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The Australian healthcare system
- Healthcare in Australia
- Do you have access to Medicare?
- What is Medicare?
- Healthcare in Australia - Video Library
- Do you need private health insurance for your visa?
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- Understanding the Australian healthcare system
- Are you eligible for a rebate?
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- Reciprocal Health Cover - Basic
- What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
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- Understanding the Australian healthcare system
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- General FAQs
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Healthcare in Australia
There are two components that make up the Australian healthcare system:
- The public health system administered by the Australian Government, known as Medicare and,
- the private health system.
How the Australian healthcare system works
When you purchase overseas visitors cover you will be covered for emergency and non-emergency health issues. Check the table below to find out what you need to do if you experience any health issues during your time in Australia.
Get 24/7 access to doctors^ when you join Bupa OVC
Spend less time waiting and more time recovering. Bupa International members can book a Blua doctor appointment 24/7 online, with 100% of costs covered^.
Do you have access to Medicare?
The Australian Government has agreements with certain countries,
called Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA).
These agreements enable residents of these countries to receive Medicare benefits when visiting or working in Australia. The level of Medicare cover and the period for which you receive it varies depending on which country you are from.
Select your country from the list of countries below to find out if you have access to Medicare and what you are covered for:
Belgium expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Italy expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for 6 months from your date of arrival in Australia.
Netherlands expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for 6 months from your date of arrival in Australia.
Norway expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Slovenia expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
United Kingdom expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Finland expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
Malta expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for 6 months from your date of arrival in Australia.
New Zealand expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This cover lasts for the duration of your visa. You will not be covered for out-of-hospital treatment (ie visiting a general practitioner).
Republic of Ireland expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This cover lasts for the duration of your visa. You will not be covered for out-of-hospital treatment (ie visiting a general practitioner).
Sweden expand_more expand_less
Medicare will cover you for medically necessary treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, and pay benefits for out-of-hospital treatment and subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. You are covered for the duration of your visa.
If your main country of residence is listed above… Great!
You’ll have access to certain Medicare benefits when you visit Australia. However, there are a number of important things that Medicare does not cover you for, such as ambulance services. That’s why the Australian Government still suggests that overseas visitors consider taking out private health cover. It will offer you convenience and a greater peace of mind.
If your main country of residence is not listed…
Should you require medical attention in Australia, whether in an emergency or a non-emergency situation, you will be charged for all hospital, ambulance and doctor fees and have significant costs to pay. You will not have access to any Medicare benefits. So consider taking out private health cover. It offers you convenience and gives you greater peace of mind. In fact, for many overseas visitors from non-RHCA countries, having health insurance is often a mandatory visa requirement.
REMEMBER
It's important to check if your visa requires you to have suitable health cover before you apply. Without it you may be refused the visa!
What is Medicare?
Medicare is Australia's public healthcare system for all citizens and most permanent residents.
It provides free or subsidised cover for certain healthcare services, which means it pays all or part of the costs. Some international visitors may receive Medicare benefits if a treatment is considered medically necessary.
However, Medicare does not cover treatment in a private hospital. You may also not be able to choose your own doctor in hospital. This means you will experience out–of-pocket costs that you have to pay yourself.
| Covered under Medicare* |
|---|
| Treatment in a public hospital that is medically necessary |
| Visiting a General Practitioner (GP) |
| Referral to a specialist doctor |
| Medical tests and examinations |
| Prescription medication subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) |
| Not covered under Medicare |
|---|
| Ambulance services |
| Repatriation benefits to get you home to your country of origin if you become seriously ill |
| Extras services including optical and dental |
| Access to private doctors and specialists |
| Services and treatment in public hospital that not clinically necessary |
| Services and treatment in private hospital |
*Medicare may not cover the whole cost.
This is where Bupa can help. Taking out private health cover can help by:
- Protecting you from the unexpected,
- offering you peace of mind and,
- meeting your visa requirements.
If you don't have access to any Medicare benefits, and you require medical attention in Australia, whether in an emergency or a non-emergency situation, you will be charged for all hospital, ambulance and doctor fees. This could mean significant costs for you to pay.
By taking out private health cover you'll get convenience and greater peace of mind about your health and care while you're in Australia.
REMEMBER
If your visa requires you to have suitable health cover and you don't take it out before you apply you may be refused the visa!
Call Us
134 135 from within Australia,
+61 3 9487 6400 from outside Australia.
Our opening hours are:
8am - 8pm Monday to Friday and
9am - 1pm Saturday
(All times in AEST)
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Terms and conditions
^ Fund and policy rules apply. Yearly limits apply to Essential Lite Visitors cover, but these limits will be waived (only in relation to Blua consultations) until further notice. 100% of the cost will only be covered for Blua consults. Members will only be able to book general consultations via Blua. Consultations with specialists cannot be booked via Blua. Members who are under 18 years old may need to attend the consultation with a parent or guardian. Members’ preferred language may not be available 24/7.
