an ambulance being stuck with a massive bill.
00:26An emergency ambulance, including transport to a hospital, costs $1,180 in the ACT.
00:33When someone's going for a medical emergency, we don't want them to stop and think about how much will this
00:38cost me.
00:38There are some fee exemptions, including for people injured in car accidents, students at school, mental health patients and victims
00:46of family violence or sexual assault.
00:48Most concession card holders are also entitled to free-of-charge ambulance services, and people experiencing financial hardship can also
00:57apply for a waiver of their fees.
00:59There are exemptions available, there are concessions available for people, but you have to know about it, which means you
01:04have to have a degree of health literacy.
01:06The ACT government has been investigating the possibility of establishing free ambulance call-outs, and has consulted with the Tasmanian
01:14and Queensland governments, which both cover ambulance fees.
01:17You've got two other states demonstrating that it can be done, and I see no reason why ACT shouldn't join
01:24with those states.
01:25The government says it will report back early next year on the costs associated with free ambulances and how it
01:31could be implemented.
