Monday, Feb 17, 2020 at 11:18
Candace - The "$40,000 care flight" mentioned in the linked article (which is a good article, by the way), was not a medical "emergency" - it was a flight chosen by the person or their family, to return that sick person to their family
home, so they could be closer to them and their family care.
The RFDS will treat and transport anyone, in an emergency health condition, to a place where they can receive the medical treatment they need to recover - for free.
I have never known anyone to receive a bill for emergency health transport/treatment by the RFDS.
However, if that person then needs further specialist treatment, or wishes to be moved to an area or hospital of their choice, then the cost of that specialist treatment or additional movement, is rarely free.
Overseas visitors who are injured or suffer life-threatening health events are still rescued and transported by the RFDS, for free - if the RFDS decides it is necessary.
As with all health and injury treatment, the RFDS "manages" each particular emergency case for satisfactory outcomes, the same as doctors and hospitals do.
It is likely, that if the injured/sick overseas visitor is found to be carrying travel insurance, then the injured/sick person may be presented with a bill for some medical
services, such as ambulance transfer, and other incidental health costs.
It is foolish to travel without travel insurance - anywhere. I take out travel insurance, even when I just go interstate, it's not expensive. Travelling internationally, travel insurance is a necessity.
Ambulance transfer is not free in Australia for many Ambulance users.
The Ambulance Service is run by the St
John Ambulance (a charitable organisation, the same as the RFDS) in W.A. and the N.T. - and mostly by the State Govts in other Australian States.
I believe Queensland and NSW residents receive free Ambulance transport, due to levies they pay on the likes of utilities.
Australians on welfare benefits, and Australian veterans with a health card, are generally the only patients who get free Ambulance transport.
Australians with private health insurance will receive a bill for Ambulance transport in W.A. and the N.T., which is then paid by their health insurer.
Overseas visitors are likely to receive a bill for Ambulance transport in all States.
Around 55% of Australians have private health cover, the rest of the Australian
population is covered by the Govt's Medicare public health care system.
Our Australian health care system is divided into two parts - the Public Health Care system, and the Private Health Care system.
The Public HC system is free to all Australians under the Federal Govt-run Medicare, whilst the Private Health Care system charges all patients, who then have to recover as much as their costs as they can from their health or travel insurer.
Here is a good article (below) on RFDS operations. The RFDS operates on a 210km (130 mile) radius limit for chopper operations, every emergency outside that radius, is carried out by fixed-wing aircraft.
RFDS operations
Cheers, Ron.
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