Do i need to pay for health care in australia?

Show all answers

ZED

Yes partly.They've got this one right.The Medicare health system in australia is very good. As you are granted any type of visa with a residency or rights to work that will be tied to the issue of your Medicare Card. Also it is quite a no hassle arrangement. There is what they call Bulk Billing at most surgeries and health care centres or you pay for your service then visit the Medicare office and claim I think it is around 66% of the charges back. There may well be additional benefits for certain special needs etc. of which Medicare advisors will tell you. All in all it is a good arrangement. and you can take out Medicare Private if you wish which is similar to BUPA in UK. But the standard Medicare usually will suffice for most. And the doctors are in touch with the human concept unlike that of britain's. I mean to say they are looking at the patient as you converse and not at a computer which they dont know how to operate so as to just dole out endless prescriptions.

Bella B

If you are visiting from overseas you will need to pay for all health care.

Presuming this is the case you will probably go private, so you would visit the number of times the surgeon requires and then go to surgery as required. You may need to visit the doctor once or several times. You won't pay to register for the surgery but they may ask for so much over a certain period of time to ensure you can pay.

If you are moving here from overseas, I am not sure how long before you qualify for Medicare (it's universal, paid for by taxpayers money). New comers may have to wait a certain amount of time except in emergencies.

Krisis

In Australia we have a good health care system. Everything is either free or cheap enough (Unless you want Private Health care). Once you move here with all the right documentation, become an Australian citizen etc you will need to apply for a medicare card. When you go to the GP, you will need to show your medicare card and it will be free. Otherwise, if you see specialists etc, you will need to pay for it, and then you take your medicare card to a medicare office and you get most of the money back. When i've seen specialists, say if it costs $100 you would get a certain amount back. (around approx. $65 back). As long as you do everything through the public system, you won't have to pay for much at all. A hospital wouldn't knock you back though if you need emergency surgery. Good luck moving here! But please check out this website for clarification of everything.
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/

EDIT: I just thought I should mention, the public health system is fine and private health care isn't really any better. We have doctor shortages, but in respect to getting things done properly, the public health system is great.

tuppenybitz

depends what visa you have

if you have permanent resident visa you will be covered for health care if its a visitor visa you will not be covered

Ozmaniac

You've just said in another question that you don't have Australian residency so as a UK resident, you only have "medically necessary' access to the Australian Medicare system.

For full details, see: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/visitors/uk.jsp

Patients in Australia are free to use any doctor without registration but you should be aware that doctors are allowed to charge whatever fees they wish. You will only receive free medical treatment outside hospital if the doctor 'bulk bills' and most do not. If a doctor doesn't bulk bill, you will only receive 75% of the government established 'scheduled fee' and must pay the rest yourself.

fruitsalad

Nearly all health care is free or has only a small gap to pay. Dental, glasses, physiotherapy and other allied health are usually at full price, you can get private health insurance for these things if you wish. You can also get private hospital insurance so you can see your choice of doctor in a private hospital, but it is not necessary.

purplesneakers

why not get the surgery done before you go?

jimy

i think so.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: