Medicare: the Australian healthcare system
In Australia, the healthcare system is mainly funded by the Australian government, and its services are provided by the public health system. Healthcare in Australia operates through a system called Medicare. Medicare is a publicly funded universal health insurance scheme that provides eligible Australian residents with access to a range of healthcare services at little to no cost.
What does Medicare cover?
Medicare provides access to a wide range of healthcare services, including visits to general practitioners (GPs), specialists, hospital care, and subsidised pharmaceuticals.
What about emergency care?
In case of emergency medical treatment, all individuals, including visitors to Australia, can receive care in public hospitals without charge.
Bulk Billing
Many medical practitioners in Australia offer bulk billing, which means they bill Medicare directly for their services, and the patient does not have to pay anything out of pocket. However, some medical practitioners may charge a fee above the Medicare rebate, and in such cases, patients may have to pay the difference (the "gap").
The need for Private Health Insurance
While Medicare covers essential healthcare services, some individuals choose to take out private health insurance to have additional benefits, such as access to private hospitals, elective surgeries, and services not covered by Medicare. Private health insurance also allows individuals to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge, which is an additional tax on high-income earners who do not have private health insurance.
Who is eligible for state-funded healthcare?
Access to healthcare and the type of visa required to access the system can vary depending on the visa subclass. The following visa types may be eligible for state-provided healthcare:
- Permanent residents (PR) visa holders
- Citizens of Australia
- New Zealand citizens residing in Australia
- Temporary residents holding specific visa types, such as the Subclass 457, 482, 485, or 491 visas, provided they have applied for Medicare.
- Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) Countries: Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with certain countries. Citizens of these countries may be eligible for some Medicare services while visiting Australia. The countries with RHCA include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Italy, Malta, and New Zealand.
- Some other visa types may also be eligible for state-provided healthcare, depending on their specific conditions and circumstances.
It is essential to check with the Department of Home Affairs or the Department of Human Services in Australia to verify your eligibility for Medicare.
Who is not eligible?
Visa holders who are not eligible for state-provided healthcare must have adequate health insurance during their stay in Australia. These include: Visitors to Australia, including tourists, students, and temporary work visa holders, but also some temporary visa holders, such as the Subclass 408 visa and certain other working visas.
Permanent residents who have not yet enrolled in Medicare are also not eligible.
