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Medicare
Australia has a
public/private healthcare partnership. The Government funded healthcare
system is Medicare and is generally restricted to people living
permanently in Australia:
- Australian
citizens;
- permanent
Australian residents (who have permanent visas);
- New Zealand
citizens; or
- certain
persons with applications for permanent visas under
consideration
Medicare entitles you to
subsidised, or free health care in public hospitals and GPs surgeries.
Tip:
If you have a permanent residency visa you should register with the
local Medicare office as soon as you arrive - you will have to pay all
medical bills otherwise.
Visitors from some
countries are also eligible for Medicare - but only those visiting from
countries with a reciprocal healthcare agreement (Ireland,
Italy, Finland, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and
the United Kingdom). Under these Agreements, residents of these
countries have restricted access to Medicare while visiting Australia.
To see what is and what isn't covered under the reciprocal agreement -
look at the Health Dept website (links opposite).
Tip:
If you have relatives visiting for more than 2 weeks, register them with
the local Medicare office as soon as they arrive and they will get their
own temporary Medicare card.
Temporary residents
(temporary or business visas - basically, any visa not permanent) are
not eligible for Medicare and must make private arrangements to cover
any medical costs. Check on the Health Dept website to confirm your visa
eligibility. There are a range of private health insurance products that
can be bought.
Visiting a GP
Most suburbs in Perth have
a medical centre or GP surgery. Doctors can set their own consultation
charges, a set portion of which is refunded to you by Medicare. You will
need to pay the full consultation fee and claim back the Medicare
portion from your local Medicare office.
Some doctors, however,
choose only to charge the Medicare amount and 'Bulk-Bill' Medicare.
Choosing to go to a bulk-billing GP means that you will not need to pay
anything for the consultation (unless it's out-of hours, or a weekend,
where the doctor may charge more than the Medicare level).
Unlike in some other
countries, you don't need to register with one GP and stick with them -
you are free to go to any GP you want to.
Tip:
Find all the nearest bulk-billing GPs and if you need a quick
appointment, call them all to see which one can fit you in first. If
none can fit you in, the try the non bulk-billing ones.
When you visit your GP you
may get a prescription for medicine. You'll need to take this to your
local pharmacy to get it filled. Note that you will need to pay the full
medicine cost. Tip:
Make sure that you ask the pharmacist to substitute cheaper brand
medicines if they are available - the cost saving can be significant.
Some people may also be eligible for subsidised medicines
- see the health dept website. Additionally, you may be sent for x-rays,
ultrasound or specialist consultations. These may - or may not incur a
cost.
Emergencies
In an emergency call 000
from a land line (or 112 from a mobile). If an ambulance is required -
you'll have to pay for it as Medicare doesn't cover this. You can make
your own way to your nearest Emergency Room (located in public hospitals
throughout Perth), where your injuries will be assessed and prioritised.
You may need to wait a considerable time for less major injuries.
Remember to take your Medicare card.
Tip:
Always know where your nearest emergency room is located (and how to get
there) - you never know when you'll need to use it.
Private Health Insurance
Many Australians choose to
take out private heath insurance. Higher earners who do choose to take
out health insurance pay less tax (1%). Additionally, a 30% tax rebate
is available on all premiums paid.
There are lots of
different policies available, covering a multitude of different things.
Private hospital cover allows you to choose when to have your treatment,
which hospital to use and which doctor.
Tip:
Choose your policy carefully as not all policies cover the total costs.
For private hospital costs, Medicare funds 75%, and the health fund 25%
of the Standard fee. If your doctor charges more than the standard
Schedule fee, then your policy will need to include 'Gap Cover' - or
you'll be liable for the remaining costs.
Policies also offer different levels of options (private
room, surgery costs, medicines etc).
Private health insurance
policies may also give you ancillary cover - These are 'extras' like
ambulance cover, dental, optical, physiotherapy etc. Different policies
will tailor different levels of cover for each. Finally all health funds
operate 'qualifying periods' whereby you'll need to pay your premium for
a period of time (6 months typically) before you can claim for some
services. Tip:
Shop around as health funds will sometimes reduce the qualifying period
as part of a marketing initiative. Tip:
Do your research before you come so you can take out health insurance as
soon as you get here.
More Information
Use the links opposite
or ask other members in our
forum. |
