Healthcare System in Australia: All You Must Know About Medicare
The Australian healthcare system is known as Medicare, which provides insurance for Australian residents. Thus, whether you are an Australian citizen or a migrant, understanding the healthcare system in Australia is crucial.
This article will cover all the information you must know about the Australian Healthcare System – Medicare:
- What is Medicare in Australia
- What is the purpose of Medicare in Australia
- What does Medicare cover in Australia
- Who is eligible for Medicare in Australia
- Who is not eligible for Medicare in Australia
- How to enroll for Medicare
Scroll down for detailed information to help you integrate into the Australian community.
What Is Medicare in Australia?
Medicare is the foundation of the Australian healthcare system. Introduced in 1984, it provides public access to essential health services and ensures that medical care is accessible to all qualified individuals, either for free or at a subsidized rate.
Taxpayers fund this healthcare system in Australia through a levy, which will be calculated once they submit their tax returns. However, depending on your financial situation, you might qualify for a reduced Medicare levy or an exemption.
What Is the Purpose of the Australian Healthcare System?
The purpose of the healthcare system in Australia is straightforward yet essential, that is, to guarantee that Australians have affordable access to necessary healthcare services. By reducing financial barriers, Medicare plays a vital role in:
- Ensuring universal access: Makes healthcare services accessible to people of all income levels.
- Improving public health: Subsidized medical services promote early diagnosis and prevention.
- Reducing financial stress: It minimizes out-of-pocket costs for essential treatments and medicines.
This Australian healthcare system is synonymous with fairness, creating a system where medical services are not dictated by personal background, residence, and wealth.
What Does the Australian Healthcare System Cover?
The healthcare system in Australia’s coverage spans a wide range of services. Here’s what it includes:
1. Hospital Services
For public patients in hospitals, Medicare covers:
- Emergency care
- Most surgeries
- Medicine
- Follow-up care
However, if you are a patient from a private hospital, the Australian healthcare system only covers doctor’s fees. It does not cover hospital charges.
2. Medical Services
The Australian healthcare system will subsidize the cost of consultations with healthcare providers, including general practitioners, specialists, and other medical professionals, either in person or through telehealth services.
It also subsidizes the cost of mental health care, such as assessments, treatment plans, prescribed medications, health check-ups, and specific dental treatments.
2. Tests, imaging, and scans
The Australian healthcare system covers various diagnostic imaging services, including MRIs, PET scans, ultrasounds, CT scans, and X-rays, under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
Medicare also covers pathology tests like blood, urine, and tissue analysis for diagnosis and monitoring. If your general practitioner requests more than three tests on the same day, the Australian healthcare system only pays for the three most expensive tests.
The Australian healthcare system covers an eye test done by an optometrist once every three years if you are under 65 or once a year if you are over 65.
3. Medicine
Medicare supports affordable medication access through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which subsidizes some prescription medicines.
However, there are some services that the Australian healthcare system does not cover, such as ambulance services, most dental services, glasses, contact lenses, a hearing device, elective and cosmetic surgery, services that are not on the MBS, and services that are only provided through the private health system,
Who Is Eligible for the Australian Healthcare System?
To be eligible for Medicare in Australia, you must be:
- An Australian or New Zealand Citizen
- An Australian Permanent Resident
- Have applied for permanent residency (some conditions apply)
- A temporary resident covered by Ministerial Order
- A citizen or permanent resident of Norfolk Island, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, or Lord Howe Island
- Citizen from a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement country
You must enroll to enjoy the benefits if you are eligible for the Australian healthcare system.
See more: How to be an Australian Permanent Residence
Who Is Not Eligible for the Australian Healthcare System?
Not everyone qualifies for Medicare. If you are a Short-term visitor on a tourist visa or a Temporary visa holder from a country without a reciprocal health care agreement, you are ineligible for it.
However, If you want health insurance in Australia, consider applying for private health insurance or Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC).
Learn more: All You Must Know About Bupa Health Cover
How to Enroll for Medicare?
There are two ways to enrol in the Australian healthcare system: applying online through myGov or completing an enrollment form.
Online application
You can enrol online through myGov as an individual or a family and track the application’s progress. To enrol, you must live in Australia, have a current passport or ImmiCard, and provide valid visa details if you’re not an Australian citizen.
For family enrollment, you’ll need identity documents for children under 15. Meanwhile, if your children are 15 or older, they must submit their details separately using your application number through their own myGov account.
You’ll be notified once your application is approved, and your Medicare card will be mailed to you.
Offline application
You can download and complete a Medicare enrollment form if you cannot enrol online. You can post or email this form with your supporting documents to Medicare Enrolment Services.
If you email them, you must put ‘Medicare enrolment’ in the subject line. Your document must be in PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP format and not be password-protected. The size of the files must be 5MB per file or 10MB in total.
For family enrollment, you must nominate a contact person to receive the Medicare card and other general information. Once your application is approved, you will receive a digital copy of your Medicare card. To access it, you must sign into the Express Plus Medicare mobile app and link it to your myGov account.
Which Visa Holders Are Eligible for Medicare?
Eligibility for the Australian healthcare system depends on your residency status and visa type. Generally, permanent visa holders have the right to enrol in the Australian healthcare system, which grants them permanent resident status in Australia and makes them eligible for Medicare.
Read more: Australian Permanent Visa Requirements and Document Checklist
However, with so many types of permanent visas available, finding the right one can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time migrating to Australia. Even after identifying the appropriate visa, the process can be lengthy and time-consuming, with the risk of rejection.
Rest assured, we are here to help! With over a decade of experience assisting migrants in integrating into Australia, we will guide you through the process to maximize your chances of success. We aim to help you settle in Australia easily and quickly. Don’t hesitate to contact us—we are committed to turning your dream into reality!
Integrate Into Australia With Onederland Consulting
Integrating into the Australian community as a migrant can feel overwhelming and challenging, especially for the visa applications and other essential processes. But you don’t have to worry! We at ONEderland Consulting will help you save time and make a secure process during your visa application and health insurance enrollment. Our team of highly qualified and experienced migration specialists is dedicated to putting in a lot of effort and planning ahead of time on your behalf. We pay close attention to every detail and apply our extensive knowledge to handle even the most complex cases.
We are committed to being open and honest with you, keeping you updated and involved at every stage. We will work tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome for your future in Australia, and you can rely on us to be your dependable partner and advocate.
We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the MARA.
Take the first step and contact us. Our team members are professional and honest and speak various languages, such as Mandarin/Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and Thai. Contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.
