Healthcare And Health Insurance
Health Insurance
There is a range of publicly and privately funded health services offered by Australia’s health system. You can choose to simply have Medicare cover only, or a combination of Medicare and Private health insurance.
Medicare
Medicare is the basis of Australia’s health care system; it covers many health care costs. To register with Medicare, you should wait approximately 10 working days after your arrival in Australia and then go to your nearest Medicare Office (listed in the phone book), with your passport and travel documents. If the registration requirements are met, you will be advised of your Medicare number and your Medicare card will be posted out to you.
Medicare has an information kit, which is available on the Medicare website and has been translated into many different languages- http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.
Private Health Insurance
Additional cover for services not covered by Medicare can be provided by Private health insurers. There are a number of organisations in Australia offering private health insurance, with a variety of reasons why it may be an attractive option for you to consider.
If you take out private health insurance, you are covered against some or all of the costs of being a private patient in either a public or private hospital. Alternatively, you have the choice to be treated as a public patient in a public hospital at no charge.
As a privately insured patient you may insure against some or all of the costs of health services not covered by Medicare, such as:
- Hospital expenses (theatre fees or accommodation) in either a public or private hospital
- Dental treatment
- Ambulance
- Chiropractic treatment
- Home nursing
- Podiatry
- Physiotherapy, occupational, speech and eye therapy
