As the state's peak body for older South Australians, COTA SA is calling on the State Government to address cost of living pressures, access to health and wellbeing, social connections, and older South Australians living in regional SA in the 2025/26 State Budget.

Based on our engagement with thousands of older South Australians about the challenges that impact their day to day lives, COTA SA has outlined four key evidence-based recommendations for State Government investment in its 2025/26 State Budget submission. Today we're putting the spotlight on a priority related to the cost of living and to health and wellbeing: Free ambulances for older South Australians to access emergency care.

COTA SA has been a longtime advocate for free ambulance cover for pensioners in South Australia, which has one of the highest call-out fees in the country and is the last state to provide free cover to those on a full Age Pension. Through our consultation with older South Australians we are aware of the challenges for older people of living on a fixed income and being faced with significant bills.

Rising energy costs over the last decade and the latest cost of living burden, escalating insurance premiums for home and car, leave Age Pensioners on fixed incomes with very little left over in their household budget.

The cost of an emergency ambulance service is more than the fortnightly rate for a single full Age Pension.

This means that a number of older South Australians will make the difficult decision not to call an ambulance when they are in need of emergency medical help.

COTA SA calls on the State Government to provide a fair and compassionate approach to ambulance costs for older South Australians on a full age pension in line with all other Australian jurisdictions.

Read more in our 2025-26 State Budget Submission.