Charge for an emergency rescue after activating PLB

[Roniellay]

Hi guys,

I know there has been a discussion on this topic, but with rather confusing outcomes...
Some people say there is no charge for legitimate rescue of a hiker in an emergency situation from remote areas, the other are talking about $5000 fee for the transport.
We are originally from overseas (so don't see into the legislation in AU and contract with ambulances) and only have standard Medibank insurance which I doubt would cover this situation.
Does anyone know to confirm this or about some sources that clarify this?

Just wanted to make sure otherwise I would have to look for some appropriate travel insurance covering this (anyone knows about some?).

Thank you so much! This forum is an awesome help!
Jana

[ILUVSWTAS]

Do you intend on being rescued while here?

[Azza]

Do you intend on being rescued while here?

Its a legit concern... big difference between paying a couple of hundred dollars for some insurance versus many thousands to cover rescue costs for a helicopter..

As far as I know in Tasmania the costs are covered by the government.
But it would be wise to check what the story is with ambulance costs as its getting confusing as to who is covered by what these days.
Something ILUVSWTAS wouldn't be worried about as he knows he is already covered.

http://www.tasmanianairrescuetrust.org/

http://www.bobinoz.com/blog/3398/ambula ... -to-state/

[Roniellay]

Iluvswtas, thank you for your reply.
If I'm seriously injured or in a life-threatening situation, then I very much intend on being rescued
I consider me and my partner as experienced hikers who plan some rough and isolated walks in Tasmania in a month's time and I just find these information simply as a part of being responsibly prepared.

Azza, thank you for your links, I'll check them out. Just thought someone would have a practical knowledge/experience or could confirm it here in the forum.
Thanks again!
Jana

[norts]

I was on a walk where one of the party had to be airlifted out of the southern ranges, there was no charge for him.
As far as I am aware there is no charge, was having this same discussion with a bloke on Pelion Hut verandah on Sunday.

Roger

[Azza]

The simple answer is that Tasmanian residents don't pay.

Try this link - I couldn't find the actual fees.

http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/service_info ... ce_service

If you aren't an Australian resident then I would strongly suggest some sort of insurance, especially if you aren't covered by medicare.
If there is a reciprocal ambulance arrangement between your state of residence and Tasmanian then you maybe covered???

Again really depends on what your status is.... and what arrangements between states.
I found this quote on the BUPA website for Ambulance insurance:
"Tasmania residents are covered for ambulance transportation by the Tasmanian state government in Tasmania. Reciprocal agreements exist in all states except SA and QLD."
Most visitors wouldn't think about this and just expect the free rescue so its good that you are...

[tasadam]

I think this point needs reinforcing -

An extract from an email to me from Inspector Darren Hopkins, Tasmanian Police, 15 January 2009 -

I can assure you however, there is no intention to cost recover for search and rescue services in this state.

For your information PLB or EPIRB activations nationally are the responsibility of Australia Search and Rescue (AUSSAR) in Canberra albeit from a bushwalker. Although it is likely to be police and the rescue helicopter that is dispatched to search for the device, AUSSAR pay for the cost of those missions. If however the incident is reported to police by a phone call from a bushwalker, then Tasmania Police are coordinating authority pick up the cost of the operation.

From my experience most operations on the Overland Track, are interstate walkers who trip or fall either breaking bones or suffering head injuries.
Some are as a result of inappropriate clothing and equipment. There have been instances where bushwalkers are simply tired or have blisters and have called to be rescued.

I have made the important bit here bold and large, because of this reason -
If someone is injured and genuinely believes they need rescuing, cost should not be a consideration. If someone were to delay calling for rescue because of the fear of cost, that could be life threatening.
Normally if you need rescuing, you need it straight away. I say "normally" - there have been exceptions. See the last sentence from the quoted email...

But, in short, in Tasmania there is no fee for emergency rescue using a PLB, other than getting your battery replaced in your PLB when you get out. (Don't forget that step! you might need it again.)

Of course, if you are in a financial position, I am sure that the emergency services won't say no to a donation to cover the expense of your rescue, but it is not a requirement.

[Roniellay]

Thank you Tasadam,

just to confirm what you're saying, there is no fee for emergency rescue using a PLB in Tasmania, even for overseas visitors (only temporary Australia residents) who are not covered by Medicare. (I'm not talking about the medical expenses in the hospital).
The reason is that PLB activations are the responsibility of Australia Search and Rescue (AUSSAR) and they should pay for the cost of rescue helicopters.
And it has nothing to do with Ambulance services in Tasmania which are not available for free for non-residents, as Azza suggests?
Sorry to make it more confusing, but this is exactly the two quite opposite opinions I've been getting lately...

[tasadam]

Thank you Tasadam,

just to confirm what you're saying, there is no fee for emergency rescue using a PLB in Tasmania, even for overseas visitors

Even for interstellar visitors, if you set off a PLB in Tasmania for a genuine reason you will not be subject to a fee.

[geoskid]

Even for interstellar visitors, if you set off a PLB in Tasmania for a genuine reason you will not be subject to a fee.

Except for E.T....... He should phone home.

[Ent]

Hi

Good post Tasadam from Inspector Hopkins (top class operator within the Tassie Police force).

Re ambulance here is an extract from the http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/service_info ... ce_service website.

The Tasmanian government waives fees for Tasmanian residents who require ambulance transports within Tasmania and its islands when third party payment is not available. The only chargeable cases are those related to motor vehicle or workplace accidents where insurance arrangements cover costs. In addition the Department of Veterans Affairs meet the cost of ambulance transport for veterans. Fees may apply to Tasmanian residents requiring ambulance transport elsewhere in Australia and overseas. Further details on Fees & Accounts are provided on the Ambulance Tasmania website.

The no charge makes good sense as often the caller of the first responder service is not the one in need but a concerned citizen.

Fully endorse though Inspector Hopkins comments that we all need to ensure that we do our best not to need the services. I suppose in a way if they are called it means that someone has stuffed up so arguing what stuff ups should be charged is rather meaningless unless deliberate misuse. In that case a very heavy book should be thrown at the offenders. Looks like Tasmanians appear to be rather better prepared than non Tasmanians

Cheers

[tasadam]

And of course, the use of a PLB is only for a life threatening emergency.
And if you have a phone, dial 000 first.
More to follow later.

Sent via Tapatalk.

[tasadam]

This information probably deserves an info topic somewhere, but to get it out there -
Further to the quote I added from Inspector Hopkins,

There is a slight change now. Since that email there has been the introduction of the 406MHz beacons (as compared to the old 121.5Mhz) they are suppose to be registered and as such when one is activated AUSSAR should know who it belongs to. AUSSAR are responsible for executing any mission for unidentified beacon activations, technically the 406MHz beacons are identified and as a result is the responsibility of the police. However they generally prosecute the mission as they used to but once it is determined to be a bush walker it should immediately transfer to police.

Of note, translate the definition of "prosecute" not to mean charge someone, but

a. To pursue (an undertaking, for example) until completion; follow to the very end.

I responded -

Previously you stated the cost of rescue originating from a PLB is a federal expense, and the cost by telephoning 000 (or better from a mobile - 112) would be a state based expense.
With that in mind and if that is still the case, would a preferred option be the use of a PLB so as to see the expense against the national budget instead of the Tasmanian police rescue budget?
Would it be a quicker rescue to telephone than to use a PLB?
I well understand that telephone is a better option for being able to relay the exact nature of the problem and so from the perspective of planning a rescue, a better option.
I think that with a rescue deemed necessary, if it were me I would be setting off the PLB then worrying about turning the phone on and see if I can pick up a signal (yes, dialling 112 instead of 000)

And the reply indicating I misunderstood the allocation of the rescue budget to the relevant department (Tas Police for bushwalkers) -

Firstly dial "000" if you have a life threatening emergency. I appreciate that 112 will work and I think so will 911 but the emergency number should be "000" non- emergency will get police on 13144

Secondly, it doesn't really matter how the incident is reported, its the type of incident which the relevant authority is responsible for and generally responsible for the costs not the method of communicating it. No matter whether it be by phone, PLB or alerting a track warden, if a bush walker is in need of being rescued from a remote area the combat authority around Australia is the relevant police service and they are responsible for the cost of the search and rescue mission as a general rule. AUSSAR are responsible for unidentified beacons but once it has been identified that it is a bush walker that set off the PLB then it is our responsibility and coordination will most likely be passed to the state. In most circumstances if AUSSAR dispatch the rescue helicopter to investigate the source of the distress and they find its a bushwalker, they will simply pick them up and return them and not pass coordination or cost to police. As I mentioned before they are responsible to pay the costs up to the point an unidentified beacon is identified (as a bushwalker) but technically its a state problem after that point.

However if the unidentified beacon turned out to be a crashed plane then because plane crashes are the responsibility of AUSSAR and they would prosecute and pay for the search, although we would provide assistance free of charge to them, mainly because they would have nobody down here to physically attend. Further to that we have often helped them search for unidentified beacons because of that reason and we do that at no cost to AUSSAR.

So from a rescue point of view the quickest way you can alert authorities the better. I would pick mobile or sat phone but if out of range then if its life threatening then by all means use the PLB or EPIRB. We would prefer by phone because its immediate and we can get good information as to the problem whereas that's not the case with distress beacons like PLBs or even the SPOT system but they do have better coverage than mobile phones.

Hope this answers your question.

I find this interesting in these regards...
1. I did not know that "911" would do anything in Australia.

2. His preference on "000" instead of "112" from mobiles surprises me. While you may have telephone coverage through your carrier, then 000 will work.
But to my understanding, if you did not have mobile phone coverage through your telecommunications carrier, dialling 112 would initiate an emergency call through any telecommunications carrier that the phone can pick up, regardless of whether or not you are with that carrier.
Of course, if there is no cover because of your location, then the mobile has only one other use - if it's night time and the helicopter is trying to find you, even the light in its display can be seen by the night vision of the helicopter very easily, as the lights are magnified 6000 times in their night vision.

3. I should probably think about a sat phone... I believe they are a lot smaller & lighter now than what they were.

[Son of a Beach]

I don't think 112 does anything 000 doesn't do when calling from a mobile phone. I think in the early days 112 had some special significance on mobile devices, but in Australia, at least, 000 is the preferred number for mobile emergency calls, and I'm led to believe that it will work even with a locked SIM, or on another network, etc.

Some answers are at:

• http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD...PC/pc=PC_100575
• http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_100581

In brief, '000' will work on any network on any recent mobile phone in Australia. Ie, on a mobile phone where '000' is programmed in as an emergency number, it will automatically try any available network - this has been the case since 2002.

The only advantage of 112 is that it will also work outside of Australia (but only on GSM networks, not CDMA, in some countries?).

[Wolfix]

On older phones 112 worked when the phone was locked.

[Ent]

After a satellite phone failed to work in an rescue situation rather wary but it is great that the iPhone did as nothing like getting advice and feedback from a voice at the end of the line. I suppose the ultimate is to have party members carrying a variety of devices but if it must work then I think that a PLB wins. But like most things with rescue hard getting any solid evidence so might be rather wrong in that belief.

Cheers

[matagi]

After a satellite phone failed to work in an rescue situation rather wary but it is great that the iPhone did as nothing like getting advice and feedback from a voice at the end of the line. I suppose the ultimate is to have party members carrying a variety of devices but if it must work then I think that a PLB wins. But like most things with rescue hard getting any solid evidence so might be rather wrong in that belief.

Cheers

No one device should be relied on 100% (EPIRBS can also fail) so the prudent walker should take a selection of devices. How many, and which ones, depends on your level of paranoia with regard to failure. I'd suggest in addition to an array of electronic devices, the good old fashioned signalling mirror has a place.

[Erica]

I notice that you're from NSW Jana, where (as far as I know) there is a cost for ambulances and rescues. When i was investigating getting ambulance insurance after moving to NSW from Tassie I made a few calls and found that if you do need a rescue copter in NSW (at least) for a legitimate rescue (and you have ambulance cover or higher in NSW) then there will be (well, should be!) no additional cost.

[Paul]

Hi Erica,

Try 1Cover Travel Insurance - they have a good reputation, I am aware of claimsfor various issues that have been paid out without any hassle.
Investigate their meeting ambulance costs, I'm not sure of their policy.
I have taken out travel insurance with them when travelling to NZ.

Cheers,

Paul.

[Peaksnik]

I have taken out travel insurance with them when travelling to NZ.

A heli rescue in NZ and any subsequent ambo transport is free ( I know from personal experience). They have a national accident insurance scheme and reciprocal medicare coverage with Australia.

I was also involved in a heli evacuation from the central plateau in March last year when a member of my party became injured (we initiated a PLB signal). He is a Queenslander and there was no cost to him.

[Roniellay]

Thank you guys, very nice and useful clarification for everybody I think.
Now let's just hope that Western Arthur's behave and we won't need any of that!

Jana